By Lisa Green A chamber music salon in a magnificent estate sounds very 19th century, but there’s no reason it can’t be recreated in the 21st, especially considering the architecture of classical and romantic style homes prevalent in our region. On Sunday, Sept. 17, the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust and The Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation will combine a classical setting and chamber music at Edgewater, located on the Hudson River in Barrytown (near Tivoli), New York. “The Classical Ideal: Music and Architecture in Harmony” will include tours of the grounds, a concert and a reception. The Preservation Trust, which includes six estates from New York City to the Virgin Islands, has created this three-part concert series to highlight the themes of classicism and romanticism resonant not only in music, but also in the architecture and decorative arts of these classical homes, all owned by Jenrette, a self-proclaimed “house-aholic.” Acting as musical director for the series is LA Philharmonic principal cellist Robert DeMaine, who will be performing with pianist Simon Adda-Reyss. For architecture buffs and decorative arts aficionados, the concert will be icing on the cake; prior to the music, guests who contribute at the Preservationist level will enjoy a rarely offered behind-the-scenes private tour of the historic estate. Then they will gather in the Octagon Room, where a Steinway grand will be brought in for the occasion.
Photos courtesy Classical American Homes Preservation Trust
Patron and Sponsor-level tickets will include a post-concert dinner at Edgewater. All proceeds from ticket sales go towards Classical American Homes’ mission to preserve, protect, and open to the public examples of classical American residential architecture, surrounding landscapes and scenic trails, as well as fine and decorative arts of the first half of the 19th century. Since Edgewater is Jenrette’s private residence, there haven’t been many public tours. This is a rare opportunity — and a unique one — to travel back to a time when music and architecture reflected a similar aesthetic style. How better to appreciate it than at a private salon setting? “The Classical Ideal: Music and Architecture in Harmony” Sunday, September 17, 2017 Grounds open at 2 p.m. House opens at 3:30 p.m. Concert at 4:15 p.m. Seating is limited; reservations are required. $250-$5,000 Contact The Classical American Homes Preservation Trust at (212) 369-4460.
