The Caramoor International Music Festival

Founded in 1945, the Caramoor International Music Festival has already been a popular annual event in Katonah, New York, for many years. The summer music festival is held at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts Inc., which is located on a massive 90-acre estate that includes a Mediterranean stucco villa. This Spanish-styled facility provides the perfect backdrop for this premier of culture and music.

The Caramoor legacy started shortly after World War II. Walter and Lucie Rosen, then the owners of the Caramoor estate, lost their son during the war and decided to donate the property in memory of their beloved son. Their decision could not have had a more lasting impact. The estate quickly became the home of an established and noteworthy art center, complete with one of the largest outdoor music festivals in the New York metropolitan area. The festival’s performances are held at various locations at this spacious villa, with the Spanish Courtyard and the 1 700-seat Venetian Theater taking center stage. The Music Room is also regularly used to house concerts all year round and other facilities are provided under the cover of massive tents that are set up on the grounds.

The annual summer Caramoor International Music Festival sees a wide variety of musical talents and styles each year. While the festival’s main focus for the past eight year’s has been on Bel Canto Opera, music lovers can also expect to enjoy string quartets, a variety of soloists, a two-day jazz festival and concerts by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. The Bel Canto Opera explores the bel canto repertoire and is always performed with a sure measure of excellence under the watchful direction of director Will Crutchfield. Recent years has seen skillful and rare semi-staged performances of Rossini’s ‘Othello’, Donizetti’s ‘Elisabetta’, La sonnambula and La traviata.

This year’s Caramoor International Music Festival will be held from June 21 to August 3 with a delightful and varied program planned for every day of the festival. The soloist performances will feature the best musicians from around the world on a variety of instruments, while quartets and other highlights on the program promise to be memorable. You can find plenty of information about amenities, accommodation, ticket prices and more on the official Caramoor website.