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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 2016)
OCTOBER 13, 2016 // 11 Continued from Pg. 10 in Handel’s case, “Water Music” was a itting name. The group was the genesis of the festival. At its inception, it was an all-Baroque offering, but the Water Music Festival’s popularity soon expanded into other musical genres and venues — al- ways true to its founding aims to bring superb music into the area. And year after year it has continued to do so. So here it is, that time of year when music lovers count the days until the fes- tival’s 2016 line-up arrives and then mark their calendars for the 2017 event. World- class musicians take over the peninsula from Ilwaco up to Oysterville. Each and every year somehow the people who put the Water Music Festival together get it right. This coming week- end, organizers are ready and set to go with swinging jazz, a captivating lutist/ guitar duo and a classical pianist promis- ing to captivate audiences. On Friday, Oct.14 at Ilwaco’s Inn at Harbor Village, doors open at 6:30 p.m. for socializing and a no-host wine bar. At 7:30 p.m., Pearl Django sets things swinging, playing gypsy, swing or hot club jazz made famous in Paris in the ’30s by Reinhart Django. Guitarists Neal Andersson and Tim Lerch, bassist Rick Leppanen, violinist Michael Gray and ac- cordionist David Lange make their magic with an expansive repertoire and original compositions. “We play and we sing, we solo, we perform original pieces and we play the standards. This is what we do and we’ve been doing it for a couple of decades,” said Gray. Guest soloist Gail Pettis, hailed as NW Vocalist of the Year in 2010 by the Earshot Jazz Society, will lend and blend what has been dubbed her deliciously soulful sound. Pearl Django and Pettis have performed throughout the U.S. and internationally. Name a locale and they have probably played there. And Pearl Django is just about to release a CD — its 13th. Built circa 1892, Oysterville’s historic church has some of the best acoustics around. At noon Saturday, Oct. 15, the church will host the Cavatina Duo, made up of guitarist Denis Azabagic and lutist Eugenia Moliner. Said to astonish and de- light by the Herald Tribune, the husband- and-wife team perform, live and travel the world together ad dedicated soloists and chamber musicians. “People want to know how we feel sharing the stage,” said Moliner. “It WATER MUSIC FESTIVAL Pearl Django with Gail Pettis 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 Inn at Harbour Village 120 Williams Ave. N.E., Ilwaco, Wash. $35 Cavatina Duo Noon Saturday, Oct. 15 Oysterville Church 33590 Territory Road, Oysterville, Wash. $30 Tien Hsieh 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 Leadbetter Farms 35710 I Place, Ocean Park, Wash. SOLD OUT SUBMITTED PHOTO Originally from China but born in Taiwan, classical pianist Tien Hsieh has appeared in recitals for festi- vals, colleges, and cultural and art centers across the U.S., as well as in Germany, China, and most recently, in Budapest, Hungary. SUBMITTED PHOTO Gail Pettis sold her orthodontic practice in 2006 to pursue a career as a jazz vocalist full time. “For me, emotion is the currency of jazz,” she says. PHOTO BY DANNY MILLER Lilyana Doupé, an Illwaco High School mu- sician, will open the sold-out Saturday eve- ning concert at Leadbetter Farms. SUBMITTED PHOTO Cavatina Duo, fea- turing husband-and- wife team Denis Az- abagic on guitar, left, and Eugenia Moliner on lute, will perform at noon Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Oyster- ville Church. sounds like I’m exaggerating but it’s true: As musicians we are engrossed in what is very, very, special. There is something very trusting. My husband is my best friend. We have our own time but we are very lucky to be able to work together, sharing our passion for music.” Combining their instruments with their range of repertoire that breaks conven- tion, they offer their audiences new perspectives on making music. It’s great news for lucky ticket holders on Saturday evening. That’s when the remarkable Leadbetter Farms opens its estate gates (literally) at 6 p.m. Welcome to magic land both inside and out. An hour-long no-host wine and nibbles along with background music by Illwaco High School sophomore Lily Doupé and her guitar will set the tone for the 7 p.m. program. The disappointing news for the ticketless: The Saturday evening concert is sold out. (As advised earlier: Get next year’s dates on your calendars.) Saturday evening’s program brings international classical pianist Tien Hsieh front and center. Combining her classical talents and a love of travel, accolades follow her where ever and whenever she appears. The New York Concert Review called her performance “unusually im- pressive” and “compelling” after a recital at Carnegie Hall. Awards, recordings — her latest hitting number one on Amazon in May 2015 in classical and keyboard categories — the list goes on. A prizewin- ner of the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, Hsieh is the daughter of a classical pianist. “I was basically playing the piano before I was born,” she said. Her exquisite talent, a warm and approachable personality, and her sense of humor mingle together delivering a delightful and remarkable presentation. “I love what I do,” she said. At 32 years old, the Water Music Festival continues to provide two days of memorable music, mixing top artistic variety, pleasing peninsula audiences as well as travelers who come year after year from near and far. In 2013, fundraising to support music in area schools became a part of giving back to the community. Each year, a portion of ticket proceeds from festival events are donated to the local schools, enriching the musical environment for students. And each year, one of the festi- val’s performers visits area schools. On Monday, Oct. 17, Tien Hsieh will share her talents with peninsula students in the Water Music Festival’s artist outreach program. “I know, I know, I know. Each year I say this year is extraordinary. And each year it is!” said Diane Marshall, festival board vice president and concert chair. Tickets remain for the irst two con- certs Oct. 14 and 15. For more informa- tion, maps of the venues and to order tickets, visit watermusicfestival.com
