Concerts & Tickets
Details
| Symphony Under the Sky 2011 has concluded. Please check out Symphony Under the Sky 2012! About this Concert Lights, camera, action in the Park! Your ESO invites you to an evening filled with delightful tributes to the greatest movies out of Hollywood from composers like John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Danny Elfman and Ennio Morricone. Be a part of the perfect soundtrack as the summer sun sets over the lake. |
Thank you to our sponsors!  Media Sponsors |
Ticket InformationAdult Reserved $33 / Grass $20Child (12 & under) Reserved $13 / Grass Free Tickets subject to applicable service charges. |
 Your ESO is extremely pleased to have Bullfrog Power as a partner to lower the electricity-related emissions footprint of the festival with Alberta-made wind power. |
 Heritage Amphitheatre celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2011. |
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Thank you to our festival vehicle sponsors:
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Program Info
Program
Magic, Fantasy and Adventure
JOHN WILLIAMS
E.T.: Flying Theme (4’)*
ALAN MENKEN (Arr Danny Troob)
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Suite (9’)*
Belle / Be Our Guest / Beauty and the Beast
KLAUS BADELT (Arr Ted Ricketts)
Pirates of the Caribbean Suite (4’)*
DANNY ELFMAN (Arr Steve Bartek / Christopher Bankey)
Batman Suite (7’)
Main Title / Love Song / Flowers / Waltz To The Death
INTERMISSION
Hollywood Sings
RICHARD WHITING (Arr Bill Holcombe)
Hooray for Hollywood (from Hollywood Hotel) (3’)*
ALEX NORTH (Arr Mantovani / Russ)
Unchained Melody (from Unchained) (4’)*
ALAN MENKEN (Arr Steven Reineke)
Colors of the Wind (from Disney’s Pocahontas) (4’)*
HAROLD ARLEN / HERBERT STOTHART (Arr Jeff Tyzik)
The Wizard of Oz: Suite (11')*
We’re Off To See The Wizard / Over the Rainbow / Miss Gultch / If I Only Had A Brain / Jitterbug / Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead / Merry Old Land of Oz
INTERMISSION
The Hollywood Sound
NINO ROTA (Arr Bill Holcombe)
The Godfather: Main Title (3’)*
ENNIO MORRICONE (Arr Robert Longfield)
Gabriel’s Oboe (from The Mission) (4’)*
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Lidia Khaner, oboe
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FRANZ WAXMAN
Sunset Boulevard (5’)*
JERRY GOLDSMITH
Poltergeist: Carol Anne’s Theme (3’)*
GOLDSMITH
Papillon: Main Title (2’)*
GOLDSMITH
The Generals: MacArthur and Patton (5’)**Indicates approximate performance duration
Program subject to change.
Program Notes
The first part of our concert is called Magic, Fantasy & Adventure, but could be summarized with the word “blockbuster.” Until the receipts were tallied for his Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film E.T. – The Extraterrestrial was the biggest box office money-maker in history*. One of the many collaborations Spielberg enjoyed with composer John Williams, E.T.’s score is highlighted by this memorable moment, in which a bicycle flies through the night sky.
After many years of seemingly half-hearted attempts at keeping alive the faltering flame of feature-length animated movies, Disney began getting it right again beginning with 1989’s The Little Mermaid. And a large part of the credit has to go to the memorable scores of Alan Menken. In 1991, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, also with a soundtrack by Menken, was the first animated feature film nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Tonight’s suite, arranged by Danny Troob, features the songs Belle, Be Our Guest, and the title theme.
Never has a theme park ride enjoyed a second life as the gently tongue in cheek boat ride through Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean. In the hands of producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Gore Verbinski, a winning cast including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, and a scene-chewing Geoffrey Rush, the ride was transformed into a delightfully grand adventure. Another winning aspect of the film was Klaus Badelt’s music. Previous to this, Badelt’s Hollywood credentials were largely as a secondary film scorer – so this was his first real “leading role.” Not bad for a rookie!
Michael Keaton seemed a strange choice as the caped crusader, but director Tim Burton always worked a little outside the norm. 1989’s Batman not only cast Keaton in the title role, but featured two prominent musicians in the soundtrack. Prince wrote the songs for the movie, but the actual film score was by Danny Elfman. We conclude Magic, Fantasy & Adventure with a suite of Elfman’s contribution to the movie.
The movie Unchained was a 1955 prison film starring a former football star, Emile “Crazylegs” Hirsch. But that’s not what’s important right now. What is important is a poem, written by a 16-year-old boy, William Stirrat (using the pen name Hy Zaret), who was infatuated by who he thought was the prettiest girl in his town of Schenectady, New York, in 1955. Afraid to speak to her, he poured out his feelings in a poem which began with the words, “Oh, my love, my darling / I’ve hungered for your touch.” You’re singing it already, aren’t you? Prominent Hollywood composer Alex North put music to these lyrics of unrequited love that same year, and its presence in the film gave it the title Unchained Melody. It’s been a favourite ever since, particularly in the version the Righteous Brothers recorded in 1965, and which was used in another film soundtrack – Ghost, in 1990.
Alan Menken’s great music for Disney shows up again, with 1995’s Pocahontas. Colors of the Wind is the Oscar-winning song from the movie, sung over the end credits by Vanessa Williams in its “hit single” version, but in the film by Judy Kuhn. She, by the way, wasn’t the voice of Pocahontas in the movie, but the singing voice. A third actress, Irene Bedard, was the speaking voice of the native American title character.
The Wizard of Oz (1939) is one of the best-loved movies of all time, so it must have won a boatload of Oscars, right? Nope, nominated for six, but that’s what happens when your movie comes out the same year at Gone with the Wind. The Oz Wiz did pick up two Oscars, however, both for its music. Film scorer Herbert Stothart won for Best Music, Original Score, while composer Harold Arlen and lyricist E.Y. Harburg nabbed the Best Song Oscar for Over the Rainbow. Jeff Tyzik’s suite has music from both, and some more besides.
Our final part of the program is called The Hollywood Sound, begun here by the lone trumpet which beckons us into the dark, violent world of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. The 1972 Best Picture Academy Award winner, the movie featured a score by a respected film and classical composer, Nino Rota. It was nominated for an Academy Award as well.
Another prominent Italian film scorer also earned an Academy Award nomination for The Mission. Roland Joffé’s 1986 epic starred Robert DeNiro and Jeremy Irons, and featured a moving soundtrack by Ennio Morricone, from which we will hear Gabriel’s Oboe.
Some of Hollywood’s best movies came when the cameras turned the lenses back on Hollywood itself. In 1950, Sunset Boulevard told the story of hack screenwriter’s attempt to create a comeback for a former silent film actress whose best days are long behind her. Billy Wilder directed William Holden and Gloria “I’m ready for my closeup” Swanson in the film, which featured Oscar-winning music by legendary composer Franz Waxman.
We finish tonight with a bit of a tribute to the versatile Jerry Goldsmith. Despite writing some of moviedom’s most memorable scores, he never achieved the “household name” status that many others have. But where would Steven Spielberg’s chilling Poltergeist have been without Goldsmith’s contribution? Carol Anne’s Theme, by the way, was written for Heather O’Rourke’s character, the little girl who’s “they’re heee-ere” line is now the stuff of legend.
Papillon united the unlikely duo of Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, as fellow prisoners on Devil’s Island. Goldsmith gained another Oscar nomination for his score of the 1973 film, losing out to Marvin Hamlisch’s score to The Way We Were.
We finish our Hollywood Sound with a suite made up of scores to two different films about two different iconic American generals, each played by iconic American actors – both set to music by Jerry Goldsmith. Gregory Peck portrayed Douglas MacArthur in the 1977 epic, while George C. Scott won an Oscar for his part in the 1970 movie Patton – another Oscar-nominated score by Goldsmith, and one of the most rousing marches ever composed for the movies. By the way, in case you thought Mr. Goldsmith was always a bridesmaid – with 17 Academy Award nominations – but never a bride, well, he did win – once. His score for The Omen won in 1976.
*Since Jurassic Park, of course, two James Cameron movies have moved into top spot in the box office tally list: 1997’s Titanic, succeeded by 2009’s Avatar.
Program notes © 2011 by D.T. Baker
Artist Info
Robert Bernhardt, conductor
Robert Bernhardt served as Music Director and Conductor of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera for 19 seasons. He was the second Music Director in the combined company’s history, and is now the first with the title Emeritus. A lover of all genres of music, he is equally at home in symphonic, operatic, pops, and educational performances. He also nears another milestone in his career with the Louisville Orchestra, with this year representing his 30th consecutive season with the LO, and his 15th as Principal Pops Conductor. 2010-2011 saw Mr. Bernhardt make his conducting debuts with the Houston Symphony and Cincinnati Pops, and returning twice to the Boston Pops. His vast symphonic repertoire covers most of the standard canon and his commitment to the music of our time is significant. He has been a frequent guest conductor with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, and the Boston Pops. He has also been a guest with the Seattle Symphony, the Phoenix Symphony, the Nashville Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, the Iceland Symphony, the Pacific Symphony, and others. He has recorded for Vanguard, First Edition, Carlton Classics, and RPO record labels. He has also conducted the Louisville Ballet, the North Carolina Ballet, the Jacksonville Ballet, and the Lonestar Ballet.Born in Rochester, NY, Robert Bernhardt holds a Master's Degree with Honours from the University of Southern California School of Music where he studied with Daniel Lewis. He was a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of Union (NY) College, where he was an Academic All-American baseball player. His son, Alex, lives and works in Seattle with his wife and new daughter, and his daughter, Charlotte, is a resident of New York City. He and his wife, Nora, live on Signal Mountain.
Robert Bernhardt holds a special place in the hearts of Edmonton Symphony Orchestra musicians and audiences. This year’s Symphony Under the Sky marks his sixth consecutive as the festival’s conductor, and he frequently leads the ESO in subscription series performances at the Winspear Centre. He last conducted the ESO in December 2010, and returns to kick off the Robbins Lighter Classics series on October 6, 2011.
Festival Info
Parking
Park your vehicle for only $5 at the U of A’s Stadium Car Park (116 St & 89 Ave), and ride ETS buses for free directly to Hawrelak Park! Parking is very limited at Hawrelak Park and not guaranteed. Free, supervised bike racks will also be available at Hawrelak Park, courtesy of the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society.
Park 'n' Ride Shuttle Hours
Friday, September 2nd: 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Saturday, September 3rd: 12 pm - 11:30 pm
Sunday, September 4th: 12 pm - 11:30 pm
Monday, September 5th: 12 pm - 5:30 pm
On-site Box Office
The on-site Box Office Tent is cash only. There will be an ATM machine on site.
On-site Box Office Hours
On-site Box Office Hours
Friday, September 2nd: 5 pm - 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 3rd: 12 pm - 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 4th: 12 pm - 7:30 pm
Monday, September 5th: 11:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Food & Drink
Food vendors will be located in the Heritage Amphitheatre and the Winspear Concession stand will offer snacks, hot and cold drinks, wine & beer.
Symphony Under the Sky Online
Stay tuned to festival updates by connecting with us on Facebook and Twitter!Twitter: @edmsymphony (festival hashtag is #yegSUTS)
Facebook: facebook.com/edmontonsymphony
Weather
In case of inclement weather, festival concerts will take place at the Winspear Centre. If at all possible, all performances will remain at Hawrelak Park. The decision about whether to change venues will be made 3 hours prior to the performance. Venue change information will be announced on 92.5 JOE FM, posted on the front page of this website, and noted at 780-428-1414 and 1-800-563-5081.
Festival Supporters
Thank you to our festival supporters The City of Edmonton through the Edmonton Arts Council and The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton.
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Comments
Thanks for your time,
A symphony enthusiast
Robert Ruzycki Reply | Reply with quote | Quote
Yes, there is an area of grass seating for people with lawn chairs. There is also golf cart service from the parking lot to the amphitheatre, so be sure to look out for that.
Cheers,
-Phil Reply | Reply with quote | Quote
Quoting Shane:
I have 2 tickets for the Sept 3 7:00 pm performance available. They are in the grass seating area. If interested call 780-910-9083. Reply | Reply with quote | Quote
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