Everything to Know About The Sembrich’s 2023 Summer Season
Looking for live music on Lake George this summer? How about a film festival? We here at The Sembrich in Bolton Landing host a music and film festival every year, and we have a thrilling lineup for this upcoming season.
The 2023 festival is called Trailblazers, to convey the spirit of creativity and transformation that will be evoked from this season’s stellar lineup. Check out a breakdown of the 2023 events below, including a look at how you can save on tickets by purchasing one of the series subscription options available.
Events from the 2022 summer season
The Gala, The Children’s Opera, An Immersive Soundscape & More
The following Sembrich stand-alone summer events are not part of a series, and you can purchase tickets to individual events ahead of time:
The Young Performers Showcase
June 11, 2023
Tickets: $10
The Young Performers Showcase is our annual season opener, that celebrates the most promising young artists in the region. Come out to enjoy an afternoon of vocal and instrumental music with both classic and popular tunes.
In the Footsteps of Piatigorsky
June 17, 2023
Tickets: $35 (or free for members!)
This member appreciation event is brought to you in partnership with The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls. Cellist Evan Drachman with pianist Michael Clement will engage in a studio talk and performance, wherein Drachman dives into the Adirondack life of his cellist grandfather through stories and songs.
The Seagle Festival Season Preview
June 28, 2023
Tickets: $35
The Seagle Festival in Schroon Lake is another dynamic organization The Sembrich teams up with. This entertaining sample of the Seagle’s upcoming festival will not disappoint, with selections from Roméo et Juliette, A Little Night Music, With Blood, With Ink, and Fiddler on the Roof.
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing
July 15, 2023
Tickets: $60
Sought-after speaker and literary dramatist Betty Spinelli will recall a riveting tale of forbidden love, jealousy, mental instability, and murder at a rooftop theater in New York City during the late 1800s/early 19000s at this special studio centennial benefit event. A lakeside champagne reception will follow, featuring a signature cocktail inspired by the era.
Alma Mahler & Her Charmed Circle
July 19, 2023
Tickets: $60
Another studio centennial benefit event, guests will discover the life and inspirations of turn-of-the-century music and femme fatale Alma Mahler in this entertaining cabaret revue, starring bass-baritone Robert Osborne and mezzo-soprano Tammy Hensurd. A lakeside Viennese tea will follow.
From the 2022 Children’s Opera production, The Three Bears
Seagle Festival Children’s Opera: The Ugly Duckling
July 28, 2023
Tickets: Free!
Make reservations to bring your children to see this classic story told in a charming way with an original score by composer Andrew Duncan. This production is brought to us by the Seagle Festival, the prime children’s opera in the Adirondack/Lake George/Queensbury, NY area. This spectacular retelling of The Ugly Duckling will delight fans of all ages! This is an hour-long, outdoor performance.
Sound Trails, an Immersive Soundscape
August 9, 2023
Tickets: $25
There are two sessions available for Sound Trails, at 2pm and also at 3pm (and a rain date of August 10). Choose from two unique, immersive experiences on one of two trails at The Sembrich. A five-minute sound piece corresponds to each trail, with the Red Trail representing a feeling of walking the path back to Marcella Sembrich’s time, and the Green Trail featuring a more modern take on surroundings.
Hamilton: A Studio Talk
August 16, 2023
Tickets: $35
Attention Hamilton fans: You will not want to miss out on this presentation that dives into how Lin-Manuel Miranda expertly blended hip hop and Broadway styles to create the revolutionary sensation Hamilton. The talk is led by theater historian John Kendrick.
The Sembrich Gala - Leonardo Sanchez: Mi Mexico Querido
August 26, 2023
Tickets: $150 (regular admission)
One of the key events and fundraisers of the season, the Sembrich Gala is an elegant, cantina-style event enjoyed on the shores of Lake George. This year we are highlighting a rising star in the opera world, tenor Leonardo Sanchez. After spending five years in Europe, Sanchez is returning to his native roots with a program that underscores his treasured Mexico. Guests can expect an evening of song and sentiment, with sounds of guitar, guitarron, vihuela, and accordion.
Watch Films, Listen to Live Music & Save
All films in the 2023 film series offer free admission!
The four series for The Sembrich’s 2023 season are: The Film Series, the Alfred Z. Solomon Masterwork Series, the Promenade Series, and the Touba Family Foundation World Music Wednesdays Series. See the details of each, and how to save!
The Free Film Festival in Bolton Landing
There is no subscription needed for the five film screenings taking place as part of The Sembrich’s 2023 summer festival, because they’re all free. And, they all maintain a significant connection to the arts and music world in their own way:
CODA (2021)
June 19, 2023
Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family fishing business is in jeopardy, Ruby finds herself torn between saving her parents and their livelihood and pursuing a music degree in college.
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
July 10, 2023
This experimental film is inspired by the Hopi Indian word meaning “life out of balance.” Viewers will visually explore the effects of man upon nature and the environment, set to a masterful score by Philip Glass.
The Conductor (2021)
July, 2023
The Conductor features intimate interviews, unseen archival footage, and more centering around Marin Alsop, Leonard Bernstein’s protégé. Learn about how Alsop became the first woman to serve as music director of a multitude of renowned orchestras, and otherwise rose to international fame.
tick…tick…BOOM! (2021)
August 14, 2023
This masterful film was directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and is based off of the semi-autobiographical stage play written by Jonathan Larson (the brains behind the sensation Rent). An aspiring composer navigates his life in New York City in 1990, wondering if he’s made the wrong career choice as his 30th birthday looms.
Elvis (2022)
August 28, 2023
You don’t need to be an avid Elvis fan to appreciate this film that tells that epic story of the King of Rock and Roll. This version of Elvis’s life is told from the point of view of Elvis’ manager Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks.
Please keep in mind, although the film screenings are free, reservations are highly recommend. Click through to each event listing to reserve your spot today!
Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, HUB New Music, and Elizabeth Starr Masoudnia
The Alfred Z. Solomon Masterwork Series
The following three concert performances are part of the Alfred Z. Solomon Masterwork Series. You can purchase individual tickets for $50, or a series subscription at $125 - that’s a $25 savings if you plan to attend all three:
Piano Recital by Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner
July 1, 2023
Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner won the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Competition, and will be performing works by Schumann, Liszt, Debussy, Ponce, and Stravinsky in his program entitled “Innovators.”
A Tribute to David Smith - HUB New Music
July 22, 2023
This tribute concert is dedicated to the modernist sculptor David Smith, who lived and worked in Bolton Landing. The program includes two new works written just for this special occasion by composers Evan Premo and Jesse Gelaznik.
Members of the Philadelphia Orchestra
August 6, 2023
If you’ve ever been to a Philadelphia Orchestra performance at SPAC, you know how talented these musicians are, and we’re thrilled to have members Philip Kates and Elizabeth Starr Masoudnia joining us for our music festival not far from Saratoga Springs, NY. Welcome violinist and Sembrich Board Member Philip Kates along with the orchestra’s star English horn performer, Elizabeth Starr Masoudnia.
Adirondack Jazz Orchestra, Rubert Boyd with Laura Metcalf, and Genghis Barbie
The Sembrich Promenade Series
The Sembrich Promenade Series consists of three performances, and guests have the option of buying individual tickets for $40, or a series subscription at $100 - that’s a $20 savings if you plan to attend all three:
Adirondack Jazz Repertoire
July 7, 2023
The eight-piece Adirondack Jazz Orchestra has been delighting audiences since 2003, with their performances encompassing Dixieland, blues, bebop, funk, and contemporary jazz.
Boy Meets Girl
July 26, 2023
Discover the magic that happens when Australian classical guitarist Rupert Boyd is paired up with American cellist Laura Metcalf. Each acclaimed musician is a renowned solo artist in their own right, and they’ve also toured the world together, and produced two studio albums.
Genghis Barbie
August 23, 2023
It will be a treat to see this all female, post-feminist, utterly energetic chamber ensemble. Genghis Barbie is a horn-playing quartet that performs a wide variety of pop music from all eras as well as contemporary commissions and classical works.
The Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet, Poor Man’s Gambit (note: been replaced by Grosse Isle), and a member of the New York Crimean Tatar Ensemble
Touba Family Foundation World Music Wednesdays Series
The Touba Family Foundation World Music Wednesdays Series, like the other two music festival series, includes three performances. You can purchase individual tickets for $30, or a series subscription at $75 - that’s a $15 savings if you plan to attend all three:
Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet
July 12, 2023
Pedro Giraudo treats Sembrich guests to a performance encapsulating Argentinian music, and the greatness that is the tango. From traditional sounds to contemporary pieces, you can expect an outstanding concert from this Latin GRAMMY Award-winner.
Grosse Isle
August 2, 2023
Grosse Isle is a trio of exceptional musicians with national and international reputations. The band name refers to the mass arrival of the Irish upon the Grosse Île in the St. Lawrence River, when they fled the Great Famine.
Note, this performance replaces the originally scheduled Poor Man’s Gambit.
The New York Crimean Tatar Ensemble
August 30, 2023
When you attend our Summer Festival Trailblazers, you support The Sembrich and our mission, part of which is to present performances and exhibitions that cultivate an appreciation of music and the arts. Thank you for supporting live music, arts, and culture near beautiful Lake George, NY!
See more info on the 2023 Summer Festival: Trailbalzers >>
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