One US festival survives by opening its grounds

Caramoor has saved its summer.

The festival is near Katonah, some 50 miles north of New York City.

Press release:
While unable to present the full summer season as planned, Caramoor is pleased to announce Summer 20/2.0, positioning itself to participate responsibly in New York’s re-opening process. A new, three-part plan with the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of potential circumstances, Summer 20/2.0 comprises livestreamed on-site performances, live performances for low-density audiences on Friends Field, and opening up the gardens and sound art for limited tours. Each part can be implemented independently and phased with different options depending on the circumstances at the time. All activities will be subject to current government health and safety guidelines, as well as re-confirmation in the days before.

Over the course of Summer 20/2.0, Caramoor aims to stream seven new performances from the Music Room of the Rosen House. Professionally produced for the occasion, these new video streams will feature world-class artists including Inon Barnatan, Conor Hanick, Sandbox Percussion, the Calidore String Quartet and Musicians from The Knights, and repertoire ranging from Mozart and Tchaikovsky to excerpts from Shirley Graham Du Bois’s opera Tom-Tom, a children’s program, and the world premieres of new works by Christopher Cerrone and Anna Clyne. (July 2–Aug 6). Later in the summer, Caramoor plans to host four live, public, open-air concerts on Friends Field. Suitable for small, well-spaced audiences, these will feature multiple genres: American Roots, mariachi, jazz and swing (Saturdays, July 18–Aug 8, with rain dates on the following Sundays). Caramoor also hopes to open its outdoor spaces to the public, beginning in mid-July. Visitors will be able to enjoy its landscaped Italianate and woodland gardens, on socially distant picnics and walks, as well as exploring the site-specific sound art installations of Sonic Innovations (Thurs through Sun, from July 16). Finally, a variety of outdoor pop-up events may also be added to the lineup, with appearances around the grounds by artists including a brass ensemble from Orchestra of St. Luke’s.