Catskill Symphony Orchestra ‘Le Cabaret’: Another One for the Books

Żółtowski To Lead Final Concert in May; Buttermann is Guest Conductor

By IAN KENYON
ONEONTA

A triumph!” noted Catskill Symphony Orchestra Chair Sarah Patterson, when asked about the 2023 “Le Cabaret” fundraiser at SUNY Oneonta on March 25. The annual event, the second hosted following a pandemic pause in 2020, convened several hundred concertgoers in the Dewar Arena—transformed into a tasteful concert hall, embellished in the CSO’s purple and gold color scheme.

This year’s benefit—emceed by Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek—highlighted the work and mission of the CSO, honored longtime CSO supporter and community member Wendy Brown, included a guest performance from the Brooklyn-based Jeremy Pelt Quartet, and featured the annual Guest Conductor contest, under the direction of Maestro Maciej Żółtowski.

Pelt, recognized as one of jazz’s preeminent young trumpeters, delighted con-certgoers with his own adaptation of classic numbers including “For Whom I Love So Much,” “Slow Hot Wind,” and “Blues in Sophistication” among selections from his recent album, “Close to My Heart.” Pelt forged his musical approach through his own journey as a musician, with collaborations including a number of well-known masters, from Ravi Coltrane, Frank Foster, Vincent Herring, Charli Persip, Bobby Short, Nancy Wilson and The Skatalites, to name a few.

One of the evening’s several high points was the annual Guest Conductor competition, a CSO tradition for years. Three newly-invited contestants took to the stage for their moment to convince concertgoers to vote for them as Guest Conductor and the opportunity to lead the final piece of the evening, John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.” This year, the contenders were noted community members Dan Buttermann, Greater Oneonta Historical Society Executive Director Dr. Marcela Micucci and Oneonta St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Reverend Chris Welch.

The Guest Conductor race was highly competitive. Appeals to concertgoers began with Buttermann’s nod to the region’s nonprofit gems and their impact on community members—with impressive performances from his daughters, Malena the dancer, 13, Layla the gymnast, 11, and Nadia the vocalist, 8, and recognition of his wife and CSO musician, Dr. Ana Laura González. The audience then indulged in Micucci’s most rousing rendition of “All that Jazz” from the Broadway musical “Chicago.” Finally, with humor in mind, Welch delivered a personally-composed skit showcasing his bespoke talents as a wordsmith and a lack of inhibition to don what was undoubtedly the most noteworthy attire of the evening.

Each Guest Conductor had to craft their own appeal ahead of the fundraiser and over the years no three approaches have been alike. Buttermann, ultimately voted the winner and leading the evening’s final performance, expanded on his strategy.

“This audience, in addition to supporting the CSO, also supports other organizations and activities that promote the arts, like the Decker School of Ballet, Glimmerglass Festival, and the YMCA, so I thought it would be good to show the audience how important it is to continue that support and to show what their support means to families like mine. I emphasized that supporting the CSO is good for the community, and not just on the CSO stage—its partnerships and connections with other organizations are immeasurably valuable to the richness of this community,” Buttermann explained.

“I was beyond honored to join in and even a little nervous. The competition is for such a good cause and I was happy to do it. I had such a great time, the competition was exciting and I can’t wait to see what next year brings!” Micucci added.

Patterson noted, “It was an absolutely phenomenal evening, a true feeling of family filling the room and one of the most successful fundraising events in Le Cabaret’s run over the years.”

An announcement at the end of the evening revealed that the event had raised nearly $44,000.00 for the CSO.

Patterson, together with CSO Executive Director Ryan West Geraghty, also previewed concertgoers on the final concert of the organization’s 69th season, “Music from the Silver Screen.” The May 13 concert will feature a unique collaboration between the CSO and the Catskill Choral Society, with selections from Hollywood classics including “Ben Hur,” “The Mission,” “Da Vinci Code,” “Star Wars” and “Saving Private Ryan.” The final concert of the season will also be the last CSO concert under the musical directorship of Maciej Żółtowski, as the organization prepares to announce a new direction and approach in line with the expiration of Żółtowski’s contract.

“We’re absolutely grateful for the degree of talent and the many beautiful, musical moments Maestro Żółtowski has brought to us over the years and we wish him the best. The more music, the better!” noted CSO Board Member Wendy Hunt.

While the 2023-2024 CSO season—the organization’s 70th—has not yet been formally announced, concertgoers were teased that a full season will be unveiled at the May 13 concert. The next season, to be led by interim Music Director Glen Cortese, will bring to Oneonta a mixture of new faces and legacy tributes to the CSO throughout the banner year, with slated concerts including “Heroes and Legends,” “Musical Portraits,” and a powerful program in store for Le Cabaret 2024: “The Golden Age of Broadway.” Cortese is no stranger to the Upstate New York classical music scene, as artistic director to the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra.

At the end of the evening, it was evident throughout the Dewar Arena that Le Cabaret had lived up to its annual. As a handful of concertgoers stealthily slinked to the sides of the room and swayed together to Pelt’s performance while others were seated and content to take in the music among family and friends—and with the CSO team jubilant with delight from the resounding show of moral and financial support by the community—Le Cabaret proved itself once again as the musical high point of the season. And this beloved regional tradition shows no signs of slowing down.

The CSO will host its final concert of the season on May 13 at SUNY Oneonta’s Alumni Field House, where the 2023-2024 season will be announced with early bird tickets available. The 70th season will commence in September.