BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Masked carillon player Cast in Bronze, who had a 16-year run at Musikfest before causing some controversy by being left off the lineup in 2015, will return for the Bethlehem festival’s 40th anniversary this year, the artist said in a Facebook post.
Cast in Bronze performer Frank DellaPenna said Musikfest has “invited some vintage acts for the celebration, including Cast in Bronze. Frank DellaPenna has agreed to come out of retirement to perform on August 4,5,6 at Musikfest.
- Popular carillon player Cast in Bronze says he will return to Musikfest this year after an eight-year absence
- Cast in Bronze plays the carillon, an instrument of two-dozen cast bronze bells weighing tons. He plays while masked and clothed in black
- Cast in Bronze says performances will be held Aug. 4, 5 and 6
“Show times are 6,7,8,9 p.m., very near the location where he performed for 16 years."
Musikfest runs Aug. 3-13 in downtown and South Side Bethlehem.
“Frank is both delighted and grateful that he has been invited to perform for this event. He is looking forward to sharing his music on the carillon once again and reconnecting with friends and fans. Please come. It may be the last time he performs at Musikfest.”Cast in Bronze carillon player Frank DellaPenna on the performer's Facebook page
“Frank is both delighted and grateful that he has been invited to perform for this event. He is looking forward to sharing his music on the carillon once again and reconnecting with friends and fans. Please come. It may be the last time he performs at Musikfest,” says the post.
A creepy but cool performance
Musikfest has not confirmed a performance by Cast in Bronze. An incomplete list of free-stage shows it released earlier did not include him.
Cast in Bronze plays the carillon – an instrument of two-dozen cast bronze bells weighing tons – backed by a recorded track. DellaPenna played while masked and clothed in black for a creepy, but cool performance.
Cast in Bronze appeared on NBC-TV’s “America’s Got Talent” in 2012, but did not advance.
When Cast in Bronze was not booked for Musikfest in 2015, DellaPenna took to his Facebook to say, “At first I thought ‘age discrimination.’ I don’t think I’ve changed that much!” (DellaPenna then was 64, he’s now 72.)
Musikfest responded then on its Facebook page that “one of our primary goals is to focus on presenting a variety of new and emerging artists alongside festival favorites, something that really helps to keep the festival ‘fresh’ and enhances the experience for our guests.”
“It’s been exciting to see Cast in Bronze grow with Musikfest over the past 16 years, but this year we decided the time was right to give some other artists in residence a chance to perform at the festival.”
Musikfest said then that it had “invited Frank to be part of another festival or event at SteelStacks in the coming months. We know many people would look forward to seeing his show, especially if performed at the base of the blast furnaces.”
Cast in Bronze continues to perform at Renaissance and Medieval festivals.
