Click here for full season schedule

June 2008
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July 2008
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August 2008
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205 East Randolph Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
312.742.7638
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FOR RELEASE June 09, 2008

GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2008 SEASON
OF FREE CLASSICAL MUSIC & MORE
IN MILLENNIUM PARK, JUNE 11 – AUGUST 16
Pinchas Zukerman’s Festival debut; U.S. Premiere of ‘A Throw of Dice’ film with orchestral accompaniment; Venetian Night Luciano Pavarotti Tribute Concert; and Opera Week, Among 2008 season highlights    

CHICAGO, March 6, 2008 – Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival - the Grammy®-nominated Grant Park Orchestra and the award-winning Grant Park Chorus led by Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar and Chorus Director Christopher Bell - will celebrate its 74th annual season with a wide ranging series of classical music concerts and special events at the state-of-the-art Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, and in other select city locations, June 11 – August 16, 2008. The concerts, which are free and open to the public, will generally take place on Wednesday and Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m.  

 “The Grant Park Music Festival experience is unparalleled,” says Artistic and General Director James W. Palermo. “We’re set in one of the world’s best outdoor summer concert venues – the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Add to that the thrill of hearing the great classics of the symphonic repertory with our amazing sound system, the Chicago skyline in full view, performed by legendary guest artists and Carlos Kalmar with our own world-class Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus – and all for free. That’s an experience that’s hard to beat. The Grant Park Music Festival has become not only the hottest ticket in town, but one of Chicago’s vital artistic treasures, an irreplaceable part of our lives each summer.”

A number of new programs have been implemented this season to accommodate increased demand for reserved seating and to enhance the overall concert-going experience. “Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Select Series” memberships (similar to the 2007 “8’s Series” membership and priced this year at only $80) feature guaranteed access to the reserved seating area for eight Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday concerts at which members will receive usher-guided access to some of the Pavilion’s best available seats 10 minutes prior to each concert. This series augments the traditional Grant Park Music Festival membership program, which provides guaranteed seating for all 30 concerts. Traditional memberships are now on sale, but have become extremely popular, sometimes selling quickly. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Select Series memberships are an alternative for those interested in either attending on a particular day of the week or looking for an extremely affordable membership option. Another addition to the Festival this season is the “PlayBack” programming, where on three selected evenings, specially chosen guest artists return to the stage immediately following concerts to present bonus, intimate solo or chamber performances of works of their choosing.

Season Highlights

The 2008 Festival’s impressive season opens with 2008 Grammy® Award-winning violinist James Ehnes performing the haunting strains of Barber’s Violin Concerto (for which he recently won the Grammy® for Best Instrumental Soloist) and Brahms’ 2nd Symphony, June 11. The upcoming season also includes the superstar concert violinist Pinchas Zukerman, making his Festival and Millennium Park debut July 13 in a concert presented in collaboration with the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Israel; and the dynamic young virtuoso Leila Josefowitz performing American composer John Adams’ recent work Dharma at Big Sur, July 16. Ukrainian born Israeli violinist and Isaac Stern protegé Vadim Gluzman performs Mendelssohn’s popular Violin Concerto, August 6.

Nights like no other at Millennium Park include Take a Friend to the Orchestra, June 18 & 21. Inspired by a national internet phenomenon of the same name, regular Grant Park Music Festival concertgoers are encouraged to invite a friend who has never been to an orchestra concert to experience popular favorites by Wagner, Mozart, Debussy, Rossini, Barber, and Respighi in the relaxed, laid-back setting of Millennium Park.  Then, the magic of cinema will be combined with the lush sounds of the Grant Park Orchestra in the U.S. Premiere of A Throw of Dice, a stunningly beautiful Indian silent film from 1929 presented with a new symphonic score composed by award-winning DJ/multi-instrumentalist Nitin Sawhney (who will perform on keyboards) and conducted by Stephen Hussey in one screening only, July 30.

The Grant Park Music Festival will present a selection of concerts with a dose of international flair, beginning with popular Catalan vocalist Maria del Mar Bonet, June 20. Concerts by the Orchestra and Chorus will celebrate a sampling of pieces from Russia, including Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor, and Rachmaninoff’s choral spectacular The Bells, based on Edgar Allen Poe’s poem of the same name, July 23 & 25. Finally, the works of some of Chicago’s best and brightest Latin American composers – including Ricardo Lorenz, Gustavo Leone, Elbio Rodriguez Barilari, and Osvaldo Golijov– will be showcased under the direction of Guest Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, August 1 & 2.

Tribute will be paid to two very different musical giants, beginning with “Gershwin’s Greatest Hits,” sung by some of Broadway’s most popular talents, July 18 & 19; with the Friday evening concert also the main attraction of the Festival’s seventh annual benefit gala, Divertimento. Then fittingly on Venetian Night, July 26, the dashing young Italian tenor sensation Vittorio Grigolo makes his Chicago debut honoring his mentor, teacher, and friend, the late, great Luciano Pavarotti with a variety of opera arias, Neapolitan songs, and new pop opera tunes written especially for him.

Throughout the summer, the combined forces of the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus will perform monumental choral works such as Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis (with soloists Erin Wall, Anita Krause, James Taylor and Nathan Berg) June 13 & 14; A German Requiem, June 25 with soprano Karina Gauvin; and Sibelius’ The Captive Queen and Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater (conducted by Hannu Lintu with soloists Jonita Lattimore, Susan Platts, and Quinn Kelsey), July 9 & 11.

The Festival will celebrate our nation’s birthday by showcasing America’s classical music traditions. On July 2 & 5, Bill McGlaughlin, host of the nationally-syndicated Exploring Music program, heard locally on 98.7 WFMT, will take audiences on an orchestral journey through 125 years of American classical music, beginning in the post Civil War era and ending with the music of today. Highlighted are traditional works by Chadwick and Bernstein, to the mavericks of today, including John Adams and Chicago composers. The performances are scheduled to be taped live for later nationally syndicated broadcast. On July 3, Christopher Bell and the Grant Park Orchestra return to the Petrillo Music Shell for one of Chicago’s favorite concerts, Independence Eve at Grant Park. Later in the month, on July 29 & 31, the Grant Park Chorus moves front and center in “a cappella” concerts celebrating music “Made in America,” performing works by Hovhaness, Corigliano, Lauridsen, Copland, Golijov, Barber, and Sametz.  

Beloved pianist Valentina Lisitsa returns, performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto, August 8 & 9. On both evenings, she returns to the stage for PlayBack performances of one of classical music’s most popular works – Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.  And lastly, the closing week of the 2008 season will offer audiences a variety of astounding operatic selections, including Act 1 of Wagner’s Die Walküre (with soloists Nancy Gustafson, Torsten Kerl and Kristinn Sigmundson) August 13, and a program of Great Opera Choruses, featuring Carlos Kalmar and the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus, performing favorites from such operas as The Marriage of Figaro, Die Meistersinger, Fidelio, The Flying Dutchman, Khovantchina, Boris Godunov, Carmen, Pagliacci, Manon Lescaut, Turnadot, Nabucco, and Aida, August 15 & 16.   Renato Balsadonna of the Royal Opera Covent Garden will act as Guest Chorus Director for these season closing performances.

Grant Park Music Festival 2008 Season Schedule
*All concerts take place at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion unless otherwise noted*

BARBER AND BRAHMS
Wednesday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, Conductor; James Ehnes, Violin

BEETHOVEN’S MISSA SOLEMNIS
Friday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 14 7:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus; Carlos Kalmar, Conductor; Christopher Bell, Chorus Director; Erin Wall, Soprano; Anita Krause, Mezzo Soprano; James Taylor, Tenor; Nathan Berg, Bass

TAKE A FRIEND TO THE ORCHESTRA
Wednesday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, Conductor

MARIA DEL MAR BONET
Friday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, Conductor; Maria del Mar Bonet, Vocalist

Singer and songwriter Maria del Mar Bonet hails from Majorca, lives in Barcelona and is one of the most exciting practitioners of Mediterranean popular song.

A GERMAN REQUIEM
Wednesday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m.
*Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus; Carlos Kalmar, Conductor; Christopher Bell, Chorus Director; Karina Gauvin, Soprano; Richard Zeller, Baritone

20th CENTURY MASTERS
Friday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m.
*Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, Conductor; Karina Gauvin, Soprano

Play Back, post-concert a cappella: The Apprentice Chorale

EXPLORING MUSIC WITH BILL McGLAUGHLIN: AMERICA THEN AND NOW
Wednesday, July 2 at 8:00 p.m.  * Note start time
Saturday, July 5 at 8:00 p.m.   * Note start time
Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, Conductor; Bill McGlaughlin, Narrator

Bill McGlaughlin, host of WFMT’s popular program, Exploring Music, narrates a program of American works spanning 125 years, beginning in the post Civil War era and ending with the music of today.  Highlighted are traditional works by Chadwick and Bernstein, to the mavericks of today, including John Adams and Chicago composers.

INDEPENDENCE EVE AT GRANT PARK
Thursday, July 3 at 8:00 p.m.  *Note start time
*Petrillo Music Shell
Grant Park Orchestra; Christopher Bell, Conductor

TCHAIKOVSKY’S 6th
Wednesday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus; Hannu Lintu, Conductor; Christopher Bell, Chorus Director; Jonita Lattimore, Soprano; Susan Platts, Mezzo Soprano; Quinn Kelsey, Baritone

COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL NIGHT
Sunday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Live in concert, a diverse array of musicians and ensembles from Chicago’s large network of community music schools will take center stage in performance at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park on Saturday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m.  Representatives will also be on hand to distribute information, talk about their programs and answer questions.  This performance is presented by the Grant Park Music Festival and Millennium Park in collaboration with The Chicago Consortium of Music Schools. Please note:  The Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus do not appear on this program

PINCHAS ZUKERMAN
Sunday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m.  * Note start time
Grant Park Orchestra; Pinchas Zukerman, Conductor and Violin; Jeremy Black, Violin

BEETHOVEN’S 7th
Wednesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra; Hugh Wolff, Conductor; Leila Josefowitz, Violin

GERSHWIN’S GREATEST HITS
Friday, July 18 at 6:30 p.m. (Divertimento! benefit gala)
Saturday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra; Kevin Stites, Conductor; Jay Jaski, Director; Harolyn Blackwell, Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, and Norman Lewis, Vocalists; Kirill Gerstein, Piano

The composer’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue complements a program of Gershwin’s great tunes, sung by veteran Broadway stars. 
PlayBack, post-concert solo: Kirill Gerstein improvises on Gershwin solo tunes

RUSSIAN SPLENDOR
Wednesday, July 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, July 25 a 6:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus; Christopher Bell, Conductor; Joanna Kozlowska, Soprano; Bryan Griffin, Tenor; Darren Stokes, Baritone

LUCIANO PAVAROTTI TRIBUTE CONCERT
Saturday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m.  * Note start time
Grant Park Orchestra; Vittorio Grigolo, Tenor; Olivia Gorra, Soprano

The Italian singing sensation and an heir to Luciano Pavarotti’s throne as the king of tenors presents a program of familiar opera arias, Neapolitan songs and pop opera hits from his debut album, Vittorio.

MADE IN AMERICA
Tuesday, July 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m.
*Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Grant Park Chorus; Christopher Bell, Conductor

The Grant Park Orchestra does not appear at these concerts.

A THROW OF DICE
Wednesday, July 30 at 8:00 p.m. * Note start time
Grant Park Orchestra; Stephen Hussey, Conductor; Nitin Sawhney, Keyboards

A 1920s Indian film classic, a brand new score by composer/deejay Nitin Sawhney and the lush sounds of the Grant Park Orchestra in a U.S. Premiere, combine to create a magical evening of cinema in Millennium Park.

CHICAGO LATINO COMPOSERS
Friday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 p.m.
*Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Grant Park Orchestra; Giancarlo Guerrero, Conductor; Michelle Areyzaga, Soprano; Edward Harrison, Venezuelan Maracas

Some of Chicago’s best and brightest living Latin American composers are highlighted at these Harris Theater concerts. 

MENDELSSOHN’S VIOLIN CONCERTO
Wednesday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra; Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Conductor; Vadim Gluzman, Violin

GRIEG’S PIANO CONCERTO
Friday, August 8 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, Conductor; Valentina Lisitsa, Piano

Play Back, post-concerto solo: Valentina Lisitsa performs Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata

ACT 1: WAGNER’S DIE WALKÜRE
Wednesday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, Conductor; Nancy Gustafson, Soprano; Torsten Kerl, Tenor; Kristinn Sigmudson, Bass
WAGNER                      Die Walküre, Act 1 (Concert version)

GREAT OPERA CHORUSES
Friday, August 15 at 8:30 p.m.  * Note start time
Saturday, August 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus; Carlos Kalmar, Conductor, Renato Balsadonna, Guest Chorus Director

Membership Information and Ticket Prices
All Grant Park Music Festival performances are free to the public. Open lawn and pavilion seating are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Season memberships to the Festival are available, which include reserved seating or access to reserved sections for all concerts as well as invitations to special events. The new “Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Select Series” memberships feature access to the reserved seating section for 8 Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday concerts this season. Reserved group seating is also available for most concerts. Membership and group sales information is available by calling 312-742-7638 or by visiting the Festival’s website at www.grantparkmusicfestival.com.

About Grant Park Music Festival
Acclaimed by critics and beloved by audiences, the Grant Park Music Festival is the nation’s only free, municipally-supported, outdoor summer classical music series of its kind. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, located between Michigan and Columbus Avenues, at Washington Street, is the official home of the Grant Park Music Festival.

Founded by the Chicago Park District in 1935 and co-presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Grant Park Orchestral Association since 2001, the Grant Park Music Festival will present 30 concerts between June 11 and August 16, 2008, typically on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Convenient parking is located in the Millennium Park Garage (entrance on Columbus at Monroe or Randolph) and at the Grant Park North and East Monroe Garages, all located within walking distance to Millennium Park.

American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Festival’s 2008 season and The Fairmont Chicago is the Festival’s Official Hotel. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a Supporting Sponsor, and Benefactors include the National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, and NIB Foundation.

About Millennium Park
Millennium Park is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture and landscape design. The result of a unique partnership between the City of Chicago and philanthropic community, the 24.5 acre park features the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists and designers. In addition to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States, the park’s prominent features include the interactive Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa; the contemporary Lurie Garden designed by the team of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel; and Anish Kapoor’s hugely popular Cloud Gate sculpture. Since its opening in June 2004, Millennium Park has hosted millions of people, making it one of the most popular destinations in Chicago.

For more information, please call the Grant Park Music Festival at 312-742-7638 or visit the Festival’s website at www.grantparkmusicfestival.com. Concert information is subject to change.

# # #

SEE REVERSE FOR LIST OF SPECIAL 2008 FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING

Additional 2008 Grant Park Music Festival Programming…

Coffee Talk:  Join Artistic and General Director James W. Palermo and guest artists for a cup of Coffee and pre-concert discussion about the evening’s program. Coffee Talk events are free and take place at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Choral Hall, on the east of the Pavilion, unless otherwise noted.

Saturday, June 14, 6:15 p.m. – Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis
Saturday, June 21, 6:15 pm – Take a Friend to the Orchestra
Saturday, July 5, 6:45 pm - Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin
Saturday, July 19, 6:15 pm - Gershwin's Greatest Hits 
Saturday, August 2, 6:15 pm – Chicago Latino Composers (Harris Theater Donor Room)

TalkBack:  Enjoy informal post-concert TalkBack chats with Festival artistic leadership and guest artists in front of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage on selected Wednesday evenings.

Wednesday, June 18 - Take a Friend to the Orchestra
Wednesday, July 9 - Tchaikovsky's 6th
Wednesday, July 23 - Russian Splendor
Wednesday, August 6 - Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto

PlayBack:  Make the music last a little longer and join guest artists at short post-concert mini performances.  PlayBack events are held in front of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage.

Friday, June 27 – After 20th Century Masters, Apprentice Chorale performs a cappella
Saturday, June 28 – After 20th Century Masters, Apprentice Chorale performs a cappella
Friday, July 18 – After Gershwin’s Greatest Hits, Pianist Kirill Gerstein Improvises on Gershwin Tunes
Saturday, July 19 – After Gershwin’s Greatest Hits, Pianist Kirill Gerstein Improvises on Gershwin Tunes
Friday, August 8- After Grieg's Piano Concerto, Valentina Lisitsa performs Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata
Saturday, August 9 – After Grieg's Piano Concerto, Valentina Lisitsa performs Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata

The Apprentice Chorale: The Grant Park Music Festival, in collaboration with DePaul and Roosevelt Universities, offers a select group of highly qualified collegiate voice students a professional level training experience as volunteer members of the award winning Grant Park Chorus.  Participants are immersed in the daily life of the Chorus, working with Chorus Director Christopher Bell on repertory preparation, vocal production, ensemble, and blend.  In addition to participating alongside the Grant Park Chorus, The Apprentice Chorale will be featured on June 27 and 28 after 20th Century Masters at the Harris Theater. The group will also perform as part of the prestigious Dame Myra Hess series at the Chicago Cultural Center on Wednesday, July 16 at 12:15 p.m., broadcast live on WFMT-FM. Musicians from DePaul University School of Music include: Jack Cotterell, tenor; Max Evrard, bass; Deborah Lee, soprano; Randall Moore, bass; Diana Nevills, soprano; Amy Oraftik, alto. Musicians from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University include: Kyle Aberle, baritone; Leila Bowie, soprano; Natalie Hatch, alto; David Hartely, baritone; Margaret Jarvis, alto; Kristin Lelm, soprano; Brian Patterson, tenor; Shannon Regan, soprano; Samantha Stein, soprano; Jennifer Townshend, soprano.

Docent-led rehearsals:  Chicagoans will be able to experience live classical music night and day in the serene surroundings of Millennium Park during the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus docent-led rehearsals in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Rehearsals, which generally last two and a half hours, take place on most Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. Just like the evening concerts, these rehearsals are free and open to the public. The complete rehearsal schedule can be found online at www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/rehearsals.