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Expansion Joints Montalvo's Performing Arts Series expands to Los Gatos and Santa Clara By Al Roberts NOT CONTENT TO ROAM freely across the grounds at the historic estate of Sen. Phelan and the vineyard acreage of the old Masson property, the Montalvo Performing Arts series for 2000 is expanding beyond the borders of Saratoga. This year, the series has added an afternoon blues extravaganza at Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos (Sept. 10, starting at 3pm). This legends-heavy bill features harmonica man Charlie Musselwhite, R&B diva Etta James and the incomparable John Lee Hooker, who seems impervious to the ravages of time with a beat so insistent that it hasn't wavered for decades. Heading even farther afield, the series brings the famed Vienna Boys Choir to a most suitable venue: the Mission Church at Santa Clara University (Feb. 3, 2001). Other highlights of the series include swing revivalists Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, June 10 at the Mountain Winery; Emmylou Harris, June 16 in the Garden Theater at Villa Montalvo; Chris Isaak for three nights (June 26-28) at Montalvo; the Robert Cray Band, July 30 on the Front Lawn at Montalvo; mistress of salsa Celia Cruz, Aug. 6, also on Montalvo's front lawn; jazz great Sonny Rollins in a must-see show, Aug. 11 at Montalvo; one of rock's great guilty pleasures, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at the Winery; country star Clint Black Sept. 8 at the Winery; and Ladysmith Black Mambazo Sept. 27-28 in the Carriage House at Montalvo. In addition to the Vienna Boys Choir, other classical guests in the series include the Russian National Orchestra, Aug. 4 at Montalvo; Bayshore Lyric Opera's production of Madama Butterfly Aug. 5-6 at the Mountain Winery; Midsummer Mozart, Aug. 9 at Montalvo; Western Opera Theater's staging of Mozart's Die Fledermaus, Sept. 15-16 at Montalvo; Alicia De Larrocha, Oct. 12 at Montalvo; and the St. Lawrence String Quartet, Oct. 15, also at Montalvo. Tickets for most concerts range from around $30 to $60-plus for premium seats (with Ringo Starr and his All-Starr band breaking the bank at $55/$65/$75--nostalgia doesn't come cheap these days). The public can start ordering tickets the weekend of April 14-16. Call the box office at 408.961.5858 for information. A complete schedule is available online at http://www.villamontalvo.org. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]