Symphony Under the Sky

Tuesday, 29 June 2010 10:09

Symphony Under the Sky

September 3 - 6, 2010
Heritage Amphitheatre, Hawrelak Park

The summer festival season ends on a suspended high note with your Edmonton Symphony Orchestra filling the river valley skies with the sound of music. Symphony Under the Sky returns for its 16th annual outdoor music festival at Hawrelak Park from September 3rd – 6th, 2010. The always charming conductor Bob Bernhardt returns to lead the orchestra for his fifth consecutive year. With special guest artists Karen Gomyo and Jim Witter, guest conductor Claude Lapalme, and Edmonton’s own Knock School of Irish Dance, the ESO’s concert repertoire will range from Celtic to Canadian, John Williams to Elton John, and Bach to Brahms.
 
Bob Bernhardt is joined by sensational Canadian violinist Karen Gomyo in the festival opener Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms on Friday, September 3rd at 7pm. In our classical masters’ night, Ms. Gomyo will demonstrate the rapturous technical demands of Brahms’ Violin Concerto, and the orchestra will fill the night sky with Beethoven’s First Symphony and Bach’s famous Sheep May Safely Graze. 
 
The second day of our festival, Saturday, September 4th, the ESO explores the diversity of The Celtic Spirit. In this 2pm matinée concert, Edmonton’s award-winning Knock School of Irish Dance joins the orchestra on stage to celebrate the rich colours of traditional tunes from the Emerald Isle, to Celtic classics by Mendelssohn, Leroy Anderson, and Percy Grainger.
 
Nothing beats a picnic in the park on a beautiful summer day! Following the matinee concert on September 4th, join ESO musicians as they host a Family BBQ, serving up tasty burgers and refreshing beverages. Snack on both for only $5, will all proceeds to support the ESO’s Education programs.
 
The day concludes with John Williams’ Greatest Hits at 7pm. In our enduringly popular and highly anticipated movie night, the sun will set on the orchestra as they perform many memorable scores by the great John Williams. Karen Gomyo makes her second appearance at the festival, taking centre stage in pieces from Schindler’s List and selections from Fiddler on the Roof. Themes from Superman and Jurassic Park, plus favourites from Hook, Memoirs of a Geisha, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and Star Wars complete the program.
 
The festival continues on Sunday, September 5th at 2pm. Bring your little ones to the Park for a lively afternoon of music through storytelling and audience participation. This hour-long Family Matinée which will highlight music of the great composers of classical music in a fun and educational atmosphere, will not include members of the ESO, and is ideal for children up to 6 years of age.
 
The excitement of the afternoon continues with a Teddy Bear Picnic! Immediately following the family matinée event, face painters, inflatable play structures, musical activities, and an instrument petting zoo will keep your children laughing and learning. Hot dogs and juice will keep everyone energized for a fun-filled picnic.
 
Sunday concludes with the music of two of the great pop/rock songwriters of our time coming together in the talented hands of Jim Witter. Enjoy a summer night of 70s classic rock with The Piano Men – The Music of Billy Joel & Elton John. With his sizzling band on keyboards, guitar, bass, flute, saxophone, and drums, Mr. Witter takes to the keys with ease, and unleashes his richly powerful voice on hit after hit, taking the audience on a musical journey through pop culture. All time favourites like Big Shot, Rocket Man, Movin’ Out, Your Song, Piano Men, and Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, plus so much more, will be heard in this concert which begins at 7pm.
 
On Monday, September 6th at 2pm, your ESO is joined by guest conductor Claude Lapalme to wrap up Symphony Under the Sky in a grand tradition of the true north strong and free. In the final concert of the festival, your ESO performs dazzling orchestral arrangements in Great Canadian Song Book. From Four Strong Winds to Snowbird, Big Yellow Taxi to Heart of Gold, the orchestra will also premiere a new work by young and avid ESO Young Composer Sean Doherty. Members of the 20th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, will once again return to supply the awe-inspiring cannonades in Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.
 
Box Office and Tickets
 
Adult weekend passes are $82 for grass seating and $120 for reserved seating. Child weekend passes are FREE* for grass seating and $54 for reserved seating. Adult single ticket prices for reserved seating range from $20 - $35. Reserved single tickets for children 12 and under range from $13 - $15, and are FREE for grass seating.  Agency fees apply to all single ticket purchases.  The 2 for 1 New Subscriber Promotion applies to Symphony Under the Sky weekend passes.
 
*Ticket still required for child grass seating.  Please note the Family Matinée on Sunday, September 5th, is not included in the Weekend Pass.
 
Non-refundable/non-exchangeable tickets are available now! Call the Winspear Centre Box Office at (780) 428-1414 or 1-800-563-5081, or purchase online.

Comments  

 
0 # hazel 2011-08-31 02:18 Just wondering what the grass seating consists of? Bring your own chair? Restricted to a certain number of people? Location? Reply | Reply with quote | Quote
 
 
0 # phil 2011-08-31 03:37 Hi Hazel,

The grass seating area wraps around the seated area under the tent at the Heritage Amphitheatre. There is a section in which you may sit on a chair, and a section for sitting on blankets. There is no restriction on the number of tickets you can purchase on the grass.

I hope the helps, and please let us know if you have any further questions.

Cheers,
-Phil Reply | Reply with quote | Quote
 
 
0 # hazel 2011-08-31 05:17 Do you only sell a certain number of tickets in total for the grass seating? Reply | Reply with quote | Quote
 
 
0 # phil 2011-08-31 05:23 Hi Hazel, yes - we can accommodate approximately 1700 grass tickets in addition to the reserved seating. We do cap total advance sales to the capacity of the Winspear Centre (in case the performance is moved there due to bad weather), and the remainder of grass tickets are available 2 hours prior to the concert provided it remains in Hawrelak Park.

-Phil Reply | Reply with quote | Quote
 

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