50 & Fabulous the RSO & the Aldrich have a musical celebration

 

“You can’t find entertainment like this anywhere,” exclaimed one of the audience members who braved yet another snowstorm to turn out for the musical collaboration between The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum and Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (RSO) on Sunday, March 1. Both of these arts organizations are celebrating 50^th Anniversaries this year.

Pictured L to R are RSO’s charismatic über talented Music Director Gerald Steichen, who played host and pianist; New York’s Michael Marcotte, whose impressive creds include stage, Broadway and opera; and RSO Principal Percussionist Dennis Arcano.  The Musical ‘60s:  Innovation, Reinvention and Experimentation program was a musical tour of that transitional decade and featured some of the key songs that defined a generation – from Bernstein and Copland’s classical world, to hit Broadway and film scores, Grammy winners and pop/rock staples, which got everyone in the audience singing along.

Highlights of the event included Steichen’s captivating music trivia and anecdotes about celebrity encounters, and Arcano’s rhythmic drum tutorial, which provided high entertainment value. Not to mention the venue: literally sitting on/inside a floor sculpture by artist David Scanavino. For those who could not attend this extraordinary performance, there’s more RSO this week:  The cool, hip world of the Rat Pack -- Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. will light up “the Vegas strip” on the stage of Wilton’s Clune Auditorium on Saturday, March 7, at 8 p.m. The versatile musicians of the RSO will be accompanying internationally acclaimed performers Nat Chandler (Martin), Sal Viviano (Sinatra) and Eric Jordan Young (Davis, Jr.) recreating a night at The Sands!

The set list includes all the favorites such as “Fly Me to the Moon”, “That's Amore”, “The Lady is a Tramp”, "My Way", “Candy Man”, “Luck Be a Lady”, plus the quintessential Rat Pack banter and laughs. In the spirit of Sinatra’s golden era, Wilton’s hot Bianco Rosso Restaurant and Wine Bar is offering a complimentary glass of champagne with dinner, before or after the show, when tickets/stubs are presented: 151 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton, just minutes from the concert venue (Clune Auditorium at Wilton High School, 395 Danbury Rd.). 

Dinner runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; reservations suggested. For tickets and information, visit ridgefieldsymphony.org, or call the box office at 203-438-3889.

Based in Ridgefield, CT, the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit professional orchestra, which delivers world-class performances, celebrating its 50^th year (1965-2015).