The 24th edition of the music festival was as lively as past years thanks to interesting, high-quality programming. Over 60 musicians and singers participated from January 11 to 23, with concerts in the island’s churches, including for the first time, the Catholic Church in Gustavia, applauded for its good acoustics. Many of these musicians play with the leading orchestras in the US and in European capitals, yet are happy to come when Frances Debroff—co-founder and director of the festival—asks them to Saint Barth. This large “family” gathers on the island for ten days, playing for a nominal fee. The dozen or so volunteers that make up the festival committee work hard to find housing for all the musicians, quite often in private homes with residents who have developed friendships with the musicians they house every year.
The program ranged from Debussy and Beethoven as played by the Miro Quartet, to Puccini’s opera, La Fanciulla del West (which premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 1910), played by an orchestra of 40 with 11 singers, all under the baton of maestro Steven Mercurio, who usually works with such leading ensembles as the London Philharmonia or the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. The Saturday night gig at Zion Garden combined rock band NYCO with Hawaiian slack guitar virtuoso Makana.
NYCO
The leader of NYCO, Ted Atkatz, left his position as the principal percussionist at the Chicago Symphony to form his own rock band with Dave Bowers on guitar, Kells Nollenberger on bass, and Devin Staples on drums. After a recital by the young violinists from the St Barth Harmony Music School, Makana opened the concert with traditional Hawaiian songs and original compositions. In the Hawaiian language, Makana means “gift,” and this gifted young musician is known as one of the best slack key guitar players, an accomplished student of Bobby Moderow and protégé of Hawaiian slack key master Ray Kane.
Makana, who has sung in public since the age of 11, “because he enjoys singing for others,” has performed with such stars as Sting, Santana, Elvis Costello, Chris Isaak, Jack Johnson, and Andreas Vollenweider, as their opening act. And as soon as the concert in Zion Garden was over, he picked up his guitar to play for a small circle of new fans enticed by the poetry of this musician, who expresses himself through his music. Based in Oahu, he also practices meditation and yoga, when not performing slack key guitar at festivals on the various Hawaiian islands, as well as around the world, from Great Britain, Japan, China, and Germany to Canada, Tahiti, Bali, and the US.
Another highlight of the festival was the orchestral concert at the Catholic Church in Lorient, during which the musicians played the premiere of “First Wave,” an original composition by Nicolas Audy-Rowland, a young composer who splits his life between Boston and Saint Barth, where he spent much of his childhood.
The final festival concerts were a piano recital by John Novacek, following by the closing night double header of jazz with two shows by the John Ellis Quintet from New Orleans.
Makana
Beyonce and Jay-Z have taken their daughter on her first vacation. The couple, who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week, have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with three-month-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht.
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Kick-off Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2012 Caribbean regatta in the magical French West Indies sailing paradise!
Today the prestigious and top-class Caribbean sailing regatta Les Voiles de St. Barth 2012 with Gaastra Sportswear as the official partner starts: At the third edition run...
Inside the Bucket.
This video features the 2012 St Barths Bucket Regatta and music by the Evan Goodrow Band. Special thanks to the entire crew of the Rebecca, Baz Bar, St Barths Online and the guys from the Evan Goodrow Band for putting on a fantastic show. The song from the Evan Goodrow Band is c...
On board with Rebecca.
The best event in St Barths took place on March 24 - 27, 2012. This video features the beautiful 141 ft sailing yacht, The Rebecca.
produced by Real Media Travel for St. Barths Online and Baz Bar St Barth.
The age old saying of "I need a holiday to get over my holiday" actually seems applicable if you happen to be Paul McCartney.
The Beatle took wife Nancy Shevell on a romantic break to the Caribbean island of St Barts, just days after the pair visited Paris.
Last week, the lovebirds showed support ...
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
