Picnic Pops: June 22-July 11
May 21, 2009
Free concerts in the parks begin June 22 and extend a tradition begun with John Philip Sousa and Arthur Fiedler, who made outdoor symphonic concerts popular in America. This year’s program features American patriotic tunes and symphonic pops of many styles, including A Chorus Line, Harry Potter and Superman, classic tunes of George Gershwin, and – for the first time ever – gospel tunes featuring members of the celebrated Gospel Meets Symphony Chorus. The evening concludes with Tchaikovsky’s thunderous 1812 Overture.
** ALL CONCERTS ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC **
Monday, June 22, 2009
7:30 PM
Hardesty Park
(Rain date: July 11 or 12)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
7:30 PM
Firestone Park
(Rain date: June 28)
Friday, July 10, 2009
7:30 PM
Goodyear Park
(Rain date: July 11 or 12)
Christopher Wilkins, conductor
Christopher James Lees, conductor
My sister and I have attended almost all of the summer outdoor concerts and have enjoyed them very much. My highest compliments to the members of the orchestra. The last concert of 2008 was one of the best ever.
The Hardesty Park concert this year was very good, but I think that the inclusion of the gospel singers was very inappropriate.
The Firestone Park concert Friday was rather disappointing. The orchestra played very well, but this time the gospel singers were not only inappropriate, but downright annoying. I did not drive 40 mjles to hear all that screeching. The selection of composers was fine but background music separated from its show is boring no matter how well played.
If the gospel singers are scheduled for the Goodyear Heights concert, count me out.
Lou Romestant