2005 RNO-Grove Street Winery Concert Series

The RNO-Grove Street Winery Concert Series featured performances by the orchestra conducted by Carlo Ponti, and by the Russian Wind Quintet. The performances took the musicians to both coasts for two weeks of concerts and special events. The series was made possible through the generosity of Grove Street Winery, Peter Paul, and other patrons and supporters [click here for the full list].

Highlights of the 2005 Grove Street Winery Summer Concert Series included:

On July 28, the RNO premiered a new Magic of Music concert based on Russian fairy tales, The Enchanted Kingdom. The free concert for 1500 school-age children was narrated by former NBA star, actor and producer John Salley.

The following evening, the orchestra returned to Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, California for a performance featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Liadov and Rimsky-Korsakov, followed by a reception featuring Grove Street Winery's ultra-premium Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

On July 30, the RNO appeared at the sixth annual Imagine charity auction, held at Chalk Hill Estate in Sonoma. The event raised a record $2.5 million for children's charities in the U.S. and Russia. [Read more]

The next day, the RNO was the first guest orchestra to perform at the renovated Lincoln Theater in Yountville, Napa Valley. The capacity audience was treated to a performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherezade called by one reviewer "one of the best ever heard." [read the review]
The Russian Wind Quintet continued the concert series by performing benefit concerts for children, sailing in the Pacific, serenading patrons in Connecticut, venturing to the wilds of Vermont and performing with a Governor ...
The first Wind Quintet engagement was a concert at the Napa Valley home of RNO patrons Timothy and Athena Troxel Blackburn, followed by performances at the Bohemian Grove encampment in the redwood forests of Northern California.
The Quintet traveled by boat... ...and by car
...and by stunt plane Flutist Maxim Rubtsov takes in the Golden Gate

 

On August 1, in Newport Beach, the Quintet performed for over 150 civic and business leaders and invited guests during an evening under the stars at the home of Frank Cutler, raising awareness about the RNO and its partner charity in Orange County, the Orangewood Children's Foundation. [more info]
RNO Chief Executive Sergei Markov welcomes the guests Newport Beach City Councilwoman Leslie Daigle gives remarks before performance, while Kirwan Rockefeller, Chair of the Newport Beach Arts Commission (at left) looks on
Orangewood Children's Foundation CEO Gene Howard, with Board member Susan Samueli, giving an overview of the Foundation's accomplishments and plans RNO patron and Grove Street Winery owner Peter Paul (at left), with Jude Blake, Bill and Angela Ashmore, and Sharlee and Aaron Shoolman

 

The next day, the Quintet gave a free Concert in the Park in Newport Beach, featuring works by Liadov, Strauss, Bizet and a special performance of Peter and the Wolf narrated by Sergei Markov.

In recognition of the RNO's accomplishments as well as Malcolm Hill and Mallory Hill's work in bringing the Wind Quintet to Southern California, the City of Newport Beach proclaimed the following August 9 "Russian National Orchestra Day".
 
The proclamation 
On August 3, Dave and Monica Miller Walsh hosted a concert at their San Marino (Los Angeles) home benefiting the Urban Compass program for inner city youth, with the RNOWQ joined by mezzo-soprano Cynthia Jansen.

 

Then it was off to the East Coast, for a performance in Greenwich, Connecticut — at a benefit concert for the RNO's 15th Anniversary Tour next March. [more photos]
15th Anniversary Gala Dinner Chairman Marianne Wyman and the Quintet RNO Chief Executive Sergei Markov and Anthony Daddino

 

Then the Quintet flew to Vermont, for the final performance of the series, which included a special performance of "Wolf Tracks," narrated by Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, at a benefit performance for the Vermont non-profit Project Harmony.
During morning rehearsals, the Quintet was filmed for a spot on the local TV news In the afternoon, the Quintet rehearsed with Vermont Governor Jim Douglas at the Barre Opera House
The performance begins at the Barre Opera House In the second half, the Quintet is joined by Governor Douglas, for the performance of "Wolf Tracks"
A flash-free shot during "Wolf Tracks" offered an interesting musical impression The audience of 200+ was extremely enthusiastic, giving two standing ovations and demanding repeated encores

Tour Schedule