Launch of New Programming Partnership between Saratoga Performing Arts Center and Caffè Lena
SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Orchestra of St. Lukes, one of America’s warmest and most versatile orchestras, will make a first-ever appearance in the Capital Region with its St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble on April 25 in an exclusive performance at Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs. This special event is being presented by Saratoga Performing Arts Center and Caffè Lena as part of a new programming collaboration being launched by the two beloved Saratoga venues. Tickets are on sale now for the concert at caffelena.org.
The Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL), praised as one of New York City’s “greatest cultural treasures,” by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, collaborates with the world’s finest artists and performs approximately 70 concerts each year—including its Carnegie Hall Orchestra Series and summer residency at Caramoor Music Festival. The April 25 performance by OSL’s Chamber Ensemble, “Bach and Telemann’s Coffeehouse,” is a program inspired by Café Zimmermann, the 18th-century gathering place of Leipzig’s leading composers and intellectuals.
“Presenting a performance by the extraordinary St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble is a spectacular start to the new programming partnership between SPAC and Caffè Lena,” said Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “The Orchestra of St. Luke’s is known and revered across the globe for its unique blend of creative programming and artistic excellence. This musical reimagining of Café Zimmermann, the legendary German coffeehouse where Bach and his friends engaged in inspired music making, is an opportunity to enjoy the spirit of that atmosphere as well as the virtuosity of the ensemble members.”
Envisioned as an ongoing partnership, the collaboration between SPAC and Caffè Lena will encompass jointly curated and presented programs at both venues, with the location varying by season. Other spring program collaborations already on the calendar at Caffè Lena include an April 1 performance by folk-pop band Darlingside and a May 4 performance by Harpeth Rising, a Louisville, Kentucky-based folk band.
“I look forward to building this collaboration. One of my key goals is to expand SPAC’s presence in the community through vibrant partnerships like this one, which will not only enhance the breadth of our artistry, but connect us to new audiences,” Ms. Sobol concluded.
