Inspired by glitter and gaiety at the New York Philharmonic on New Year’s Eve, this program celebrates Bernstein's contributions to the Great White Way with songs and music from Candide, On the Town, West Side Story and more.
– PAVILION SEATS & LAWN SOLD OUT –
$99 - $149
$5 - $28
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Friday
06:00 PM
– SOLD OUT –
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
BRAMWELL TOVEY, CONDUCTOR
ANNALEIGH ASHFORD, VOCALIST
LAURA OSNES, VOCALIST
SANTINO FONTANA, VOCALIST
BERNSTEIN ON BROADWAY
BERNSTEIN ON BROADWAY
Inspired by New Year's Eve at the New York Philharmonic this program celebrates Bernstein's contributions to the Great White Way, including songs and music from On the Town and West Side Story.
LEONARD BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
Overture to Candide (1956)
Lillian Hellman conceived a theater piece based on Voltaire’s Candide as early as 1950, but it was not until 1956 that the project materialized. She originally intended the work to be a play with incidental music, which she asked Leonard Bernstein to compose, but his enthusiasm for the subject was so great that the venture swelled into a full-blown comic operetta; Tyrone Guthrie was enlisted as director and Richard Wilbur wrote most of the song lyrics. Candide was first seen in a pre-Broadway tryout at Boston’s Colonial Theatre on October 29, 1956 (just days after Bernstein’s appointment as co-music director of the New York Philharmonic), and opened at the Martin Beck Theatre in New York on December 1. The Overture captures perfectly the wit, brilliance, and slapstick tumult of the operetta.
Selections and Three Dance Episodes from On the Town (1944)
On the Town, Bernstein’s first musical, concerns three sailors during World War II determined to see everything in New York City during their 24-hour shore leave. On the subway, one of the sailors falls in love with the poster picture of Miss Turnstiles, and the boys set out to find her. Their efforts take them all over the city until they discover Miss Turnstiles on Coney Island, where they learn that she is not the glamorous girl they expected, but a belly dancer.
Chip tries to speed up his tour by catching a cab driven by the aggressively love-starved Brunhilde Esterhazy — Hildy, for short — but she is less concerned with his travel plans than with having him Come Up to My Place. She catalogs her domestic virtues in the hot swing number, I Can Cook Too.
Gabey makes a date with his dream girl and sings Lucky To Be Me as he waits for her in Times Square.
The “Three Dance Episodes” include The Great Lover, which captures the sailors’ high spirits, Lonely Town (Pas de Deux), based on the expressive song of that title, and Times Square — 1944, a joyous fantasia on New York, New York, the show’s hit tune.
Selections from Wonderful Town (1953)
Wonderful Town is the story of two sisters from Columbus, Ohio who move to New York City to further their careers as a writer (Ruth) and an actress (Eileen), and find there a series of humorous misadventures and broken love affairs. Wonderful Town opened at the Winter Garden to excellent reviews on February 25, 1953 (George Abbott directed) and ran for 559 performances; the show won a Tony as Best Musical.
Ruth and Eileen, fresh off the train from Columbus, are tricked into renting an abysmal basement apartment that is continuously rattled by the subway passing below. Unable to sleep on their first night in the big city, they sing that they wish they had never left Ohio.
In A Little Bit in Love, Eileen sings wistfully of her first love in her new hometown.
As the story nears its end, Eileen finds a job singing at the Greenwich Village Vortex, where she belts out the infectious Wrong Note Rag.
Three Dance Variations from Fancy Free (1944)
The ballet Fancy Free is set in a deserted street in lower Manhattan in 1944. Three sailors on shore leave burst onto the scene, meet two girls in a bar, and, in Three Dance Variations, have a competition, judged by the girls, to decide which two of them will have companions for the evening. The first sailor does a boisterous Galop, the second a lyrical Waltz, and the third a sinuous Latin Danzon.
Selections from West Side Story (1957)
In the story, Riff, leader of the Jets, an “American” street gang, determines to challenge Bernardo, head of the rival Sharks, a group of young Puerto Ricans, to a rumble. Riff asks Tony, his best friend and a co-founder of the Jets, to help. Tony has been growing away from the gang, and he senses better things in his future (Something’s Coming), but agrees. The Jets and the Sharks meet that night at a dance in the gym, where they engage in competitive dancing (Mambo) and Tony falls in love at first sight with Maria, Bernardo’s sister, recently arrived from Puerto Rico. Later that night, Tony meets Maria on the fire escape of her apartment (Tonight). The next day, Tony visits Maria at the bridal shop where she works, and they enact a touching wedding ceremony. Tony promises Maria he will try to stop the rumble, but he is unsuccessful and becomes involved in the fighting. He kills Bernardo. Maria learns that Tony has slain her brother. Tony comes to her apartment, but she cannot send him away and they long for a place free from prejudice (Somewhere). Tony leaves and hides in Doc’s drugstore. Maria convinces Anita, Bernardo’s girl, of her love for Tony, and Anita agrees to tell Tony that the Sharks intend to hunt him down. She is so fiercely taunted by the Jets at the drugstore, however, that she spitefully tells Tony that Maria has been killed. Tony numbly wanders the streets and meets Maria. At the moment they embrace, he is shot dead. The Jets and the Sharks appear from the shadows, drawn together by the tragedy. They carry off the body of Tony, followed by Maria.
Grammy and Juno award-winning conductor and composer Bramwell Tovey has most recently added the title of Artistic Director of Calgary Opera Company to his role as Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra and Artistic Advisor to the Rhode Island Philharmonic.
TONY Award, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award Winner for her performance as Essie in You Can’t Take It With You.
Tony nominee and Audience Choice Award winner Santino Fontana has appeared on Broadway in The Importance of Being Earnest, Billy Elliot, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Sunday in the Park with George and co-stars with Laura Osnes in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.
Laura Osnes created the title role of Julia in Bandstand, which transferred from Paper Mill Playhouse to Broadway.
Grammy and Juno award-winning conductor and composer Bramwell Tovey has most recently added the title of Artistic Director of Calgary Opera Company to his role as Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra and Artistic Advisor to the Rhode Island Philharmonic.
Following an exceptional 18-year tenure as Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony, which concluded in summer 2018, he now returns as the orchestra’s Music Director Emeritus. Under his leadership the VSO toured China, Korea, across Canada and the United States. His VSO innovations included the establishment of the VSO School of Music, the VSO’s annual festival of contemporary music and the VSO Orchestral Institute at Whistler, a comprehensive summer orchestral training program for young musicians held in the scenic mountain resort of Whistler in British Columbia.
During 2019/2020 season he returns to the Philadelphia Orchestra for their Christmas concerts and New Year’s Eve Gala as well as the New York Philharmonic’s Parks Concerts in summer 2020. In addition to monthly appearances in London his guest conducting will take him to Scandinavia, San Diego and Sarasota.
In 2003 Bramwell Tovey won the Juno Award for Best Classical Composition for his choral and brass work Requiem for a Charred Skull. His song cycle, Ancestral Voices, which addresses the issue of Reconciliation, was written for acclaimed Kwagiulth mezzo-soprano Marion Newman and premiered in June 2017. His trumpet concerto, Songs of the Paradise Saloon, was commissioned by the Toronto Symphony for principal trumpet, Andrew McCandless and performed in 2014 by Alison Balsom with the LA Philharmonic, the Philadelphia and the London Philharmonic Orchestras. A recording of his opera, The Inventor, commissioned by Calgary Opera, features the original cast, members of UBC Opera and the VSO.
Mr. Tovey was the recipient of the Oskar Morawetz 2015 Prize for Excellence in Music Performance. He was previously Music Director of Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg where he led the world premiere of Penderecki’s Eighth Symphony on the opening of the principality’s new concert hall, the Philharmonie. He won the Prix d’or of the Academie Lyrique Française for his recording of Jean Cras’ 1922 opera Polyphème with OPL and toured with the orchestra to China, Korea, the United States and throughout Europe.
In 2013 he was appointed an honorary Officer of the Order of Canada for services to music. Since 2006 he has been Artistic Director of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.
9/2019
Photo: Epix Studios
TONY Award, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award Winner for her performance as Essie in You Can’t Take It With You.
Tony nominee and Audience Choice Award winner Santino Fontana has appeared on Broadway in The Importance of Being Earnest, Billy Elliot, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Sunday in the Park with George and co-stars with Laura Osnes in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. In 2011, he received acclaim for his starring role in the off-Broadway play Sons of the Prophet.
Laura Osnes created the title role of Julia in Bandstand, which transferred from Paper Mill Playhouse to Broadway. After landing her first Broadway role, Sandy in Grease, via the reality casting show You’re The One That I Want!, she quickly became a Broadway favorite in her own right. Ones played Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes, and received Tony Award nominations and Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards for her performance as the title characters in Bonnie and Clyde and Cinderella.
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DONOR INFORMATION
Where are the orchestra concert performances held?
Bravo! Vail orchestral concerts take place at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater (GRFA) located at 530 S. Frontage Rd E Vail, CO 81657
What time do performances begin?
Concerts start promptly at 6:00PM (except for the movie screening which starts at 7:30PM). The GRFA lobby opens 90 minutes prior and gates open 60 minutes prior to performances. Give yourself plenty of time to park and get into the venue. Latecomers will be escorted by ushers at an appropriate interval.
Where do I park?
FREE concert parking is available at the Vail Parking Structure (241 South Frontage Road East, Vail) and the Lionshead Parking Structure (395 South Frontage Road West, Vail). A Town of Vail Special Event express bus provides continuous service from both parking structures to the GRFA before and after concerts. Limited $10 parking is available at Ford Park by the Tennis Center (500 South Frontage Rd). Additional $10 parking is available at the Vail Athletic/Soccer Field lot.
WALKING DIRECTIONS FROM THE VAIL VILLAGE PARKING STRUCTURE:
Via Gore Creek Trail: 15-minute scenic walk
1. Exit the parking garage by following the Pedestrian Exit signs towards “Vail Village” / “Golden Peak”
2. Turn left out of the parking garage onto East Meadow Drive and head east
3. At the end of the road turn right on Vail Valley Drive and cross the road
4. Turn left on the walking path before the bridge, following the street signs towards "Ford Park"
5. Continuing east, follow the walking path along Gore Creek until reaching the GRFA
Via Frontage Road: 15-minute walk
1. From the top level of the parking garage, exit onto the South Frontage Road
2. Turn right and follow the sidewalk east along the south side of the frontage road
3. Cross East Meadow Drive and continue east along the sidewalk
4. Turn right after passing The Wren at Vail on the right
5. Continue down the path down to the GRFA
How long do concerts last?
Concerts generally last 2 hours including intermission. Please call the box office 877.812.5700 for exact running times.
How do I buy tickets?
Tickets, passes, and gift certificates may be ordered in the following ways:
1. Online: bravovail.org
2. By phone: 877.812.5700
3. In person: Bravo! Vail 2271 N Frontage Rd W Suite C, Vail, CO 81657
Bravo! Vail accepts American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards, cash, and checks. There is a $2 fee per ticket. Tickets are delivered by mail or email,or may be picked up at the Box Office.
What are the Box Office hours?
Bravo! Vail Box Office hours are Monday-Friday from 9AM to 4PM. During the Festival, hours include Saturday & Sunday from 10AM to 4PM. The Bravo! Vail Box Office can be reached at 877.812.5700.
The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater box office is open from 11AM until concert start time (5PM on days with no concerts) during the Festival. Tickets for upcoming performances may be purchased on-site at the GRFA before concerts and during intermission.
Where is the Will Call window?
Will Call tickets may be picked up at the Box Office located to the right of the main GRFA entrance lobby. The Box Office is open 11AM to concert start time during the Festival.
Does Bravo! Vail offer group pricing?
Discounts for groups of 15 or more are available for select concerts. Please call 970.827.4316 for more information.
What if I buy tickets and cannot attend?
Tickets are non-refundable. You may exchange your tickets ($7 fee per ticket) by calling the Box Office at 877.812.5700 up to 2 days before the concert. You may release your tickets or leave them for a friend at Will Call by calling the Box Office.
What if I misplace or forget to bring my tickets?
There is no charge to reprint tickets. Please call 877.812.5700 before 3PM on the day of the performance or allow extra time to request new tickets at the Will Call window.
Where are seating options for people with disabilities?
Per the American Disability Act (ADA), the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater is accessible to individuals with disabilities. ADA seating is available in Section 1 Row L and Section 4 Row O in all reserved seating zones and prices (Premium Aisle, Premium, Reserved, and Saver). A limited number of ADA General Admission Lawn seats are available for sale behind Section 2. You must have a designated ADA lawn seat ticket to sit in this area. By purchasing an ADA seat, you are stating that you require an ADA seat. If purchased fraudulently, you may be subject to relocation. If you need assistance purchasing ADA seating, please call the Box Office at 877.812.5700.
What if it rains?
Concerts take place rain or shine. The GRFA is an open-air venue. Refunds are not given due to weather unless a concert is canceled in its entirety with no performance rescheduled.
What should I wear?
There is no dress code for concerts. Please be prepared for rain and cooler temperatures.
What should I bring to the concert?
If you will be on the lawn, a blanket, sunglasses, and a hat are recommended. If rain is predicted, please bring appropriate rain gear. Food, commercially sealed non-alcoholic beverages, low-profile lawn chairs, and umbrellas are permitted at concerts. All backpacks, bags, purses, picnic baskets, and coolers will be checked upon entry.
The following articles are not allowed at the venue: cameras, audio/video recording devices, standard-height lawn chairs, baby strollers, alcoholic beverages, firearms, pets, smoking, skateboards, bicycles, scooters, and skates.
What food and beverages are available for purchase at the GRFA?
Concessions are offered for purchase inside the venue. Menu items include snacks, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. A full bar is also available. All major credit cards and cash are accepted for payment. If you have a pavilion seat, please eat prior to the concert or at intermission.
Are lawn chairs available to rent?
Low-profile lawn chairs are available at the GRFA to rent for $10. You may also rent a lawn chair with your lawn ticket purchase online or by calling the Bravo! Vail Box Office at 877.812.5700. To reserve a lawn chair in advance, please email ticketing@bravovail.org
What are some general rules of concert etiquette?
Please allow time for parking and seating. Concert attendees must silence all mobile devices prior to performances to not disrupt musicians and other patrons. Please limit conversations and other noisy activities during the performance. In the pavilion seating, we recommend eating prior to the concert or at intermission. Parental supervision is required for all children attending Bravo! Vail concerts.
What else should I know?
Vail’s high elevation requires adequate hydration and sun protection. Visitors from lower elevations may experience altitude sickness.
What if I lose something at the concert?
Check with the GRFA box office for lost items at intermission or call 970.748.8497.
What if I still have questions?