Free Orchestra Miami concerts

By Michelle Hammontree-Garcia3/8/2011

Elaine Rinaldi founded Orchestra Miami in 2006 with the hope of bringing quality orchestra music to local communities at an affordable price.

For this reason the orchestra will be holding two free performances in Pinecrest and Miami Beach this month.

“When I lived in New York the philharmonic and opera played outdoors. I remember going and enjoying the music and great weather” said Rinaldi, the orchestra’s artistic director and conductor. “Our mission is to make quality orchestra music affordable and accessible to everyone in the community.”

Orchestra Miami will perform Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” (A Little Night Music), Samuel Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” featuring soprano soloist Susana Díaz, and Mozart’s joyous Symphony Number 29 in A Major both nights.

Since it was founded five years ago, Orchestra Miami has engaged the community with a series of free children’s concerts and participated in Miami-Dade Public School’s cultural passport program. It has presented classical symphonic, Latin jazz and opera, and has also been invited to perform with Andrea Bocelli during his South Florida performances.

Díaz has been featured in leading companies, such as, the Cincinnati Opera, Dayton Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Orlando Philharmonic and Ballet Florida. She recently performed in the Teatro Solis in Montevideo, Uruguay, and in June performed at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in Pasion por la Zarzuela.

The Pinecrest performance will take place Wednesday in the newly renovated Banyan Bowl. The 530-seat venue is partially covered by a geodesic dome and will be selling tapas before the performance.
Alana Perez, Pinecrest Gardens’ director, is excited to host Orchestra Miami.

“We are thrilled to have Orchestra Miami among our first classical concerts. Elaine Rinaldi is phenomenal, and the quality of the orchestra is among the finest you can find locally,” said Perez. “The night will be both musical and magical in our setting.”

The Miami Beach performance will be held in Collins Park March 19 and is being billed as “Mozart Under the Stars”. The venue has enough space for more than 1,000 people and has grassy and concrete areas, said Rinaldi. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair, something to nibble on and drink.