Press Releases
Summary: Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a historic home and cultural center in south Orange County, celebrates Lunar New Year this winter with events in traditional and contemporary Chinese arts and culture headlined by two concerts with world-renowned Chinese zither performer Bei Bei.
San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a nonprofit southern California cultural center, announces a series of FREE and specially-ticketed performances for Chinese/Lunar New Year (February 1-15, 2022). These events are part of Casa Romantica’s brand new Connections programming, which curates a variety of events around a specific theme.
“Casa Romantica – and, by extension, Orange County – is home to people from all over the world who have brought their cultural traditions with them,” says Amy Behrens, Executive Director. “This winter, Casa Romantica invites the community to join us for a celebration of the Lunar New Year in the Chinese cultural tradition, exploring the ways that Chinese-American artists have maintained time-honored New Year rituals and fused them with contemporary arts and culture in America.”
The winter event lineup features concerts for children, a free community day, and a site-specific Chinese dance performance by Dance Impressions & STC Foundation in Casa Romantica’s historic Main Salon. Unique in this series is a pair of performances by Chinese zither (guzheng) artist Bei Bei, whose music can be heard in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s Mulan (2021) and the upcoming Pixar film Turning Red (2022).
“I am honored to perform two shows at Casa Romantica, this beautiful historic space, by myself and with my fusion band. I intend to take my audience on a journey from China’s ancient wisdom to its contemporary innovations,” says Bei Bei. “I am grateful to be able to represent Chinese culture, and I hope my performance will deepen your understanding of its richness and beauty. The music that I play will also bring a sense of optimism and renewal to celebrate the new year and the spring.”
Bei Bei’s first performance consists of traditional and original works that highlight the beauty and complexity of the guzheng’s classical roots, while her second performance shows off her chops as a sophisticated artist who modernizes her craft to incorporate pop, funk, and jazz.
Several of the events are either FREE or under $10 per ticket, designed to welcome families and maximize access to the celebration.
Event Lineup
Casa Kids: Pacific Trio Music of China
January 29, 2022 @ 12 PM | General $5; children under 13, Casa Romantica members, and active duty military free
Description: Pacific Trio presents a lively, touching, and exciting performance of traditional music from China using the zither, pipa, dizi, er-hu, and several other authentic instruments.
D. Yoder Family Sundays: Celebration of Lunar New Year
Sunday, February 6, 2022 from 10 AM – 2 PM | FREE and open to the public
Description: Casa Romantica’s monthly free community event includes a scavenger hunt, crafts, and activities celebrating the traditions of Lunar New Year. Lucky red envelopes will be given out to the first 100 attendees. Some envelopes have prizes!
Casa Classic Bei Bei: Chinese Zither
Thursday, February 10, 2022 @ 7 PM | General $25; Casa Romantica Members $20
Description: An evening of classical Chinese zither played by one of the world’s premiere guzheng musicians. Bei Bei has played an integral role in introducing this ancient Chinese instrument to a worldwide audience. Since making her debut in 2006, She has been prominently featured on Disney soundtracks, performed with global stars such as Christina Aguilera, and released several critically acclaimed original albums.
Casa Vibes Bei Bei: Year of the Funky
Friday, February 11, 2022 @ 7 PM | Cover charge $12
Description: Bei Bei performs a decidedly contemporary concert with pop/funk original zither skills in a unique way.
Casa Kinetic: Dance Impressions & STC Foundation
Thursday, February 17, 2022 @ 7 PM | General $25; Casa Romantica Members $20
Description: Dance Impressions & STC Foundation shares Chinese culture through traditional performing arts. Guests will enjoy classical Chinese dance and drumming in Casa Romantica’s Main Salon with a reception to meet the cast after the performance.
About Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens maintains a robust series of year-round programs in arts, music, history, horticulture, and literature for all ages. Casa Romantica has commissioned several critically-acclaimed works, including Casa Classic: Opera Through the Seasons (2021; site-specific commission), Casa Kinetic: Tango Romantica (2021; dance), Open Casa: Who was Nellie Gail Moulton? (2020; visual art), Casa Coastal: Murals of Levi Ponce (2019; visual art), Casa Theater: The Odd-Essy (2019; theater), Casa Kinetic: Culture Shock LA Hip Hop (2019; dance); Casa Coastal: The Art of Baja California (2018; visual art), Casa Theater: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018; theater), Casa Kinetic: Celebrating Tap Dance Legends (2018; dance), Casa Coastal: Rebecca Louise Law (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Contemporary Dance Collective (2017; contemporary dance), and Open Casa: The Photographs of Douglas Kirkland (2015; visual art). The 2020-21 Casa Captivating season includes an expanded dance (Casa Kinetic), theater (Casa Theater), and concert series (Casa Vibes), visual and performing arts commissions, and an expanded Casa Kids education program.
Casa Romantica also hosts a variety of free arts education programs for children year-round. The institution’s annual Casa Romantica Music Festival and Academy has received critical praise for its comprehensive two-week music studies program in cello, piano, viola, and violin. Casa Romantica also offers a Summer Dance Workshop, a Spring Break Arts Week, various art, literature, and horticulture events to grades K-12, and welcomes over 6,000 children from the Capistrano Unified School District each year for STEAM-based field trips that examine the history of San Clemente and the coastal environment.
Mission Statement: Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and is the historic home of the founder of the City of San Clemente. Casa Romantica provides programs for all ages in arts, music, history, and horticulture and is a premier Southern California cultural center.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is located at 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672. Hours: Tuesday—Thursday 10 am—4 pm; Friday—Sunday 10am—2pm; closed Mondays and holidays. General admission is $5; Casa Members, active military with ID, and children under age 13 visit for FREE. For more information, call (949) 498-2139 or visit CasaRomantica.org
