Bolton Landing, NY – The Sembrich is pleased to announce its 2023 Summer Festival Trailblazers. From David Smith to Marin Alsop and Alma Mahler to Philip Glass, the singular achievements of outstanding individuals in arts and culture will be celebrated throughout the season by a stellar line-up of today’s finest concert artists! Trailblazers includes 23 individual events throughout the summer months beginning on June 11 and running through August 30. Tickets are on sale for all events. 

“The art world has always had trailblazers, those unique individuals who forged a route through the wilderness for others to follow,” says The Sembrich’s Artistic Director Richard Wargo. “Our festival this summer is built around a number of these innovators…modernist sculptor David Smith, conductor Marin Alsop, musicians Grigor Piatigorsky and Alma Mahler, composers Franz Liszt, Philip Glass and Lin-Manuel Miranda, to name just a few. A number of our featured performers can be said to be “trailblazers” in their own right: guitar and cello duo Boyd Meets Girl, the all-female horn quartet Genghis Barbie and Hub New Music, whom the Boston Globe praised as ‘contemporary chamber trailblazers.’ We’ve planned an exciting series of programs that we look forward to sharing!”

Highlights of The Sembrich’s 2023 Summer Festival include:

In the Footsteps of Piatigorsky (June 17 – 2PM)
A studio talk and performance by cellist Evan Drachman, dedicated to his celebrated grandfather, Gregor Piatigorsky, one of the pre-eminent string players of the twentieth century. Presented in partnership with The Hyde Collection, the event features music by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein.

Evan Drachman, cello. Photo courtesy of The Sembrich.

Promenade Series
The Sembrich’s lakeside subscription series enters its second season with an exciting lineup of genre-bending groups including the Adirondack Jazz Repertory Ensemble, guitar and cello duo Boyd Meets Girl, and the leading post post-feminist all-female horn experience Genghis Barbie.

Boyd Meets Girl. Photo courtesy of The Sembrich.

Genghis Barbie—the leading post post-feminist feminist all-female horn experience. Photo courtesy of The Sembrich.

The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (July 15 – 7PM)
This presentation with vintage photos by Betty Spinelli is a tale of forbidden love, jealousy and mental instability that resulted in a shocking, cold-blooded murder. The ensuing “trial of the century” mesmerized the public and helped close the curtains on America’s “Gilded Age.”

Touba Family Foundation World Music Wednesday Concerts
A staple in The Sembrich’s Summer Festival, World Music Wednesdays bring cultural traditions from across the globe to the shores of Lake George. This year’s series explores tango traditions with the Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet, Celtic dances with Poor Man’s Gambit, and the haunting strains of Georgian polyphonic singing with acclaimed choral group Iberi.

Pedro Giraudo Quartet. Photo courtesy of The Sembrich.

The Sembrich Film Series
The Sembrich’s evening film series offers complimentary admission for screenings and discussions of recent acclaimed films. This year’s festival presents CODA (2021), Koyaanisqatsi (1982), The Conductor (2021), tick…tick…BOOM! (2021), and Elvis (2022).

Alma Mahler and Her Charmed Circle (July 19 – 2PM)
Discover the life and inspirations of turn-of-the-century muse and femme fatale, Alma Mahler. Featuring quotes from Alma’s diary and music by Mahler, Strauss, and Schoenberg performed by Robert Osborne, bass-baritone and Tammy Hensrud, mezzo-soprano.

Alfred Z. Solomon Masterwork Series
Featuring some of the finest concert artists in the classical music scene, the Masterwork Series celebrates monumental figures in arts and culture including sculptor David Smith, Jean Francaix, Franz Liszt, and more. Artists appearing include 25-year-old virtuoso pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, the trailblazing quartet HUB New Music, and members of The Philadelphia Orchestra. 

Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, piano. Photo courtesy of The Sembrich.

HUB New Music. Photo courtesy of The Sembrich.

Hamilton: The Man, The Musical, The Cultural Phenomenon (August 16 – 2PM)
Celebrated musical theater historian John Kenrick presents a lively studio talk that delves into Lin-Manuel Miranda’s trailblazing blend of hip-hop and Broadway styles in the revolutionary musical Hamilton. 

Tenor Leonardo Sanchez – “Mi México Querido” (“My Beloved Mexico”) (August 26 – 6PM)
An elegant cantina-style gala performance on the lakeshore featuring rising operatic star, tenor Leonardo Sánchez. After five years in Europe, Leonardo has returned to his native roots with a program that evokes the color, tradition, and passion of his beloved Mexico. A not-to-be-missed evening of song and sentiment accompanied by the guitar, guitarrón, vihuela, and accordion – pillars of traditional Mexican music.

Leonardo Sanchez, tenor
Photo courtesy of The Sembrich.

For a full listing of events, or to purchase tickets visit TheSembrich.org/festival. 

Elisabeth Starr Masoudnia, English horn. Photo courtesy of The Sembrich.

The Sembrich’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is being provided by a Market New York grant awarded to The Sembrich from I LOVE NY/ New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

About The Sembrich:

Experience music, history, and nature at The Sembrich in Bolton Landing. The Sembrich features museum exhibitions and an annual summer festival with an exciting mix of world-class musicians, noted musical scholars, a free film series, and the opportunity to enjoy it all on the beautiful shores of Lake George. Listed on the National Historic Register, The Sembrich was once the teaching studio of Polish soprano Marcella Sembrich, one of the most famous musicians at the turn of the 20th century. Visitors can discover her storied legacy, which includes over 400 performances at the Metropolitan Opera and faculty positions at both the Juilliard Graduate School and the Curtis Institute of Music. With a treasured museum, performance series, and over four wooded acres of nature trails to explore, The Sembrich is truly a unique cultural experience.

The Sembrich is located at 4800 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing, NY 12814.

For more information, visit www.TheSembrich.org or contact us at (518) 644-2431 or Office@TheSembrich.org

Photo at top: The Sembrich 2023 Summer Festival Banner (artwork by Fabian Lopez). Photo courtesy of The Sembrich.