A short but fun-filled month

Claudia Pozin
Director of Development – Southwest Florida
Classical South Florida – 88.7

by Claudia Pozin
Director of Development – Southwest Florida
Classical South Florida – 88.7

Let us not feel sorry for February being cheated of days – because in Southwest Florida it is packed with events and activities. The mix for this month includes: Dixieland Jazz, Piano Trios, Miami City Ballet, Alton Brown, Mariinsky Orchestra, Cosi fan Tutte, Sweeney Todd, Brass Quintet, Jerry Seinfeld, Bach and Beethoven, Anthony Kearns, and Garrison Keilor – and that only takes you to the middle of this month.

So let us highlight a few – as now that we are in season it is impossible to make note of all that there is to enjoy. A venue where you usually have the opportunity to walk and enjoy the beauty provides a great beginning to the month – Naples Botanical Garden will feature Bob Zottola and Jazz Simpatico on February 1. So enjoy the beauty of the gardens and the beauty of the jazz.

The following night you can shift gears, so to speak, and enjoy Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms as a part of Classic Chamber Concerts 20th season – the concert will feature Misha Vitenson, violin, Jason Calloway, cello and Alexandra Carlson, piano. This concert is at the Sugden Theatre downtown Naples – so enjoy the beauty of 5th Avenue and then allow the music of these composers to simply wash over you.

The opera season is in full swing in Southwest Florida and on February 5 and 7 Opera Naples will present Cossi fan Tutte in the David and Cecile Wang Center. This opera by Mozart was not considered risqué when written by Mozart in 1790 – but in the 19th and 20th centuries it was and so rarely performed.

Having enjoyed a resurgence of popularity it is now one of the top performed operas in the world.

Jazz will fill the air during February in Cambier Park beginning with the Naples Dixieland Jazz Band on February 1; and the Naples Jazz Orchestra on February 2 and 16.. What a wonderful time to enjoy our outdoor venues as we remember the cold and wind of those homes up north.

Possibly the only venue where you can enjoy ballet danced to a live orchestra is at Artis-Naples with the Miami City Ballet and the Naples Philharmonic. Those of us that love ballet know the realities of the economics of it all – but there is still no replacement for a live orchestra. So if you love ballet – make sure you don’t miss the Miami City Ballet on February 3.

Valentine’s Day weekend – there are many options to satisfy the taste of that special person in your life. Beginning on February 13 – two diverse talents – Aaron Neville at Artis-Naples and Irish tenor Anthony Kearns at Moorings Presbyterian Church. On the 14th – enjoy a walk in Cambier Park and the Naples Artcrafters Fine Art show; and then stay and enjoy Jimmy Keys at the Norris Center. The 15th finds you
with another talent – Michael Feinstein – The Sinatra Centennial at Artis-Naples.

For all of the ”foodies” in the area (and you know who you are) – there is an opportunity on February 5 – but you will have to travel a little north of Naples. Alton Brown will be at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Ft. Myers. A few years ago he was at the Phil in Naples – and it was quite an experience to see him on stage with twists as to how to prepare and cook foods we all thought we knew.

We have not left out the choral music lovers in our midst – on February 22 – enjoy the combined voices of the Vanderbilt and First Presbyterian Church choirs as they perform Rutter’s Requiem. The concert is free and open to the public and will begin at 4 p.m. at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church in Naples.

Enjoy this short, but fun filled month, and always travel with your concert hall with no walls – 887FM.