Introducing A New Taste in Music…
Gourmet Symphony
Premiere Concert
Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 7 pm
Atlas Performing Arts Center
(Washington, D.C.) – Gourmet Symphony announces its first full-scale event to be held at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H Street NE Washington, DC 20002) on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 7 pm. The four-course culinary inspired concert features a 30-piece orchestra led by conductor John Devlin, performing masterpieces by beloved composers in an all-inclusive evening that celebrates the synergy between food, drink, and classical music. Tickets are $125 and currently on sale at atlasarts.org.
For the Valentine’s Day program, Gourmet Symphony performs four celebrated works that prove familiar to all audiences: Overture to Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini; Violin Concerto in D Major, Movement I by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; Symphony No. 1 in C Major by Ludwig van Beethoven; and Pavane for a Dead Princess by Maurice Ravel. The ensemble showcases seasoned musicians from the National Symphony and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestras, including guest soloist and Gourmet Symphony concertmaster Alexandra Osborne, and from regional service bands and orchestras, as well as top freelancers in the DC metropolitan area.
“We are thrilled to unite the artists and artisans of DC in this one-of-a-kind event,” said Gourmet Symphony Artistic Director John Devlin. “The musicians cannot wait for the Premiere to arrive because they have never been part of something like this – plus, they love to eat and drink too! Innovative concert experiences are what we do at Gourmet Symphony, and this will certainly be an event unlike DC has ever seen.”
The Premiere’s exquisite menu features custom food and cocktail pairings by H Street restaurants and neighborhood hotspots Vendetta Bocce Bar & Tavern, Smith Commons, and Beuchert’s Saloon. Other participating local vendors and event sponsors include KW Selection, Select Wines, and The Prime Rib.
“The stage is set for a unique concert experience that not only showcases the immense talent of our community’s classical artists, but also sheds the spotlight on the great artisans that perform every day in our thriving culinary landscape,” affirms Business Director John Coco.
Founded by the innovative Maestro John Devlin and veteran mixologist/food enthusiast John Coco, Gourmet Symphony provides a radical new way to consume symphonic music. The concept focuses on custom pairings of food and drink with classical music programs, while taking away many of the traditional barriers that prevent contemporary patrons from enjoying these types of concerts. In doing so, Gourmet Symphony reinvents this experience for today’s audiences by simultaneously appealing to multiple senses and encouraging patrons to taste, smell, listen, and learn all at once.
For more details about Gourmet Symphony, please visit gourmetsymphony.org.
TICKET INFORMATION
General admission tickets to the Gourmet Symphony Premiere Concert are $125 per person. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting the Atlas Box Office at 1333 H Street NE, by calling 202-399-7993, or online at atlasarts.org. Patrons must be 21+.
ABOUT JOHN DEVLIN
Along with his position as Artistic Director of Gourmet Symphony, John Devlin is Music Director and Conductor of The McLean Youth Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Capital City Symphony, and the Assistant Conductor of the Apollo Orchestra. In addition, he is a technical director for IMAG at the National Symphony Orchestra. With these ensembles, John has conducted at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and The Music Center at Strathmore. A strong advocate for new music, John has, over the last four years, commissioned 15 new works that span from traditional orchestral works to collaborations with new music groups, amplified chamber ensembles, rock bands, and rap artists. His New Retro, Go-Go Symphony, and Seamless Symphony projects were all recently premiered by the Capital City Symphony and earned high praise from critics as performances that “stand out and are exciting, ambitious and, dare we say — funky?”
For more information about John Devlin, please visit JohnDevlinMusic.com.
ABOUT JOHN COCO
John Coco is the Business Director of Gourmet Symphony. An experienced food and beverage operations director with 15 years in the Washington, D.C. hospitality industry, John has established himself as an industry leader in the area. He brings the expertise gained from managing award-winning wine programs at Star Restaurant Group’s flagship restaurant, Zola, and the acclaimed Mie N Yu in Georgetown. He also served as Wine Director for the Neighborhood Restaurant Group and most recently, was the brains behind the wine and beverage programs at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. During his four years directing the Kennedy Center’s wine and beverage operations, John worked hand in hand with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, the Performing Arts for Everyone initiative, and The Washington Ballet to create innovative and custom-tailored catering events that showcased one-of-a-kind cocktail creations and culinary tastings.
ABOUT GOURMET SYMPHONY
Gourmet Symphony seeks to reimagine the symphonic music experience by presenting culinary inspired concerts that unite DC’s cultural and artisanal communities. Gourmet Symphony breaks the conceived boundaries of traditional symphonic concerts by developing programs that expertly pair locally-sourced cuisine and beverages with classical music selections, creating a unique multisensory experience that brings to life the historical context and period of each program. In turn, Gourmet Symphony aims to attract both newcomers and aficionados of the art form, expanding the local consumer base and inspiring awareness of the music’s historical, cultural, and culinary synergy.
For more information, please visit the Gourmet Symphony website.
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Camille Cintrón Devlin
Gourmet Symphony
#anewtasteinmusic
P.O. Box 15687, Washington, DC 20003 | www.gourmetsymphony.org
