From Buffalo with music: The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will conclude Indian River Symphonic Association’s 2019 Festival of Orchestras season in great style, an evening of pure, lush romance under the baton of a Vero favorite, Maestra JoAnn Falletta, next Thursday, April 4, at Community Church of Vero Beach. Falletta is music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and principal guest conductor of the Brevard Music Center. Says her biography, no less than the Washington Post has lavished high praise on Falletta, describing her technique as having “Toscanini’s tight control over ensemble, Walter’s affectionate balancing of inner voices, Stokowski’s gutsy showmanship, and a controlled frenzy worthy of Bernstein.” Wow. You’ll hear pieces from Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the exotic “Overture to Prince Igor” by Borodin, and “the highlight of the evening,” Brahms’ “Piano Concerto No. 2,” which opens with that horn call, and which premiered to immediate success in 1881. This performance features legendary Italian pianist Fabio Bidini, whose playing, according to the concert promo, has been described as “an ideal alloy of power, poetry and style,” “like hearing Beethoven himself improvise!” High praise indeed. The Indian River Symphonic Association promised us some of the most distinguished symphony orchestras from around the globe – China, Russia, Europe, America too! And they have delivered. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $85.772-778-1070 or irsymphonic.org.
“Ghost Writer” is mysteriously and imaginatively clicking along on Riverside Theatre’s Waxlax Stage, now through April 14. Michael Hollinger’s “Ghost-Writer” is described by dctheatrescene.com as “a tender treatise on unspoken affection, the writing process and what we remember and what we wish were so.” Novelist Fanklin Woolsey falls over dead literally in mid-sentence, while dictating his current work to his secretary Myra. But, oddly, Myra continues to “take dictation,” apparently from beyond the grave. This is understandably met with skepticism by the press, friends and Woolsey’s grieving and jealous widow. “Is Myra a clever forger, trying to steal the novelist’s legacy since she can’t have his love?” the Riverside promo asks. Or, has she somehow tapped into something more mysterious. Fascinating, right? Curtain: Wednesdays – 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays – April 4, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., March 28 and April 11, 7:30 p.m. Fridays – 8 p.m.; Saturdays – 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sundays – 2 p.m. General admission tickets: adults, $55; students 5-17, $27.50. 772-231-6990.
Picture a two-day, Florida country style music festival with live bluegrass, country and classic rock from four different bands, right in our own backyard, so to speak. Back 40 might describe it better because this is the first-ever Groovin’ in the Grove, Saturday and Sunday, March 30 and 31 out at Countryside Citrus. (Yes, an actual grove: 6325 81st St., just north of the Indian River County Fairgrounds. I think this can be considered Official Indian River County-style Boondocks.) Bringing the music Saturday is Penny Creek Bluegrass, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; then the Vince Reed Band, with classic rock and Motown faves, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday it’s live-on-stage country and Southern rock by “Ring of Fire,” 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by the Blue Cypress Bluegrass Band from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. And all weekend long there’ll be craft beer and wine, fresh-squeezed juice and all sorts of food and treats. Not to mention old-fashioned, family-friendly games including, says the promo, “corn hole (this can be addictive), barnyard ballgames, super-size chess, horse shoes and the jump pillow (think huge bounce house with no roof) and rat rollers.” (What in the name of Sam Hill are Rat Rollers?) Well, this sounds like a ton of music and fun. Did I mention kettle corn? Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Tickets: adults, $12/1 day, $20/both days; 13 and under, $7/1 day, $10/both days. 772-581-0999 or CountrysideCitrus.com.
