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Tag: Boca Grande

Entertainer David Ohrenstein plays ragtime

Pianist David Ohrenstein to Play at the Gasparilla Inn

Pianist David Ohrenstein to Play for diners and socialites on a newly rebuilt Steinway Grand at the Gasparilla Inn. He is scheduled 6 nights weekly in season at this island resort.

Pianist David Ohrenstein Will Begin his 8th winter season at the Famous Gasparilla Inn on December 20
David to Be Featured on a newly rebuilt 1925 vintage Steinway Grand Piano. Location: Gasparilla Inn on the isle of Boca Grande, Fl. This year marks his 9th consecutive winter season.
The Gasparilla Inn & Club – Photo courtesy of Gasparilla Inn

Enjoy Pianist David Ohrenstein

Live at the Gasparilla Inn!

Posted by DSO Works on Saturday, February 3, 2018

The Gasparilla Inn and Club in Boca Grande is ideal for any special occasion:

Gasparilla Inn Historic District is in the heart of an historic district.  Location is on 500 Palm Avenue in Boca Grande, Florida, United States. On March 18, 2008, it was listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[1]

The National Register designation centers largely on the Gasparilla Inn itself.  It is one of the largest surviving resort hotels in Florida.  Originally it was built for wealthy northerners in the early 20th century.[2]

Here are just a few of the highlights the Inn has to offer:

  • Great food by master chefs
  • Service by a highly trained,  considerate and responsive staff.
  • Incredible decor with featured displays.  View: (1) Spectacular seashells. (2) A pictorial history of the Inn. (3) Pictures of big fish catches and fishing expeditions.
  • Of course, the newly rebuilt vintage Steinway.

David is particularly excited about this year. This is because piano technician, Larry Keckler of Sarasota Florida, reconditioned and fine-tuned the dining room Steinway.   He also tuned a second Steinway grand in the “Living Room”. Both date back to the early 1920’s. Steinway parts were flown directly from Germany. Having played at the Inn over Thanksgiving, I personally witnessed how the guests loved its intimate, clean and clear tone.

When dining, be sure you ask me to play entire piano score to Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nacht Musik (A Little Night Music). I have a rare and most enjoyable German-made arrangement.  Guests also love my rendition of Chopin’s Nocturnes. Gustav Holst even gets into the act. I have a unique transcription of his Jupiter from The Planets. Franz Liszt loved transcriptions. So do I.  Enjoy great music in the old tradition in a special setting. I will be there six nights weekly: From December 20, 2017 through April 1, 2018.

 

Every day is an aidition day for David. Customers love listening to his music while dining.

David plays on Steinways for Mothers Day at the Gasparilla Inn

David to play the Steinways at the Gasparilla Inn: David not only loves a piano with beautiful tone; but also music with beautiful melody. Music, he believes, should be all about beauty, enjoyment and relaxation.  Thus he plays the music of  Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein,  Henry  Mancini, Michel Legrand, Billy Joel, Barry Manilow, Elton John, the Beatles, Scott Joplin, and any composer(s) who write memorable melodies.   He even plays the theme from the King’s Speech (Beethoven’s 7th Symphony), Gustav Holst’s Jupiter, from the Planets, as well as music by Chopin, Rachmaninoff,  Beethoven, Debussy, Ravel and J.S. Bach to name a few.The kids are happy when they hear his selections from the movies such as: Star Wars, Batman, Harry Potter, Home Alone, Close Encounters of a Third Kind, and Jurassic Park.

WHAT PIANO MUSIC DO THE PATRONS SEEM TO ENJOY THE MOST AT THE GASPARILLA INN?

Year after year though, everyone’s favorites are still  by Henry Mancini including the theme from the Pink Panther (with the magical effect of its opening four note rhythm), the Baby Elephant Walk, Charade, the Days of Wine and Roses, Arabesque and of course Moon River. Enjoy the eloquence of old Florida decor, the beautiful atmosphere, great food by master chefs, and, of course, the vintage Steinway grand pianos from the 1920’s. David’s personal feeling walls of the Inn respond the best to Scott Joplin since they were built while he was actually writing ragtime. Celebrate your most special occasion in a most wonderful way; see you there! Admission to the public is either free or the price of a beverage in the living room; and the cost of dinner in the dining room. Formal dress code required for dinner.

 

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David at The Glenridge Performing Arts Center in Sarasota,Florida recording an hour of the music of Claude Debussy to be available on DVD. He is thinking “I love the beautiful tone of this piano.”