Southern Sonoma Country Life: July 2024

Am I My Brother's Keeper (runs through September 1st, 2024) — An extraordinary exhibit of 28 polychrome figures by sculptor Sean Henry prompted a visit to The Ship of the Fens, Ely Cathedral this summer during my recent family trip back to the home country.

Don't be confused by me striking my own pose whilst back in the heart of the Fenlands, about 14 miles north east of Cambridge and 80 miles north of London, where I started my journalism career. It was in Ely where I memorably covered the arrival of the late Queen Elizabeth II arriving at the train station for the annual Maundy Monday service at the cathedral in the late 80s. I've so many vivid memories of my time in the Ely area rambling around the backroads in the Ely Standard Mini, reporter's notebook on the passenger seat on the hunt for stories.

Oldest son, Rocco and my husband, Timo, took the time to recreate a favorite photo of me standing right there almost thirty years ago, during a rare winter visit. This time, though it was in June, wasn't the most summery of English days, but the weather made for ideal exhibition going on hallowed ground.

Ely is the second smallest city in England, after the city of Wells in Somerset. A small town was established around the monastery and Cathedral which dominated the Isle of Ely for centuries. Ely was actually an island until 400 years ago, when work to drain the Fens (freshwater marshes) began, creating the fertile farmland the Fens are known for today. The cathedral has welcomed visitors and pilgrims for over 1300 years. Gracing a vibrant community today (population 19,200), Ely Cathedral provides a glimpse into centuries of English heritage alongside incredibly beautiful art and architecture.

The 14th century Octagon tower at Ely and its unique wooden lantern is considered one of the wonders of the medieval world. The cathedral took over 300 years to be built. Its graceful Norman nave is among the longest in England, with a remarkable 19th century painted ceiling.

According to Historic UK: "Still susceptible to flooding today, it was these watery surrounds that gave Ely its original name the ‘Isle of Eels’, a translation of the Anglo Saxon word ‘Eilig’. It was an Anglo Saxon princess, Saint Ethelreda, who founded the first Christian community on the islands’ hill top site in 673 A.D. for both monks and nuns. Like her father Anna, the king of East Anglia, Ethelfreda had become an enthusiastic supporter of the new religion that was fast spreading through the country."

The cathedral with its many features, including the 14th century Lady Chapel and Octagon Tower, was used as a film set for the Elizabethan epics ‘The Golden Age’ and ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ and more recently, Bradley Cooper, as Leonard Bernstein, conducting Mahler's Second Symphony in Maestro.

Arguably the most famous resident of Ely was The Lord Protector, the uncrowned King of Great Britain and Ireland, Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell inherited a large estate in the area from his uncle Sir Thomas Steward in 1636, going on to be the local tax collector, a man of wealth and great standing in the community. It was he who was responsible for shutting the great doors of the cathedral for around a decade.

If you're looking for a less crowded experience after visiting Cambridge, Ely is easily accessible by train. Stroll up from the station to wander around ancient buildings and medieval gateways, the Cathedral Close (the largest collection of domestic monastic buildings in the country) and Oliver Cromwell’s House, open year-round with exhibitions, period rooms and a haunted room. Tea rooms and antique shops abound.

We walked down to the riverside for a pint and a fish lunch, followed by ice cream from an old-fashioned van. There are several good choices of pubs and restaurants down by the water and in town. The newspaper office is gone from its long time location, which was sad to see, as with so many print newspapers around the world, though it's still in existance at least.

Though I felt nostalgic for the past and its simpler times, I was glad to see that the city and cathedral is thriving and appealing to a variety of visitors with its embrace of art and modern culture. It's a lovely place, well located given the access to public transport and I can see why I have such fond memories from that chapter of my life.

Click here for more information on visiting Ely.

International Festival del Sole returns to Northern California at The Green Music Center at Sonoma State University in partnership with arts entrepreneur and pianist Barrett Wissman, August 1–4, 2024.

This year’s event includes wine and culinary events presented by Domus Artium Reserve, including a Gala dinner and auction on Sunday, August 4^th hosted by Buena Vista Winery and Jean Charles Boisset to benefit The Way of the Rain, the non-profit founded Sibylle Szaggars Redford dedicated to the mission of developing, producing and performing educational and artistic performances to promote public awareness and support for the protection of Earth.

The gala dinner will feature Buena Vista’s wines as well as a Bordeaux wine crafted by enologist Michel Rolland especially for The Way of the Rain. Renowned wine publication Vinous has curated a series of lunches and tastings at top wineries, including Freeman Vineyard & Winery and Three Sticks Wines.

The three-day festival will begin on Thursday, August 1st featuring three of today’s top international instrumentalists Olga Kern, Nina Kotova, and Viktoria Mullova performing a program of solo and chamber music. One of today’s most sought-after and versatile musicians: solo violinist and violist, conductor and chamber musician Pinchas Zukerman performs August 2 with cellist Amanda Forsyth, and pianist Michael Brown.

Acclaimed tenor Joseph Calleja takes the stage on Saturday, August 3. With a nostalgic, golden-age voice that routinely inspires comparisons to “legendary singers from earlier eras” Maltese-born Calleja’s appearances on the world’s leading opera, concert, and television stages have marked him as one of today’s most sought-after artists.

Concluding Festival del Sole on Sunday, August 4 is a screening of the film, The Way of the Rain: Hope for Earth-A Symphony for our Planet, which showcases the October 2023 live presentation of Sibylle Szaggars Redford’s multidisciplinary staged music, art and film performance at the Dallas Texas Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Hall, with a spoken word narration by Robert Redford and music composed by Tim Janis. The Way of the Rain: Hope for Earth tells the artistic story about the formation of the Universe, the evolution of the galaxies and the eventual birth of the unique and beautiful Planet Earth with all its elements. Scheduled to attend the screening and the gala dinner are Founder, President and Artistic Director of The Way of the Rain Sibylle Szaggars Redford and Robert Redford.

Festival creator Barrett Wissman shared, “we are delighted to return to the wine country this summer to share the artistic level, tradition and excitement the Festival del Sole became known for.” Antonio Galloni, founder and CEO of Vinous, added, “I am delighted that my team has collaborated with Barrett and the Festival del Sole to develop enriching experiences for those who share our deep passion for wine and music. Each winery lunch will feature wonderful wines, exceptional hospitality and a surprise musical performance.”

Domus Artium Reserve will donate wines and culinary experiences to the Festival Del Sole. Hospitality partner, Montage Healdsburg is located on 258 acres in the heart of California’s world-renowned Sonoma wine country. Montage Healdsburg has generously donated rooms for major artists, participants and partners at the Festival Del Sole.

To purchase tickets to Festival del Sole visit gmc.sonoma.edu or call 707-664-4246, Tickets range from $40-$75 each.

For more information on attending the gala at Buena Vista and the wine tastings and lunches, visit the Festival Del Sole website, www.festivaldelsolearts.com.

Thursday's Performance:

Olga Kern, piano
Nina Kotova, cello
Viktoria Mullova, violin
Thurs, August 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Weill Hall
Tickets $40–$75

With a vivid onstage presence, dazzling technique, and keen musicianship, pianist Olga Kern is widely recognized as one of the great artists of her generation, captivating audiences and critics alike. She was born into a family of musicians and began studying piano at the age of five. At seventeen, she was awarded first prize at the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition, and in 2001, she launched her U.S. career, winning a historic Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition—the only woman in the last 50 years to do so.

Viktoria Mullova’s extraordinary talent captured international attention when she won first prize at the 1980 Sibelius Competition in Helsinki and the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1982 which was followed, in 1983, by her dramatic and much publicized defection to the West. She has since appeared with most of the world’s greatest orchestras and conductors and at the major international festivals. She is now known the world over as a violinist of exceptional versatility and musical integrity. Her curiosity spans the breadth of musical development from baroque and classical right up to the most contemporary influences from the world of fusion and experimental music.

Cellist Nina Kotova has been praised by Gramophone as a “strong and individual artist” and by the Los Angeles Times as “a talent to reckon with- poised, committed, graceful and spirited.” Ms. Kotova is internationally recognized as one of the outstanding instrumentalists of her generation and has performed in recitals and as a soloist with symphony orchestras across the globe throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and the US.

Friday's Performance:

Pinchas Zukerman and the Zukerman Trio
Pinchas Zukerman, violin
Michael Stephen Brown, piano
Amanda Forsyth, cello
Fri, August 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Weill Hall
Tickets $40–$75

With a career spanning five decades, Pinchas Zukerman is one of today’s most sought-after and versatile musicians: solo violinist and violist, conductor and chamber musician. He is renowned as a virtuoso, admired for the expressive lyricism of his playing, the singular beauty of his timbre and impeccable musicianship, which can be heard in his discography of over 100 albums for which he has earned two Grammy awards and 21 nominations. He was awarded the Medal of the Arts, the Isaac Stern Award for Artistic Excellence and was named the first instrumentalist mentor of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.

Canadian Juno award winning cellist Amanda Forsyth is considered among her peers and critics alike to be one of the most dynamic cellists on the concert stage today. Describing a recent performance, California’s Ventura County Star raves: “In Forsyth’s hands, it was sheer magic.” She has achieved an international reputation as a premiere soloist and chamber musician and previously enthralled audiences as the principal cellist of both The Calgary Philharmonic and Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestras. Her intense richness of tone, exceptional musicality and passion are reminiscent of cellists of a former age. She captivates audiences with every phrase.

Michael Stephen Brown has been described as “one of the leading figures in the current renaissance of performer-composers” (New York Times). Winner of a 2018 Emerging Artist Award from Lincoln Center and a 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant, he is an artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and an alum of CMS’s Bowers Program. He makes regular appearances with orchestras such as the National Philharmonic, the Seattle, Grand Rapids, North Carolina, and Albany symphonies, and was selected by pianist András Schiff to perform an international solo recital tour, making debuts in Zurich’s Tonhalle and New York’s 92nd Street Y.

Saturday's Performance:

Joseph Calleja
Tenor, in Recital
Sat, August 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Weill Hall
Tickets $45–$70

Joseph Calleja is one of the most acclaimed tenors of his generation, renowned for his golden-age timbre coupled with an excitingly modern delivery. Born on January 22, 1978, in Attard, Malta, Calleja began showing interest in music at an early age and was inspired by the recordings of legendary tenors like Mario Lanza and Giuseppe Di Stefano.

After winning the Caruso Competition in Milan in 1998 and later receiving a prize in the Plácido Domingo Operalia International Opera Competition, Calleja’s international career skyrocketed. He made his professional debut as Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth at the Astra Theatre in Malta and has since graced the world’s leading opera stages, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Vienna State Opera.

Known for his roles in operas by Puccini and Verdi, including the titular role in Faust and as Alfredo in La Traviata, Calleja brings an emotive style and impeccable technique to each performance. His extensive discography includes critically acclaimed recordings of complete operas as well as several solo albums that highlight his broad vocal range and expressive nuance.

Beyond the stage, Joseph is a cultural ambassador for Malta, has been awarded the Medal for Service to the Republic, and is passionately involved in charitable works, including his own foundation aimed at supporting Maltese artistic talents. His contributions to music and culture have also earned him honorary doctorates from the University of Malta and the Open University of Malta.

As a dedicated performer with an undying passion for opera, Joseph Calleja continues to enchant audiences worldwide with his lyrical voice and charismatic stage presence.

Sunday's Performance:

The Way of the Rain: Hope for Earth
Screening of the filmed performance of Sibylle Szaggars Redford’s multidisciplinary work featuring a narration by Robert Redford.
Sun, August 4 at 7 p.m.
Weill Hall
Tickets $45–$70

Screening of the filmed performance of Sibylle Szaggars Redford’s multidisciplinary work featuring a narration by Robert Redford. Join us, along with the Founder, President and Artistic Director of The Way of the Rain Sibylle Szaggars Redford and invited guest Robert Redford, for this special event.

Sibylle Szaggars Redford

Artistic Director | Founder and President

Sibylle Szaggars Redford is a German born multimedia environmental artist whose artwork has been exhibited throughout Europe, Monaco, Peru, Singapore, Japan, Suriname and the United States.

Szaggars Redford is the 2016 recipient of the US State Department’s Art in Embassies Program for the US Embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname where after visiting the countries Rain Forests and Indigenous Peoples, 10 of her site-specific Pieces were placed on permanent display in the US Embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Her artistry spans across mediums and decades, from painted oil sketches and photographs of her Moroccan travels, expressions on canvas from her American Indian Pueblo visits, large Oil paintings where she explores “The Shape of Color,” and her recent works of watercolor abstracts shaped by the monsoon rains of Santa Fe, New Mexico, California and abroad.

Having worked as an environmental artist for almost 4 decades, her desire is to create art that transcends words, languages, cultures and politics. Szaggars Redford creates art in order to speak to a deeper universal consciousness that’s connected to and dependent on the earth and its environments. In order to find a stronger voice through art for the Earth, Szaggars Redford entered the world of performance art as an homage to the universal elements and an artistic medium for environmentalism in action.

In 2013 Szaggars Redford in collaboration with Icelandic Composer and Musician David Thor Jonsson, designed a concept for a staged art performance piece “The Way of the Rain” which would incorporate different art forms; music, dance, film, light, spoken word and her first designed stage backdrop of multiple large “Rain Painting Silks” that would symbolize falling water from the heavens.

Since then, Szaggars Redford has collaborated with various world renowned composers, choreographers and performers with presentations nationwide, The United Emirates of Abu Dhabi, the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall and the Opening Night of the 68th United Nations – NGO – International Conference.

In 2015 Szaggars Redford founded The Way of the Rain, Inc. a Non for profit Organization with the specific purpose of developing, producing and performing educational and artistic performances – themed and designed to promote public awareness to support the protection of our Earth.

In addition to presenting “The Way of the Rain” performances and developing new staged versions of “The Way of the Rain” Szaggars Redford continues to create and exhibit new art.

Beginning of March 2020 during the time of the Covid – 19 lockdown and isolation, Szaggars Redford in collaboration with Composer Tim Janis and environmental activist Robert Redford began creating “The Way of the Rain – Reflections on Earth” video series shorts – a Gift of Hope to the World and an invitation to reflect on the beauty and wonders of our Planet Earth.

“The Way of the Rain – Reflections on Earth” Ocean video series shorts have been screened around the world at the “Virtual“ Earth X Conference – April 22-27, 2020, the United Nations Oceans Day “Virtual” Earth X Oceans and National Geographic Conference – June 9-10, 2020, Earth X Australia / Oceana Conference – June 11, 2020 and the United Nations “Peace Boat” Conference on June 12, 2020.

“The Way of the Rain – Reflections on Earth” video series shorts continue to focus on the World’s Natural Environments; their delicate Ecosystems and Biodiversity which are important and necessary to maintain in order to preserve the existence of all life on Earth. For more information: www.sibylleszaggarsredford.com

Robert Redford

Robert Redford (born August 18, 1936, Santa Monica, California, U.S.) is an American motion-picture actor and director known for his diversity of screen characterizations, commitment to environmental and political causes, and for founding the Sundance Institute and Film Festival in Utah.

About Festival del Sole
The story of Festival del Sole, as its name suggests, starts in Italy in the 1990’s, where Barrett Wissman and wife, cellist Nina Kotova, had often discussed organizing an event somewhere in the world where friends could make music together in a warm welcoming atmosphere. In 2003, the Festival del Sole was born in Cortona in Tuscany, and incorporated a vast array of events including concerts, fine art exhibitions, culinary events, wine tastings, and literary events. In 2006, Barrett Wissman brought the Festival Del Sole to Napa Valley, which has now become Festival Napa Valley. Barrett Wissman has decided to bring back to Northern California in 2024, in partnership with the stunning acoustic and architectural gem, the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University and its Executive Director Jacob Yarrow.