Ole Blue Eyes Meets Scheherazade

SAN MARINO, Calif. Singer Michael B. Levin is also a stand-up comedian and impressionist with over 30 voices…and, after hearing him, Performances Magazine wrote, "This guy is great! Not only does he have an incredible voice, he´s funny as well. His rapport with the audience has everyone up on their feet." Music lovers throughout Southern California will have the opportunity to experience Levin´s artistry when Cal Phil presents "Frank, Tony & The Maestro: Cocktails to Classics" on Saturday, August 7 at 7:30 p.m. at The Arboretum in Arcadia and at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Sunday, August 8 at 2 p.m. in downtown Los Angeles.

"Michael starred in Las Vegas in the hugely successful show ´The Rat Pack Is Back.´ So, as we began planning ´Frank, Tony & The Maestro,´ his name came instantly to our mind," says Dr. Victor Vener, Founder and Music Director of the California Philharmonic. "Michael has performed with stars like Donna Summer, Jeff Foxworthy and Paul Rodriguez. What a treat it will be for both our orchestra and our audience to have Michael appear, now, with us."

Joining Levin in bringing the works of Ole´ Blue Eyes and Tony Bennett to life is Broadway star Kevin Earley, whose voice has been hailed by the LA Times as "lustrous" and "electrifying."

"The reason, as a song writer, you wanted Sinatra or Bennett to sing one of your songs is that you knew it would become an instant classic," explains Earley, who recently appeared on Broadway as Ernest Defarge in ´A Tale of Two Cities´. "They could turn a phrase or a lyric and make it seem as though they were singing just to you. I love listening to what they did with a song, making it personal to me, and making each audience member feel that I'm singing it just to them, because I am. "

Representing ´The Maestro´ in "Frank, Tony and The Maestro" is acclaimed violinist Daniel Shindarov, who will perform as soloist in Camille Saint-Saens´ Introduction and Rondo Capriccio for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 28. Formerly the concertmaster for Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre Orchestra in Moscow, Shindarov has since appeared with leading ensembles nationwide including the Seattle Symphony and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

"Critics have likened Daniel to a vast array of virtuoso violinists, from Jascha Heifetz to Ruggiero Ricci, who is renowned for his performances of works by Paganini," says Vener. "But Daniel is in a class by himself. He is an extraordinarily gifted artist who we´re thrilled has agreed to introduce our audiences to one of Saint-Saens´ most popular compositions, a work whose beauty – and technical demands of the artist – will send shivers up your spine."

´Maestros´ to whom Cal Phil will also pay tribute range from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Rimsky-Korsakov. The concerts will open with selections from The Sound of Music, followed later by the 4th Movement of Rimsky-Korsakov´s Scheherazade, the Festival at Baghdad – The Sea – The Ship Goes to Pieces. The program will conclude with Edward Elgar´s Enigma Variations, Op. 36. Both S

"Both Scheherazade and the Enigma Variations tell stories," says Vener. "Scheherazade is based, of course, on ´The Book of One Thousand and One Nights´, or ´The Arabian Nights,´ as it is sometimes called. As for the Enigma Variations, each is a musical depiction of one of Elgar´s friends. Second only to his Pomp and Circumstance March, the Enigma Variations is Elgar´s most famous work – and with good reason, as you´ll learn!"

"Frank, Tony & The Maestro" will begin on Saturday, August 7, at 5:30 p.m., when the gates to The Arboretum open for picnicking. Three vendors – including Robin´s Wood Fire BBQ & Grill, Bristol Farms and Neomeze Restaurant Bar and Lounge – will provide food on site as well. Wine will be provided by redwhite+bluezz. And, as has happened in the past, live jazz performances will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Parking on site is available. The Arboretum is located at 301 North Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia. For more information or to order tickets, visit www.calphil.org or call 626.300.8200.

Tickets for "Frank, Tony & The Maestro" at Walt Disney Concert Hall on August 8 can be purchased through Ticketmaster online or by calling 800-745-3000. For downloadable order forms, seating and pricing, visit Cal Phil´s website: www.calphil.org..

Cal Phil will also present "Talks with the Maestro" at Disney Hall – at 1 p.m. prior to the concert. Vener stresses that these talks are not lectures but conversations between him and audience members; questions are encouraged. Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at 111 South Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE GUEST ARTISTS

DANIEL SHINDAROV

Mr. Daniel Shindarov, Russian born, internationally renowned violin virtuoso, was the concertmaster of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre Orchestra in Moscow before leaving the USSR in 1975. Daniel began his musical training with Professor P. Stolarsky, and continued his musical training with D. Oistrach and received his master degree in violin from Moscow Conservatory.

Daniel's performances have received wide critical acclaim. According to The Los Angeles Times, "His imposing stage image commands the ageless Joi de Vive-authority that recalls Milstein his lyric passages project the heartfelt warmth of Oistraich, his mastery of expression devices remind these of Heifetz. Yet his style, highly individualistic is that of Daniel Shindarov: what a rare quality of supreme artistry!"

The Santa Ana Register exclaimed: "Daniel Shindarov is a master of all sorts of technical violinistic challenges, including double-stops, flying staccato passages, and difficult left hand pizzicati while simultaneously bowing with the right. Not since Ruggiero Ricci appeared here have we heard virtuoso playing like this. Clearly, Shindarov is the brightest of jewels."

Since his arrival to the USA he has been named concertmaster of the San Francisco Opera orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, performed with Master Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony and many other ensembles. Mr. Shindarov makes his home in Hollywood, California.

KEVIN EARLEY

Kevin Earley recently returned to Broadway as Ernest Defarge in A Tale of Two Cities after having portrayed Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie with leading ladies Sutton Foster, Susan Egan, Delta Burke, Dixie Carter and Leslie Uggams. Broadway and National Touring houses have also seen him as Enjolras in Les Miserables.

His concert work includes The Kennedy Center with Marvin Hamlisch, The Hollywood Bowl as Freddy in My Fair Lady (with John Lithgow and Roger Daltry), with the California Philharmonic opposite Susanna Guzman as well as numerous benefits including Salon at the Tapor, Stage´s, and Broadway Cares: Gypsy of the Year, and Easter Bonnett.

Back in his home town of Chicago, Mr. Earley worked in theaters such as The Marriott Lincolnshire, Dury Lane South, Dury Lane Oakbrook, Appletree, and The Chicago Theater. While there, he received the Joseph Jefferson Award for his portrayal of the Balladeer in Assassins.

Although he now resides in New York, Kevin previously spent time enjoying Los Angeles theater where he has been honored with the LA Drama Critic's Circle Award and Three Robby Awards for Rutledge in 1776, Herman in The Most Happy Fella and Barrett/Stoker in Titanic, and Ovation Nominations for Side Show, Can Can, and It Came From Beyond. On television, Kevin has been seen on Girlfriends, the PBS special presentation of A Tale of Two Cities, Law & Order: SVU, and the Award winning Web Series Then We Got Help! Kevin just released his debut album Earley Standards, available on CD.

MICHAEL B. LEVIN

Michael B. Levin was born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn. Michael always loved music and entertaining. Michael´s mother used to wake him up every Saturday morning just in time for his favorite show Soul Train where he learned about R&B music. The first time he heard someone at his school play the Monkees on the drums live, he knew he wanted to play the drums. He started playing the drums professionally when he was sixteen years old and became a singing drummer playing in clubs. He would play for wedding bands and for the "Goodfellas" on the weekend. Michael performed just a few feet away from John Gotti at one of these engagements.

Michael has performed in casinos from Arizona to Yosemite, and has played all over the world, including headlining for major cruise lines. He toured the country as Frank Sinatra, in a Tribute to the Rat Pack, as well as touring with his own band in "Sinatra, Bennett and Me." He was the star of the long running Las Vegas show "The Rat Pack Is Back" at the Sahara hotel. Michael has worked with many of his fellow entertainers like Jeff Foxworthy, Carlos Mencia, Paul Rodriguez, Christian Slater and many others.

Recently Michael has completed two stage productions in Hollywood, Resting in Pieces written by Sam Bobrick and a brand-new 1940's live radio play Night Stories where he played multiple characters. Michael guest starred on the Disney hit show The Suite Life as bandleader Ira Dinkelman. He was also the voice of Dino Spimoni in Nickelodian´s Hey Arnold, and Ray Doppel in Hey Arnold the Movie.

Michael has just completed writing a sit-com pilot episode focusing on his life as an entertainer. He is working on his new CD, combining jazz and R&B, which is expected to drop this summer: Mikey B - Swings R&B. Michael lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife Ellen and his parents Joe and Edna.