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THE 2009 RIVER TO RIVER® FESTIVAL UNVEILS ROBUST SCHEDULE OF COMPLETELY FREE MUSIC, DANCE, FILM AND CULTURAL EVENTS

New York, NY – April 15, 2009 – Making music to the ears of budget-conscious audiences, the River To River® Festival today unveiled a stellar line-up of completely free music, dance, and cultural events that firmly establishes Lower Manhattan as the city’s summer arts capital.

Named one of the ten New York cultural institutions “we can’t live without” by Time Out New York and a "must-visit for urban arts aficionados" by the New York Post, the River To River Festival is New York’s largest free summer arts festival. Founded in 2002 to revitalize Lower Manhattan by bringing the arts to new audiences and new artists to public attention, the festival draws hundreds of thousands of people each year to venues along downtown’s spectacular waterfront, including the World Financial Center, The Seaport, Rockefeller Park, Battery Park, and Castle Clinton National Monument.

The 2009 River To River Festival’s schedule is just as ambitious as years past, with free events – from established stars like Arlo Guthrie, Conor Oberst, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company to hotly-tipped artists like The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Jenny Lewis, and choreographer Jonah Bokaer to wildly fun, cutting edge extravaganzas like The Bang on a Can Marathon and The Big Draw – taking place almost daily.

“The River To River Festival embodies the energy and creativity that has carried New York City through both good and challenging times,” said Valerie Lewis, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communication for the Downtown Alliance. “At a time when audiences need art and inspiration more than ever, we are determined to bring them outstanding, world-class entertainment at a price that can’t be beat.”

Presented by American Express, the 2009 River To River Festival’s schedule highlights include:

• The Bang on a Can Marathon returns to World Financial Center for its fourth year to kick-off the 2009 River To River Festival on May 31st. One of the highlights of New York City’s music calendar, the 12-hour marathon of mind-boggling, genre-bending music epitomizes the spirit of the Festival. 
• Avant-garde Hungarian violinist Félix Lajkó performs his unique fusion of folk, jazz, Gypsy and Jewish klezmer in his U.S. debut on June 1st as a co-production with the Extremely Hungary Festival.
  
• Hailed as “Broadway’s last leading man,” Brian Stokes Mitchell takes to the Rockefeller Park stage on June 3rd.
  
• New York City Opera brings opera downtown with three distinct varied programs for the opera novice and expert alike – in three different River To River venues from June 25 to 27.
  
• Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band with opening act Jenny Lewis perform at the Festival’s flagship 4th of July concert in Battery Park.
  
• As part of LMCC’s Sitelines 2009, Jonah Bokaer, one of today’s most exciting choreographers, collaborates with visual artist Daniel Arsham to present their new work, “Blind Fold,” in a public plaza Downtown. Location TBD (Week of July 6th and 13th).
  
• Indie faves The Pains of Being Pure at Heart play Seaport Music, Pier 17 (July 10th).
  
• The famed Indian composer Karsh Kale and Timeline perform with GamelaTron, the world’s first and only robotic Gamelan orchestra, at the World Financial Center Winter Garden on July 21st.
  
• Marking Merce Cunningham’s 90th birthday, The Joyce Theater will co-produce Merce Cunningham Dance Company’s site-specific Event celebrating the work of the legendary choreographer on August 1st and 2nd at a location to be announced shortly.
  
• Acclaimed Cuban dance band Químbombó takes over Wagner Park on July 29th.
  
• Richie Havens (July 23rd) and Arlo Guthrie (July 30) perform at Castle Clinton in Battery Park.
  
• In “Songs for a Shiny Hot Night,” John Kelly sings The Joni Mitchell Songbook at Castle Clinton in Battery Park on August 6th.
  
• May 31st, LMCC’s Sitelines presents Zvi Dance in “White” at Fort Jay on Governor’s Island.
  
• Moshi Moshi Records’ Belated NY 10th Anniversary Show with Casiokids, The Wave Pictures, and Slow Club takes over The Seaport, Pier 17 on August 7th. 

For more information and a complete schedule of River To River Festival programming, please visit www.RiverToRiverNYC.com. The website will be live as of May 4. Additional Festival events will be announced and added to the website as they are confirmed.

All of the preceding events are FREE, though tickets are required in some instances. For more information and a complete schedule of River To River® Festival programming, please visit www.RiverToRiverNYC.com.

The schedule for New York City Opera follows:

June 25, 2009 7:00pm
NEW YORK CITY OPERA: THE MAGIC FLUTE
Rockefeller Park, River Terrace and Warren Street
The River To River Festival brings New York City Opera’s popular Opera For All program to Rockefeller Park with a one-hour version of Mozart's The Magic Flute, sung in English and featuring New York City Opera soloists and orchestra. The Magic Flute is an ideal introductory opera, offering familiar tunes, colorful characters, rollicking comedy, and an upbeat message for audiences of all ages.
FREE www.RiverToRiverNYC.com

June 26, 2009 7:00pm
NEW YORK CITY OPERA: LA NAVARRAISE
220 Vesey Street – World Financial Center, Winter Garden
The River To River Festival brings New York City Opera’s popular Opera for All program to the World Financial Center's Winter Garden with a concert performance of La Navarraise, a rarely performed Massenet opera. This gripping one-act work, turbulent love story unfolds against the backdrop of civil war in Spain. Performed by the New York City Opera soloists and orchestra, La Navarraise reveals the composer of Manon and Thais at his lyrical best.
FREE www.RiverToRiverNYC.com

June 27, 2009 7:00pm
NEW YORK CITY OPERA ON THE PIER
The Seaport, Pier 17
The River To River Festival brings New York City Opera’s popular Opera for All program to The Seaport with a concert program of beloved arias, duets and overtures that have become part of American popular culture. Highlights include excerpts from La bohème and Madama Butterfly, performed by New York City Opera soloists and orchestra.
FREE www.RiverToRiverNYC.com

About The River To River Festival

The River To River Festival, presented by American Express, is a collaboration of Lower Manhattan’s major cultural event producers including the Alliance for Downtown New York, arts>World Financial Center, Battery Park City Authority, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Port Authority of NY & NJ, and The Seaport. These partners are firmly committed to using the arts as a tool for revitalization and to the development of new audiences for the arts.

Free admission to River To River® events is underwritten by a wide range of funders, led by the Festival's Founding Title Sponsor, American Express. Major support is provided by the Festival's Producing Partners, including, NBC Local Media New York and WNYC New York Public Radio.

Vital support comes from our Supporting Funders, including, Century 21 Department Stores, JetBlue Airways, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, KEXP, and The Village Voice. Participating Funders are CB Richard Ellis, EmblemHealth, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, The Moody’s Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, New York Marriott Downtown, New York State Council on the Arts, New York Stock Exchange Foundation, and TKTS Seaport.