LAKE WALES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bok Tower Gardens:
| What: | Twenty-first International Carillon Festival | |
| When: | March 3–11, 2012 | |
| Daily concerts at 1 & 3 p.m. plus 11 a.m. on weekends | ||
| Curtis on Tour Concert on Sunday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. | ||
| Moonlight Concert on Tuesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m.; Mix & Mingle Reception at 8:30 p.m. | ||
| Where: | Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales |
Bok Tower Gardens will ring in the Twenty-first International Carillon Festival on Saturday, March 3. One of the nation’s most unique musical events, the Festival will continue through Sunday, March 11 during the Gardens’ peak bloom season. World premieres of four original compositions will be debuted on the 60-bell Taylor carillon housed in the Singing Tower.
“With performances by six of the world’s leading carillonneurs, our Festival celebrates the 500 year history of the carillon and promotes a renaissance of appreciation for this most unique musical instrument,” explains David Price, Gardens’ president. “We’re also honored to present the Curtis on Tour concert featuring the exceptional artistry of the gifted young musicians from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.” Founded in 1925 by Edward Bok’s wife Mary Louis Curtis Bok, musicians from Curtis will return to the Gardens for the first time in 80 years to perform Paganini’s last guitar quartet and other selections on Sunday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. Roberto Diaz, Curtis president and renowned violinist, will perform with guitar faculty member Jason Vieaux and two students. Tickets are $25 per person.
Guest carillonneurs representing the United States, The Netherlands and Belgium include Sue Bergren, Naperville, Ill.; Dennis Curry, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Geert D’hollander, Antwerp, Belgium; Malgosia Fiebig, The Netherlands; George Gregory, San Antonio, Tex.; and Julianne Vanden Wyngaard, Grand Rapids, Mich., who will perform duets with Gregory.
Daily concerts will be performed at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. with weekend concerts at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and a Moonlight Concert on Tuesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. followed by a reception at 8:30 p.m. Reception tickets are $25 per person. Visitors will be able to watch performances on a monitor located behind the Peace Lantern near the Singing Tower. Carillonneurs will meet visitors at the Singing Tower moat gate near the Information Booth following the concerts.
The Gardens’ peak bloom season, expected to continue through March, showcases an explosion of color with more than 150 varieties of camellias and hundreds of azaleas along with nun’s orchids, irises and other flowering plants. In addition to violas, snapdragons, dianthus, delphiniums, holly hocks and other blooming annuals, trees in bloom include native plums, pink and yellow tabebuia and deciduous magnolias. Centrally located in rolling hills of citrus, the scent of orange blossoms adds a sweet fragrance to the Gardens. A display around the Visitor Center features more than 30 different species of Tillandsia air plants in bloom.
Centrally located between Tampa and Orlando in Lake Wales, the National Historic Landmark is open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., last admission is 5 p.m. Hours will be extended from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Blue Palmetto Café and Tower & Garden Gift Shop during the Festival. Visit www.boktowergardens.org for tickets and more information.