A highly selective preview of cultural events taking place this weekend in the greater Hudson, N.Y., region, including a recital by a rising violin star; a full orchestral and choral rendition of Leonard Bernstein’s “Kaddish”; South African jazz all-stars; and a chamber concert of Jewish music.
Francesca dePasquale
VIOLIN VIRTUOSO FRANCESCA DEPASQUALE to MAKE ‘DISTINCTIVE DEBUT’ at HUDSON OPERA HOUSE
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Violinist Francesca dePasquale will bring her “Distinctive Debut” tour, featuring music from her terrific eponymous debut album, including the premiere of a commissioned work by Paola Prestini, to Hudson Opera House on Saturday, April 16, at 7pm, as part of the Classics on Hudson series. dePasquale, a protégé of Itzhak Perlman, will be accompanied by pianist Meng-Chieh Liu in a program including works by Bach, Bartók, Korngold, Messiaen, and Schumann.
Leonard Bernstein, Estelle Parsons
ESTELLE PARSONS to NARRATE LEONARD BERNSTEIN’S ‘KADDISH’ with HUDSON VALLEY PHILHARMONIC at BARDAVON
(POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.) – Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 3 “Kaddish” will get a complete rendering by large orchestra, choir, vocal soloist, and narration – by Academy Award-winning, five-time Tony Award nominee Estelle Parsons – when the Hudson Valley Philharmonic performs under the baton of music director Randall Craig Fleischer at the Bardavon on Saturday, April 16, at 8pm. The program will also include works by Ernest Bloch and contemporary composer Meira Warshauer. Renewal is the theme of this program featuring a Hudson Valley premiere of Warschauer’s “Like Streams in the Desert” (inspired by Psalm 126, whose theme is the return of exiles to Zion), Bloch’s “Hebraic Rhapsody” for cello; and Bernstein’s “Kaddish,” featuring soprano Kelly Nassief, the Vassar Choir, Cappella Festiva, and the Treble Choir, all under the direction of Christine Howlett.
Uhadi
SOUTH AFRICAN JAZZ ALL-STARS to PERFORM at BARD
(ANNANDALE-on-HUDSON, N.Y.) – Uhadi, an all-star South African jazz quintet, performs in the Fisher Center at Bard College in the final performance of their 2016 nationwide tour on Saturday, April 16, at 8pm. The program, Salute to Africa!, is presented in conjunction with the Jazz at the Fisher Center spring concert series, a collaboration between 23Arts’ program Catskill Jazz Factory (CJF) and the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College.
Sarah McElravy
CHAMBER CONCERT to EXPLORE ‘WHAT IS JEWISH MUSIC?’
(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – “Fiddler OFF the Roof,” a chamber music program exploring the question “What Is Jewish Music?” and featuring works by Felix Mendelssohn, Gustav Mahler, Ernest Bloch, Darius Milhaud, George Gershwin, Max Bruch, plus the world premiere of contemporary composer Paul Schoenfield’s “ZEMER,” takes place at the Mahaiwe on Sunday, April 17, at 3pm, as part of the Close Encounter with Music series.