Artsnaples

Festival

A TASTE OF 2013!
Anticipation is already building for May of 2013 when ArtsNaples presents its second cultural emersion into the arts of the Latin Americas!  To kick off its homage to this culturally rich and artistically vibrant region of the world, ArtsNaples has partnered with the Naples Philharmonic Center of the Arts to present the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba on November 5th of this year. TICKETS ARE ON SALE!
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William Noll, Artistic Director for ArtsNaples World Festival 2012, has crafted a week of unique programming for the inaugural Festival. A wide variety of events celebrating indigenously rich Russian heritage will be experienced throughout Collier County with the presence of guest instrumentalists, conductors, vocalists, artists, repertoire, theater, film, fashion, jazz, education, literature, history, and cuisine. This accounts for almost sixty choices of events throughout the week. “Stay in May!™” is the celebratory mantra of ArtsNaples World Festival to our local residents. “Come in May!” is the invitation to our neighbors and to the world.

Orchestra

ArtsNaples is excited to open the Festival with a performance by the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. Celebrating its 30th season in Southwest Florida, the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra is increasingly recognized as one of the top regional orchestras in the United States.

The Festival Opening Night Concert will be presented in Hayes Hall at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts. Mei-Ann Chen will conduct the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, and the guest artist will be the young virtuoso violinist, Augustin Hedelich. The program features Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony and the Brahms Violin Concerto.

The Three Pianists, with Orchestra will be presented in Hayes Hall at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts. William Noll will conduct the Festival Chamber Orchestra, with guest artists Philipp Kopachevsky, Michael Berkovsky and Pavel Nersessian. The program will feature Rachmaninoff’s Suite #2 for Two Pianos, the Bach Concerto for Three Pianos, and the Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos.

Piano Series

Three outstanding Russian pianists have been selected to perform recitals amidst the vibrant artwork of Leonid Semeiko at the von Liebig Art Center. Pavel Nersessian performs Tchaikovsky’s “Seasons.” Michael Berkovsky performs Moussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” and Philipp Kopachevsky performs Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Sonata in Bb minor.” The one-hour programs will feature both the familiar as well as little known gems from the opulent repertoire of Russian piano music.

Chamber Music Series

These special events take place in the main gallery of the Von Liebig Art Center. The one-hour chamber music performances will include Pavel Nersessian playing the Shostakovich Piano Quintet. The two other programs will feature Stravinsky’s l’Histoire du Soldat, as well as string quartets by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev.

Opera

Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” is Maestro Noll’s choice for a grand concert version opera-seria collaboration with Opera Naples. Noll invited Maestro Vladimir Lande to conduct the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra for this extraordinary presentation. Steffanie Pearce is the Artistic Director for Opera Naples. The opera will feature world-class vocalists and will be sung in Russian with English super-titles.

Art Exhibitions

Leonid Semeiko is the featured artist for ArtsNaples World Festival’s inaugural year. His economical and realistic stylings are both simple and sensorily unique. The urban imagery is so strong, yet sensitive, that you almost can feel your own body temperature rise, as if on a stroll of Moscow streets in the Summer. His art is definitely a reflection of the “uber-realists” of the second-half of the 20th Century. The Festival is delighted to have his inspired works as a part of this cultural week at the von Liebig Arts Center.

Louise Nevelson, “A Retrospective” will be presented at the Patty & Jay Baker Naples Museum of Art throughout the week of the Festival. This exhibit contains rarely seen works of this prolific artist who was born in Kiev in 1899. The art ranges from massive wall pieces to more intimate wood sculptures and features the last great works of Nevelson’s career.

Theatre

Festival Artistic Director, William Noll has formed a unique alliance with the talented graduates of Regent University’s Theatre Department for an enchanting production of one of Russia’s best known works, ”The Government Inspector” (also known as “The Inspector General”).  The play was adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original comedy by Russian playwright Nikolai Gogol.  When the locals of a small town in Russia learn that an undercover government inspector is coming for a surprise visit, an unfortunate case of mistaken identity sends the village spiraling into a world of panic and greed. Witty, smart and wildly satirical, The Government Inspector exposes the corruption of a provincial town with biting hilarity.

So Much More

Dozens of additional performances and exhibits are being planned with community collaborators to make the inaugural ArtsNaples World Festival a county-wide extravaganza. Russian jazz artists will delight the late night crowd and Russian Cinema will be served up in a special collaboration with the Naples International Film Festival. Kids of all ages can enjoy Russian toys and dolls at a unique collection on display at the Golisano Children’s Museum. Master classes, and educational outreach programs round out the scope of a week-long immersion into the Cultural Arts of Russia.

Come to Naples in May. Stay in May!™. The whole world’s invited!