R & R Concerts Name Change To Roosevelt Island Concerts As It Begins 12th Season Bringing Outstanding Chamber & Classical Music To Roosevelt Island, All Mozart Concert March 23 At Good Shepherd - Seeking Donations To Support Providing World Class Music For Entire RI Community

For the last 12 years, Roosevelt Island residents have been very fortunate to be the home of the R&R Concerts free classical music series at the Good Shepherd Community Center.

Take a listen.



Today, R&R Concert Series organizer and Roosevelt Island resident Marc Diamond announces a new name for the classical music concert series - Roosevelt Island Concerts -
 

 Image From Roosevelt Island Concerts

 and reports the following:

The concert series that has been presenting extraordinary performances of classical music on Roosevelt Island for more than a decade will now be known as Roosevelt Island Concerts. As one of the few New York series presenting both chamber music and orchestral concerts, its rich repertoire draws audiences from Roosevelt Island and throughout New York City.

The first event presented as Roosevelt Island Concerts — on March 23 — will feature an all-Mozart program, with Benjamin Hochman conducting the Roosevelt Island Orchestra and soloing in two piano concertos. First up on the program is the Overture to the Marriage of Figaro. All events in the series take place at Good Shepherd Church, the 1888 acoustically wonderful NYC landmark at the heart of Roosevelt Island.

Season XII will continue with the Summer Series, organized by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra cellist Iris Jortner and Israeli Opera violinist and violist Ralph Allen. Guest performers will be announced in the late spring.

The series has maintained a goal of providing world-class music to all New Yorkers and to everyone in its home community of Roosevelt Island, whose diverse population includes residents of subsidized housing as well as million-dollar condominiums. Beginning in March, concertgoers will be asked for a donation of a suggested amount, which will help keep the series affordable to all. Complementing the concerts, outreach events at area healthcare and senior facilities bring the joy of beautiful music to those who might not otherwise be able to experience it.

The series is now in the midst of a major fundraising campaign with the aim of compensating performers at appropriate and competitive levels, expanding the number of creative and tireless individuals who help produce our events, and providing pianists with an instrument of high quality on which to perform.

Founded as R&R Concerts, the series continues to honor the memory of its namesake Robin & Rosemary Russell, who brought to Roosevelt Island a highly regarded series of concerts and a music school. Building on their spirit, and with the deep support of the community as a vital part of its cultural life, Roosevelt Island Concerts will continue to bring extraordinary classical performances to Roosevelt Island as it expands its geographic and artistic reach.

The newly redesigned website is at riconcerts.org.

Check out future Roosevelt Island Concert events, learn about the Orchestra and help support the concert series.

Here's 2008 post from the first Robin & Rosemary Russel Roosevelt Island classical music concert.

You're Invited To An Evening Of Free Roosevelt Island Classical Music Saturday December 15- R&R Concerts Presents Triple Threat Of Violin, Piano & Cello Acclaimed Musicians Performing Haydn, Ravel & Brahms

According to R&R Concerts:

Saturday evening on Roosevelt Island: a special collaboration among three extraordinary musicians

TRIPLE THREAT
7:30 pm Saturday, December 15, at Good Shepherd Center
543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island |

No admission fee. Contributions to the concert series are welcome.

Inmo Yang violin
Hailed by the Boston Globe for “seamless technique and a tender warmth of tone,” he won the 54th International Violin Competition in Genoa, Italy, marking the first time since 2006 that the jury awarded First Prize.

Julia Hamos piano
Winner of the Sterndale Bennett Prize at the Royal Academy of Music and the Mannes College of Music Fidelman Prize for contemporary music, she performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician.

Oliver Aldort cello
A member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, he also peforms as a soloist throughout North America, appearing with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Northwest, and the Newton Symphony Orchestra.

Haydn Trio in a major
Ravel Trio
Brahms Trio No. 1 in B Major

If you're considering supporting R&R Concerts, contribute now at certain levels to receive reserved seats for performances throughout the next year, including on December 15.

The 2018 Season is underwritten by Hudson/Related's Riverwalk Point and Pierre Courmont and Raymond M. Wapner and many more

Here's a sample from the Triple Threat - In Mo Yang,



Julia Hamos



and Oliver Aldort.



The Roosevelt Island R&R Classical music concerts are a real treat.



If you haven't been to one yet, do yourself a favor a try it out.

30 Piece Orchestra Performs Beethoven & Tchaikovsy Free Roosevelt Island Classical Music Concert Saturday October 27 At Good Shepherd Plaza - You're Invited To Attend

According to R&R Concerts:

THE ORCHESTRA RETURNS TO ROOSEVELT ISLAND

Join us for a special concert on Saturday, October 27. Benjamin Hochman conducts a 30-piece orchestra performing Beethoven's 8th Symphony and Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings.

7:30 pm Saturday, October 27, at Good Shepherd Center

543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island

This special concert is made possible through the generosity of Martha Lou Henley, Judith Pisar, Suzanne Lubell

If you're considering supporting R&R Concerts, contribute now at certain levels to receive reserved seats for performances throughout the next year, including on October 27.

The 2018 Season is underwritten by Hudson/Related's Riverwalk Point and Pierre Courmont and Raymond M. Wapner and many more

UPDATE 10/27 - Here's a teaser for tonight's concert.

30 Piece Orchestra Performs Beethoven & Tchaikovsy Free Roosevelt Island Classical Music Concert Saturday October 27 At Good Shepherd Plaza - You're Invited To Attend https://t.co/ztYA2M7uyI pic.twitter.com/4ZbCHE9OGv

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) October 27, 2018

You're Invited To An Evening Of Free Roosevelt Island Classical Music Saturday July 21- R&R Concerts Summer Series Presents Performances Of Haydn's Gypsy & Dvorak's Dunky

According to R&R Concerts

R&R Concerts presents

Gypsy and Dumky!

cellist Iris Jortner
violinist Ralph Allen
pianist Benjamin Hochman

at Roosevelt Island's Good Shepherd Center this Saturday evening:

Haydn
Trio in G Major, Hob. XV:25 “Gypsy”

Dvorak
Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90 “Dumky”

Thanks to our sponsors and generous audiences, there will be no admission fee.

7:00 pm Saturday, July 21
Good Shepherd Center
543 Main Street
R&R's 2018 Summer Series
Sunday June 24
Tuesday July 10
Saturday July 21
Monday August 20

THE R&R CONCERT SERIES 2018 SEASON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
HUDSON/RELATED’S RIVERWALK POINT

AND GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
PIERRE COURMONT AND RAYMOND M. WAPNER

and many more supporters

You're Invited To An Evening Of Free Roosevelt Island Classical Music - R&R Concerts Summer Series Presents Performances Of Beethoven & Franck Tuesday July 10 At Good Shepherd Center

According to R&R Concerts

Join us for a great evening of classical music:

Elisabeth Perry, violin
Cenovia Cummins, violin
Richard Wolfe, viola
Matthias Neagele, cello
Iris Jortner, cello
Elaine Hou, piano

Beethoven
Duo for Viola and Cello in Eb Major

Beethoven
Piano Trio Op. 97 in Bb Major “Archduke”

Franck
Piano Quintet in F minor

TUESDAY, JULY 10
7:00 PM at GOOD SHEPHERD CENTER

No admission fee

R&R's 2018 Summer Series
Sunday June 24
Tuesday July 10
Saturday July 21
Monday August 20

THE R&R CONCERT SERIES 2018 SEASON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY HUDSON/RELATED’S RIVERWALK POINT

AND GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY PIERRE COURMONT AND RAYMOND M. WAPNER

and many more supporters

Roosevelt Island Resident, Musician And Advertising Legend Roy Eaton Plays I Remember Mama Saturday May 26 At Good Shepherd Community Center - You're Invited To This Free Concert

Roosevelt Island resident, advertising industry legend and musician Roy Eaton plays I Remember Mama Saturday May 26 at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street) presented by R&R Concerts.

You're invited to this free concert. According to R&R Concerts:

Roy Eaton plays I Remember Mama

The New York Times: "The cumulative effect was deeply satisfying. One came much closer to the heart of Chopin—and by extension, to music itself," in praise of a solo concert by Roy Eaton at Alice Tully Hall.

Don't miss Roy Eaton in concert this coming Saturday, May 26:

7:00 PM at GOOD SHEPHERD CENTER
BACH • MOZART • CHOPIN • BILL EVANS • JOPLIN

No admission fee.

THE R&R CONCERT SERIES 2018 SEASON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY HUDSON/RELATED’S RIVERWALK POINT

AND GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY PIERRE COURMONT AND RAYMOND M. WAPNER

Learn more about Roy Eaton's advertising career





and take a listen to his music.



Enjoy the concert.

Roosevelt Island R&R Summer Series Of Classical Music Begins Saturday June 24 At Good Shepherd Center - Bach, Janacek & Beethoven

The Roosevelt Island R&R Summer Series Concerts starts tomorrow, June 24 at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street)

Image From R&R Concerts

According to R&R Concerts:

The 2017 Summer Series begins this Saturday!

Bach Sonata No. 4 in C minor, BWV 1017
Janáček Violin Sonata
Beethoven Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 96

with Ralph Allen and Benjamin Hochman

7:30 pm Saturday, June 24, at Good Shepherd Center

2017 Summer Series

Saturday June 24 at 7:30
Thursday July 6 at 7:00
Friday July 21 at 7:30
Monday August 21 at 7:00

Concerts are presented at Good Shepherd Center with no admission fee.

Help kick off a second decade of extraordinary classical-music performances, and support the series with a tax-deductible contribution that will expand our schedule and keep the concerts free.

The 2017 Season is underwritten by Hudson/Related's Riverwalk Point and Pierre Courmont and Raymond M. Wapner Burton J. and Florence M. Kirshner and many more.

Details on these and additional fall concerts at rrconcerts.org.

Do you play?

The Classical Musicians' Rehearsal Symphony Orchestra, also based on Roosevelt Island, is New York's only dedicated reading orchestra, welcoming the participation of musicians across the classical spectrum.

Coming up...

Thursday, June 29 12 noon until 2 p.m.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5: Op. 67, C minor

Details at http://www.rehearsalsymphony.com

Ah! Bach



Here's Glenn Gould-Yehudi Menuhin-J.S.



Bach-Violin Sonata No.4

Roosevelt Island Christmas Trees For Sale By PS/IS 217 PTA At Motorgate Plaza, Senior Center Holiday Bazaar, R&R Holiday Beethoven Concert & Chabad Lubavitch Build A CANorah Menorah This Weekend

A busy Roosevelt Island Holiday weekend coming up.

The Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA reports:

After almost 40 years, Geoff Kerr and the Boy Scouts have been running the Christmas tree sale on the island, but he's ready to pass on the tradition to the 217 PTA. With only two weeks notice the PTA was able to bring in Hoboken Farms to sell trees on the island. They will be donating a percentage of their proceeds to the PTA, so please support them and support our school!

It took a lot of effort and coordination from a few PTA members to get the sale here on such short notice. We apologize for not having information to share with the community sooner, and hope you still plan to get your tree here on Roosevelt Island. Please let your friends and neighbors know trees will be sold each weekend this month until they sell out.

The Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA) reports:

RISA Annual Holiday Bazaar on

Saturday & Sunday
December 5th & 6th
10:00AM- 5:00PM
546 Main St
(senior center)

Holiday Shopping Early
Great food….Raffles….

Tables: $25 for 1 day
$30 for 2 days
(racks $5 each)

Contact RISA Board members at Roosevelt Island Senior Center, 546 Main St. From 10am-12pm,Monday- Friday or email whersh@nyc.rr.com

Check out the new Roosevelt Island Seniors Association Facebook Page.

R&R Concerts report:

Join us for an extraordinary Roosevelt Island event:

Beethoven's Symphony #1

Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Benjamin Hochman, conductor
Audrey Abela Caitlin Kelley Casey Tamanaha
Claudia Schaer Colin Jacobsen Efe Baltacigil
Elizabeth Harraman Hsuan-Fong Chen Hyun Ju Jang
James Deitz Jesse MacDonald Jessica Thompson
John Marcus Josh Rubin Karen Dekker
Ken Hamao Laura Lutzke Marta Lambert
Pala Garcia Patricia Wang Patrick Furlo
Peter Arfsten Raman Ramakrishnan Rebekah Heller
Rubin Khodeli Tim Gocklin Wojtek Komsta

7:30 pm this Saturday, December 5, at Good Shepherd Center
Admission is free

And from the Chabad Lubavitch Of Roosevelt Island:

Join us in spreading the light this of Chanukah by helping build a CANorah (a Menorah made entirely from food cans)! All cans will be donated to the needy together with the Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA).

You CAN make a difference!

Sunday, December 6th at 4:00pm at the Tram Lawn, bring along canned food that you would like to donate to the needy. Together, we will build the CANorah. The CANorah will stand proudly on the Tram Lawn for the 8 days of Chanukah and will then be distributed.

For more information or questions, please email us or call us 212-652-5660.

You can also pick up some Roosevelt Island Holiday gifts at the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) Visitors Kiosk.

R&R Concerts Present Music Of Mozart, Schumann And Tchaikovsky Tonight 7 PM At Roosevelt Island Good Shepherd Community Center

Image From R&R Concerts

You're invited to R&R Concerts free presentation tonight of Mozart, Schuman & Tchaikovsy. According to R&R Concerts:

The program for Monday at 7pm:

W. A. Mozart
String Quartet in Bb Major K. 159

R. Schumann
Piano Quintet in Eb Major Op. 44

P. I. Tchaikovsky
Romances for Soprano and String Quartet
arranged for String Orchestra by Alexander Brott

Sharon Azrieli Perez, soprano
Dan Weiser, piano
Ralph Allen, violin
David Horak, violin
Marcia Cassidy, viola
Iris Jortner, cello

7:00 pm this Monday (August 24) at Good Shepherd Center on Roosevelt Island. Admission is free.

Roosevelt Island R&R Holiday Concert Tonight At Good Shepherd - Bach's Cantata 82 With One Baritone, Ten Instruments And A Conductor

Image From R&R Concerts

According to R&R Concerts:

Saturday, December 6, 2014

The Holiday Concert

Good Shepherd Center
543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY

7:30 PM

Conor McDonald, baritone
Nicolas Duchamp, flute
Ralph Allen, violin
Amie Weiss, violin
Anthony Vine, violin
Maxim Moston, violin
Karen Dekker, viola
Katherine Cherbas, cello
Troy Rinker, bass
Bob Wolinsky, harpsichord
Kathy Halvorson, oboe
Gustav Highstein, conductor

Johann Sebastian Bach

Cantata BWV 82: “Ich habe Genug”
Orchestral Suite No.2 in b minor, BWV 1067
Violin Concerto in E Major, BWV 1042

Celebrate Late Summer Lyricism Concert With Spanish Prodigy Arriaga And Beethoven At Roosevelt Island's R&R Concert Presentation Tonight

The folks from our local R&R Concerts are presenting a Late Summer Lyricism concert tonight.

Image From R&R Concerts

According to R&R Concerts:

Monday, August 25, 2014

Late Summer Lyricism

Good Shepherd Center
543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY

7:00 PM

Young Genius and Mature Master

Spanish prodigy Arriaga wrote his quartet when he was 16, Beethoven composed "The Harp" quartet at 39. Join us as we celebrate the end of summer with these fascinating and dramatic works.

Salley Koo, violin
Ralph Allen, violin
Lisa Matricardi, viola
Iris Jortner, cello

Here's a bit of Arriaga.



More on R&R Roosevelt Island concerts from previous post.

Roosevelt Island Midsummer Night's Music Presented By R&R Concerts Tonight At Good Shepherd Community Center

The folks from our local R&R Concerts are presenting a Midsummer Night's Music tonight.

According to R&R Concerts:

Midsummer Night’s Music

Good Shepherd Center
543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY

7:30 PM

Elizabeth Perry, violin
Ralph Allen, violin
Richard Wolfe, viola
Anthony Vine, viola
Iris Jortner, cello
Peter Weitzner, bass
Francine Kay, piano

I attended last week's Beautiful Beethoven Concert and it was beautiful.

Attending Roosevelt Island Beautiful #Beethoven concert tonight presented by R&R Concerts at Good Shepherd pic.twitter.com/64OnVU3viT
— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) July 19, 2014

Some background from R&R Concerts:

Rosemarie & Robin Russell, through their love of music and generosity of spirit, brought world-class concerts and music education to Roosevelt Island. To build upon this legacy, R&R Concerts is bringing highly accomplished musicians to a new generation of Roosevelt Island families...

In the week before each concert, Public Outreach Performances are held at community centers on the Island to provide residents who have limited mobility the opportunity to learn about the music, talk with the musicians and hear excerpts from the concert program...

More about R&R Concerts here.

R&R Concerts received $7,000 in 2014 Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Funds.

Report From RIRA President Ellen Polivy - Roosevelt Island Life And Death, Passings Of Construction Adviser Adek Apfelbaum, Young Ben Imbrogno And Building Our Community

Adek Apfelbaum Testimony To 2/6/13 NYC Planning Commission on Cornell NYC Tech Project

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) President Ellen Polivy sends the following Report To The Community:

In this column I am focusing on the theme of building our community. I focus on two people recently departed who made a difference here and the wonderful fairs and performances and celebrations that bring our neighbors together. All these gatherings create an active engaged community.

In last month’s column I wrote that Roosevelt Islanders started hugging to celebrate the memory of the young island resident Ben Imbrogno who died at the way too young age of 21. At his memorial this past Saturday strikingly similar speeches were given by each person who remembered Ben. Each gave their version of how it felt to get a hug from him and to feel truly accepted for themselves. Ben gave love and elicited love from everyone he knew.

Image Of Ben Imbrogno

The apt quote on his memorial program was from Henry David Thoreau. “The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when someone asked me what I thought and attended to my answer.”

The mother of one of Ben’s friends remembered when her son met Ben. He was the new kid in school. Ben immediately embraced him in a big hug, a greeting and friendship. He knew every day would start with one of Ben’s hugs.

What stood out for me was that despite his struggles with learning difficulties in an achievement oriented world, Ben was able to focus on the gift that he did have which was his ability to be really present, to listen and to respond as a warm human being.

That gift came from a young man who was unable to achieve what most young people feel are the important things in life. Success in school. His lasting gift to all who knew him is that he changed the way they view what is important. Perhaps it was his struggles that gave him the precocious insight that school or financial success is not what matters. Perhaps it was the unconditional love of his parents that gave him the self esteem to keep putting himself out for people. Regardless of the reasons, the lesson he taught us is that how we treat each other is the key to success.

The number of hugs given in honor of Ben Imbrogno were 1,546. Keep it up! I would like to see the Ben hugs become the traditional count at each RIRA event. If you are willing to play along, I will be happy to report on the number of hugs that were given in the next two weeks and in any column thereafter where I get a cumulative count. We need to make our world a kinder and gentler place.

In memorium

The Roosevelt Island Community Coalition is saddened by the passing of Adek Apfelbaum, our construction advisor. He was a powerful help in dealing with Cornell and advising us on what we should be asking for. We will miss his kind and gentle manner and his steely will in fighting for the protection of his community. His son Randy, also a construction cost engineer, has generously offered to continue his father’s legacy of advice to the community.

We already miss Adek. We are deeply grateful to his son for continuing his work.

How wonderful it is to be on Roosevelt Island where people see the need, have the expertise, and step up. It is an even greater gift when their children see the need and continue that help.

Fall For Arts

The Fall for Arts festival, sponsored by RIOC, was a wonderful day in Southpoint Park. The activites were scattered around the lawn and the paths showing off the best parts of the park. I loved walking aroundwatching the children and parents participate in the many art activities.

The activities at the park were mostly geared to children but many could be enjoyed by all. Tables were set up by local community groups and artists to allow participants to experience different art forms. I stood on line at the candy sculpture and watched two artists create the Chinese art form making crispy delicate delicious dragons on a stick out of dripped molton sugar. It was both beautiful and fascinating watching an artist create whimsical characters out of such a simple substance. RIVAA gave a pastel class in their gallery and other artists created the large murals that we will see beautifying the lawn on the south side of Rivercross and perhaps eventually being moved to Motorgate for a permanent display.

Creating a sense of community

What makes our community so full of life? It is the participation of the residents in the multitude of activities that exist here.

RIOC, to its credit brings the community together in the many annual fairs and programs it sponsors. We have movies in the park summer, Fall for arts in Autumn, It joins Urban America in sponsoring Roosevelt Island Day and the Halloween parade and festival, The Christmas tree lighting festival happens when the snow might be falling. Other groups jump in and sponsor other annual events that draw crowds. The Menorah Lighting event is sponsored by Roosevelt Island Chabad with jelly donuts and cider for all. RIRA has begun sponsoring an annual Easter Egg Hunt and Cherry Blossom Festival.

Moving on to the regularly scheduled events that are open to all. RIRA has a monthly meeting on the first Wednesday of each month at 8pm at the Good Shepherd Community Center. The first Sunday of each month is a fabulous jazz ensemble at the Gallery RIVAA with dancing and food. RIOC has a monthly meeting and monthly committee meetings. Toastmasters meets twice a month.

For women only, there is a monthly womens movie group. Women watch a film that focuses on theme about a women’s issue. Afterwards is a discussion ably facilitated by a psychotherapist. The Roosevelt Island women’s health organization has monthly meetings that bring women together to discuss how to improve their physical well being. Healthy food is served at both these events. These two groups give women a chance to interact and get to know one another.

Sponsored by RIRA, the cherry blossom festival and the Easter Egg Hunt and the RIRA showcases which emphasize the talents of our residents.

The Main Street Theater and Dance Alliance provides quality entertainment.

The R &R concert series brings us quality music in memory of Rosemarie and Robin Russell who used to run the music school and bring musicians to Roosevelt Island to entertain.

Last but not least, the WIRE and this blog and the kiosks are the three important communications outlets on the Island. Without each of them the ability to reach out to the community would be severely limited. RIRAonline.com is becoming a tool as well with our RIRA committee meetings and events being posted.

The biggest way to feel a sense of community it to get involved and volunteer to help create any of these wonderful events. Many people are needed to produce every activity. One of them could be you. Please choose something and get involved. The activities are listed in the WIRE under coming events or you can email me or contact us at our website RIRAonline.com and ask how to get involved in a particular organization. We will put you in touch with the right person.

The Korean Association offers the gift of a Pavillion

Southpoint park has lots of lovely nooks and crannies and is a fun place to amble. It is lacking several things. One is running water and real bathrooms. The other is a covered structure. The Korean Association has generously offered to gift the park a beautiful pavilion in the shape of pavilions in use all over Korea. Such traditional structures have been shown to be sturdy and maintenance free structures that withstand the elements. They provide covered seating areas and open space for relaxing and socializing. At our last RIRA meeting the Common Council agreed to support the concept of a Pavillion in Southpoint park. It is now up to RIOC real estate committee and the engineers to evaluate the form and structure of the Korean design and determine whether it is a structure that could be placed somewhere in the park. They will also determine whether and where there is a place for it in the park.

Roosevelt Island Children's Concert Today 4 PM At Riverwalk Commons - R&R Concerts Present Guitarist Troy Schremmer and Violinist Ralph Allen

Image From R&R Concerts

R&R Concerts is presenting a free Children's Concert this afternoon, 4 PM, at the Riverwak Commons. According to R&R Concerts:

Bring the kids for some great fun with guitarist and singer Troy Schremmer accompanied by violinist Ralph Allen outdoors on the grass at Riverwalk Commons just behind the Roosevelt Island subway station.

Here's more on Troy Schremmer.



UPDATE 8:40 PM - No doubt about it, the kids and parents had a great time at today's Children's Concert with Troy Schremmer and Ralph Allen. Here's a sample.

Today On Roosevelt Island - Gallery RIVAA Opening Reception For Looking Back Looking Forward Photography Exhibition and R & R Concerts Presentation Of Igor Stravinski's A Soldiers Tale

From Roosevelt Island's Gallery RIVAA:

Looking Back, Looking Forward
Photography
Saturday, June 1, 2013 - Sunday, July 14, 2013
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 1st from 6-9pm

Image From Gallery RIVAA

RIVAA reflects on its past 11 years and future through photography. An exhibition of RIVAA members and guests.

Also, tonight is the free Rosemarie & Robin Russel Family Concert Series presentation of The Soldiers Tale starting 7:30 PM at Good Shepherd Community Center:

Join us for the presentation of Stravinsky's modern masterpiece, a timeless fable of a soldier on leave who is seduced by the Devil into giving up his fiddle in exchange for limitless riches.

In R&R's most ambitious project to date, we are joined by narrator Dov Scheindlin, conductor Gustav Highstein, and a hot band of seven superb musicians.

Here's a sample of A Soldier's Tale.

Roosevelt Island Free Holiday Concert Today 7 PM Presented By R&R Concerts - 3 Bradenburg Bach Concertos and 12 Players

The folks from our local R&R Concerts are presenting their biggest concert ever tonight, 7 PM, at the Good Shepherd Community Center with a Holiday Concert featuring three of Bach's Bradenburg Concertos and 12 players. According to R&R Concerts:

7pm Sunday, December 23 at Good Shepherd Center.
12 players. 3 Brandenburg Concertos. 1 great evening.

Image From R&R Concerts

In the meantime, enjoy Bach's Brandenburg Concertos No.3

Vanhal, Mozart & Dvorak Playing Tonight 8 PM At Roosevelt Island's R&R Free Family Concert Series

Image From R&R Concerts

Received this message from the folks who put on the Rosemarie & Robin Russell Family Concert Series on Roosevelt Island, R&R Concerts:

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Vanhal Mozart Dvorák

Ralph Allen, violin
Mioi Takeda, violin
Tawnya Popoff, viola
Iris Jortner, cello
Byron Schenkman, piano

Good Shepherd Center
543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY

8:00 PM

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sonata in A Major, K. 526 for violin and piano

Johann Baptist Vanhal
Quartet in E-flat Major, op. 40, no. 1 for piano and strings

Antonín Leopold Dvořák
Quintet in A Major, op.81 for piano and strings

Admission is FREE

More on the Roosevelt Island R&R Family Concert Series from previous posts.

Music Of The French Baroque Presented Tonight By The Rosemarie & Robin Russell Family Concert Series On Roosevelt Island - Come Hear Music of Rameau, Leclair & Mondonville On A Rainy Night

Image From R&R Concerts

Received this message from the folks who put on the Rosemarie & Robin Russell Family Concert Series on Roosevelt Island, R&R Concerts:

Music of the French Baroque

Ralph Allen, violin
Iris Jortner, cello
Robert Wolinsky, harpsichord

Good Shepherd Center
543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY

8:00 PM

Music of
Rameau • Leclair • Mondonville

Admission is FREE

More on the R&R Concert Series from previous posts. and a brief sample of French Baroque from Rameau.



If you have not been to a R&R Classical Music Concert before and are looking to stay closer to home on a rainy Roosevelt Island night, give it a try.

There's also the Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance Cole Porter Musical and Unorthodox Book Reading at Gallery RIVAA today as well.

This Weekend On Roosevelt Island - Friday Night R&R Concert With Roy Eaton, Early Saturday/Sunday Morning NY Junior League Tennis Program For Kids, Sunday Opening Reception At Gallery RIVAA For Arline Jacoby's Made In America and Sunday Football Too

Here's what is happening this weekend on Roosevelt Island.

Image From R&R Concert

 Later tonight at 8 PM the Rosemarie and Robin Russell Family Concert Series on Roosevelt Island will be presenting local resident Roy Eaton at the Good Shepherd Community Center, 543 Main Street. From R&R Concerts

I Play for Peace
Roy Eaton, piano

Good Shepherd Center
543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY

8:00 PM

Bach, Mozart, Chopin,
Satie, Bill Evans, Arvo Pärt

Admission is FREE

More on Mr. Eaton and listen to him play Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu here.

Early Saturday and Sunday morning there will be a free tennis program for kids. According to the New York Junior Tennis League's (NYJTL) Joyce Mincheff:

The NYJTL will begin our Early Morning Program Saturday, November 12 and ending late March 2012 at the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club (281 Main Street). It's free for all kids 5 to 18 yrs. of age. 6-8 AM on Saturdays and Sundays,  Equipment is furnished, free of charge. We even serve breakfast at 8 AM.  This year we'll feature "10 and Under Tennis" in the new USTA format with minicourts and foam balls.

Also, we will be accommodating PEE-WEES as well, using the USTA 10 and under format. Children may attend from the age of 5 but please know that it's an absolute minimum, 4 years, 10 months is not okay. They really need to wait 'til the child's 5th birthday. Little ones, 5 to 7, start at 7 AM. For all others, the program's hours are 6 to 8 AM.

All children need REAL sneakers.... not just rubber soled shoes. Also, we provide breakfast cereal for the kids at 8 AM.

Sunday afternoon from 1 - 5 PM there will be an opening reception at Roosevelt Island's Gallery RIVAA for resident Arline Jacoby's new exhibit, Made In America.

Image From Gallery RIVAA

According to Gallery RIVAA:

Arline Jacoby presents a mixed-media installation which draws the viewer into a world of American memorabilia with contemporary meaning. She has created a complex assemblage of gleaned and crafted work that invites the spectator to explore their own interaction - mentally and emotionally - with American culture.

The artist uses painting, sculpture, collaging – raiding images of sports, symbols and sacred cows that compose the messages that quilt a collective consciousness.

Jacoby is one of the prime movers in the arts on Roosevelt Island, founder of the Island’s first artist run gallery, art instructor all over the world and widely exhibited painting, sculpture, ceramics.

The Made In America exhibit will be at Gallery RIVAA from November 12 - December 11.

There's also Sunday Football at the Riverwalk Bar & Grill, Jet versus Patriots. GO PATRIOTS!!!! and special football menu with 35 cent wings.

Enjoy the weekend but remember there is no F Train subway service to Manhattan from Roosevelt Island this weekend.

Sturm Und Drang Free Classical Music Concert Tonight 8 PM At Roosevelt Island's Good Shepherd Community Center Presented By R&R Family Concert Series - Schumann and Beethoven Being Played

Image From R&R Concert

Season 5 of the Rosemarie & Robin Russell Family Concert Series on Roosevelt Island continues tonight 8 PM at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street) with a program of Sturm Und Drang. According to the program organizers:

Sturm und Drang

Ralph Allen, violin
Iris Jortner, cello
Jean Schneider, piano

Good Shepherd Center
543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY

8:00 PM

Robert Schumann
Sonata No. 1 in a minor, op. 120, for violin and piano

Robert Schumann
Fantasy Pieces, Op. 73, for cello and piano

Ludwig van Beethoven
Trio in c minor, Op 1 no 3.

Admission is FREE

Here's a You Tube Video of Schumann's Fantasy Pieces for Cello and Piano. Enjoy.