Story posted Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Friday Night Hodges Park Concerts Begin June 19
The Park Ridge Fine Arts Society will again present its series of Friday night concerts in Hodges Park beginning June 19.
On that evening at 8 p.m., the Park Ridge Fine Arts Symphony will present a "Czech Mix", music from the heart of central Europe. It will include the Overture and Three Dances from Smetana's "The Bartered Bride", plus Dvorák's Symphony No. 8 in G Major and Slavonic Dances.
The series continues on June 26 with "Pictures and Portraits", a family concert featuring Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" and other descriptive works.
On July 3, the concert moves to the Maine East High School athletic fields for "American Monuments", inspirational patriotic music, including Arthur Harris's "Americana" and Michael Gilbertson's "Reflections on Rushmore". The symphony will also play Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture leading into the annual Park Ridge fireworks display.
On July 10, the concert returns to Hodges Park as the symphony presents "Across the Footlights", masterpieces of Broadway and Cinema. It will play pieces from "My Fair Lady" and "The King and I" to "West Side Story" and "Fiddler on the Roof", plus a touch of John Williams.
July 17 is "Opera Gala" when soprano Winifred Brown and mezzo-soprano Jessye Wright take center stage for an evening of opera highlights. They will perform arias and duets from Madame Butterfly, Tosca, Die Fledermaus, Merry Widow, and more.
July 24 is Variations night featuring late romantic "Inventions." Pieces include Brahms' Variations on a Theme of Haydn and Symphony No. 4 in E minor, plus Sarasate's flamboyant "Carmen Fantasy" with Symphony Concertmaster Stephen Boe as soloist.
The society also plans a bonus concert on July 31 featuring Brian Patti Big Band. The band plans a tribute to Benny Goodman, the King of Swing, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. An artist for an additional concert for Aug. 7 is yet to be announced.
All performances begin at 8 p.m.
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