Busy summer music season heats up
The area’s busy music scene gets even busier with the opening of two summer series in the days ahead, one in Norwalk and one in Westport.
“The Sounds of Summer” returns to the Norwalk Public Library, 1 Belden Ave., on Thursday. Singer- songwriter Sheri Miller returns to the free concert series for the first installment at 6: 30 p. m., followed on Aug. 9 by another area favorite, the versatile jazz vocalist Cookie Thomas.
Miller is a talented performer who has recently been recording her originals in studios in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville.
“This is my finest work yet,” Miller said. “The songs range from empowered pop songs to orchestral, epic ballads to moody, cinematic pieces. It’s been a joy to record them, and I’ve learned to surrender to the music and get out of my own way, more than ever before.”
For her Norwalk show, she will be sprinkling her originals into the set list.
“I’ll be playing uplifting, classic, favorite love songs, from The Beatles to Patsy Cline to Judy Garland to my own original love songs, on guitar,” she said. “My shows at Norwalk are always special with wonderful surprises and fantastic audiences.”
Cynde Lahey, who organizes The Sounds of Summer series, is the director of library information services and presents the programs for adults at the library’s main branch.
“We coordinate programs that are being presented by talented local artists, musicians and writers, and consider that a key component of our programming,” she said. “It is a great challenge and very rewarding to be able to provide such an amazing variety of offerings to our community.”
Norwalk Public Library Director Christine Bradley agreed.
“I believe that live music performed by local musicians is an important part of everyone’s cultural experience, just as it is important to hear an author speak about his or her book, or to hear an artist talk about his or her work. The music performances fit right into our mission of serving as a cultural center for Norwalk’s citizens,” she said.
Meanwhile, in Westport, “Festival Edelio” returns for its second season under the direction of acclaimed violinist, Igor Pikayzen, a Staples High School graduate. The event consists of two classical concerts, with 11 worldclass artists from eight countries appearing.
“Youthful Romanticism” takes place at 7: 30 p. m. Friday at the Unitarian Church of Westport, 10 Lyons Plains Road. “The Inextinguishable” is performed at 7: 30 p. m. on Aug. 7 at Temple Israel, 14 Coleytown Road.
“I wanted to include repertoire that would appeal to a wide array of listeners, be unique, have a message and finally consist of pieces that I, myself, adore,” explained Pikayzen, a RussianAmerican violinist, who performs on both programs. “That is why the first concert, with works by Rachmaninoff, Schubert, Shostakovich, is entitled ‘ Youthful Romanticism.’ All the works were composed when the composers were very young, showcase the full scope of our guest artists’ immense talent and will make those of our listeners who are not regular concert- goers, fall in love with chamber music.
“Our second concert, ‘ The Inextinguishable,’ is dedicated to composers that lived and worked during the Holocaust,” continued Pikayzen. “Two of them, Klein and Schulhoff, actually died in the camps. There is some absolutely incredible music that is only now finally getting the recognition it deserves. Of course, the theme isn’t too upbeat, but this music, composed during the most unimaginable hardship, is more life- affirming than anything one could envision.”
The word “edelio” translated from ancient Greek, means forever youthful, forever relevant, and the title suits the enthusiasm the artistic director brings to the festival.
“The success of every festival is primarily dependent on the community and how engaged it is,” Pikayzen said. “Westport has a history of welcoming artists and being a haven for the arts, so I encourage everyone to come, see and listen to Festival Edelio for themselves, and that is all we need to make Edelio a staple of musical life here for decades to come.”
While Sounds of Summer is free, tickets for Festival Edelio cost $ 10 to $ 25 at FestivalEdelio. com/ 2018, or $ 30 at the door.