Mélomanie Releases CD, Performs in Rio in November

Photo by David Norbut

Mélomanie, the five-piece chamber ensemble known for provocative pairings of early and contemporary works, celebrated the release of Excursions, their newest new CD — and takes an excursion of their own in November with a performance in Rio de Janeiro. They have been invited to perform at international the four-day festival, Compositores de Hoje (Composers of Today), November 20 through 23, 2014.

Excursions features pieces written for and premiered by the ensemble: Excursions: Fantasie Mélomanie (2009) by Roberto Pace; Pavane-Variations (2009) by Ingrid Arauco; Dumgoyne (2012) by Jennifer Margaret Barker; The Nobility of Women (2011) by Philadelphia-area composer Kile Smith and Angico (2009) by Brazilian composer, Sergio Roberto de Oliveira.

"We chose the title Excursions because the pieces take the listener on different journeys," says Mélomanie Co-Artistic Director Tracy Richardson. Barker's Dumgoyne describes her childhood memories of Scotland. Pace's Excursions explores multiple moods and musical terrain. Arauco's Pavane-Variations and Smith's The Nobility of Women give us a fresh visit to old dance forms, and de Oliveira's Angico tells the story of his family's home in the Brazilian countryside. 

"This trip is an exciting landmark for our ensemble!" Richardson says. "We're thrilled for the opportunity to share our music and serve as Delaware's 'musical ambassadors.'"

Mélomanie is: Donna Fournier, viola da gamba, Douglas McNames, cellos, Kimberly Reighley, flutes, Christof Richter, violins and Tracy Richardson, harpsichords.

The CD, Excursions, and other Mélomanie recordings are available for download at meyer-media.com or your favorite online music outlet.

Mélomanie's participation in Compositores de Hoje is supported by of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation through USArtists International, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; the Delaware State International Trade Commission; Delaware Division of the Arts; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; The Music School of Delaware; and A Casa Produções.

Grammy-Award Winning Vocalist Performs in Benefit for Christina Cultural Arts Center

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Photo courtesy of Gregory Porter

Just before he takes the stage at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Grammy Award–winning jazz singer, songwriter and actor Gregory Porter makes a rare stop at The Grand Opera House at 7:30pm on Friday, October 17. The one-night-only performance in the Baby Grand Theater is a benefit for Christina Cultural Arts Center.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring an artist of Gregory’s caliber to Wilmington,” said CCAC Executive Director, Raye Jones Avery. “The event is even more meaningful for us because the proceeds benefit Christina Cultural Arts Center — one of our city's celebrated arts organizations helping to elevate WIlmington's vibrant cultural scene and to inspire our children, youth and teens through the arts.”

Special pre- and post-event ticket packages (one including a post-concert dinner with Porter) are still available by contacting The Grand Box Office at 37.800.GRAND. Single concert tickets are $45 and can be purchased online at TicketsAtTheGrand.org or by calling the box office.

This performance is just part of Christina Cultural Arts Center’s focus on presenting intimate live performances by both local and nationally known musicians — both in the Clifford Brown Performance Space of CCAC and other venues in and around downtown Wilmington. Past concerts sponsored by the organization include a sold-out performance by jazz-funk ensemble Snarky Puppy and Esperanza Spalding, as part of the Clifford Brown Year-Round Jazz Series in partnership with the Grand Opera House and the City of Wilmington.

Gregory Porter’s new album, Liquid Spirit, earned him a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Jazz Album in January. The album features three covers and 11 original songs including the title track (Liquid Spirit), Hey Laura, and No Love Dying. Called “the next great male jazz singer,” by NPR Music, Porter made his U.S. television debut last year with an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

This engagement of Gregory Porter is made possible through the Jazz Touring Network program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Christina Cultural Arts Center, Inc. is a premier community school of the arts with a mission to make affordable arts education and live multicultural performances accessible to children, teens and adults in a safe, family environment. CCAC’s leading-edge programs promote self-development, healthy lifestyles, social change, educational success and economic empowerment. CCAC is a partner in Wilmington’s Creative District project and the Center City Wilmington Delaware Readiness Team — a task force aiming to prepare Wilmington’s East Side and Southbridge area children for Kindergarten readiness.

See www.ccacde.org.

Fringe Wilmo Gets Frightening Every Weekend in October!

Join WILMINGTON FRINGE FANS every Saturday night in October for Midnight Musicals at Theatre N at Nemours to support the Fringe Wilmington festival. Admission is only $5! Sing-a-alongs, themed cocktails, giveaways, props, local actors, 50/50 raffle and more! Costumes strongly encouraged.

Schedule and details:
October 4: Sweeney Todd
October 11: Little Shop of Horrors
October 18: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Sponsored by Delaware Theatre Company
 October 25: Young Frankenstein
Sponsored by Oddity Bar

Oddity Bar hosts a pre-game party before each main event, from 9:00-11:00pm.

The Fringe Wilmington Festival is a five-day celebration of unconventional and experimental art held three times annually as Live Fringe, Film Fringe and Visual Fringe. 2014 Live Fringe Wilmington Festival runs November 19-23, 2014.

Live Fringe presents Delaware’s most outrageous and edgy live performances by local, regional and national artists. Improv, dance, comedy, clowns, magic, drama, musical theater and the indescribable can be experienced in local theaters, vacant storefronts and unexpected spaces.  The Live Fringe Preview Party kicks-off the festival with three-minute “samples” by each of the performing artists at World Café Live at the Queen.