That’s a First
Dame Ethel Smyth was a great English composer in the late 19th and early 20th century, and yet her works were often overlooked by the male-dominated industry. The musician counted Tchaikovsky and Debussy as her admirers and remains the only female composer ever produced at the Metropolitan Opera. Bard SummerScape’s production of her work The Wreckers — a story about a love triangle and mob mentality — is the U.S. premiere. July 24 & 31 at 7:30 p.m., July 26, 29 & Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. $20-$95. • The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College. Annandale-on-Hudson. 845-785-7900; www.fishercenter.bard.edu
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Art Walk
Gazing at a landscape painting is one thing, but watching an artist create the work while standing in the actual landscape itself is quite another. At the Olana Partnership’s Fourth Annual Plein Air Paint Out and Festival visitors walk the historic site’s grounds where artists are installed painting the vistas they see. The three-day festival concludes with a cocktail reception and a live auction of the wet canvases. All proceeds benefit Olana’s educational programs and the Columbia County Council on the Arts. July 9-11, 9 a.m-8:30 p.m. July 10 guided walking tours 10-11:30 a.m. July 11 reception 4 p.m, auction 5 p.m. Walking grounds free July 9-10. $5 parking fee for non-members on Saturday. • Olana State Historic Site. 5720 Rte. 9G, Hudson. 518-828-1872; www.olana.org
Take a Nap
We’ve all heard the story of the Valley’s most famous sleeper Rip van Winkle, but it takes on new life in the Center for Performing Arts production of Rip! The Musical. Based on the classic yarn by Washington Irving, the show follows the Catskill man as he takes a nap in the mountains and wakes up 20 years later to find the Hudson Valley very different. July 17-19. Fri. & Sat. 8 p.m, Sat. & Sun. 3 p.m. $25-$27. • 661 Rte. 308, Rhinebeck. 845-876-3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org
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Tremendous Trio
The Doansburg Chamber Ensemble opens the 2015 season with performances by a flute, harp, and oboe trio. Harpist Joy Plaisted, flutist Christine Smith, and oboist John Frisch hold degrees from the Juilliard School of Music and the Yale School of Music between them and have performed all over the globe. The Doansburg repertoire includes Trio Sonata Opus 2 No. 2 by Loeillet, Cavatina by Badings, Midnight Oil by Pickman, and Trio Sonata in C Minor by Quantz. July 18 at 7 p.m, July 19 at 4 p.m. • St. Mary in the Highlands Episcopal Church. 1 Chestnut St., Cold Spring. Trinity Lutheran Church. 2130 Rte. 6, Brewster. $10, $9 seniors & students; www.stmaryscoldspring.org
Local Vocals
Free concerts? Yes please! Free concerts featuring homegrown talent? Even better. The Arlington Business Improvement District brings back its outdoor Summer Concert Series, which features local talent and takes place twice a month from now through October. On July 15, hear the country twang of Lake Carmel native Jennifer Grace; on the 29th, rock out with Christian band Pure Joy. • July 15 at 6:30 p.m. Garden Art Space. 46 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie. July 29 at 7 p.m. Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church. 775 Main St, Poughkeepsie. 845-471-2863; www.arlingtonhasit.org
Related: Find a complete list of upcoming events in our calendar
