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June 10 - August 15, 2026

Welcome

The Grant Park Music Festival is a ten-week classical music concert series held annually in Chicago, Illinois’ Millennium Park.

It features the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus, along with guest performers and conductors, and is one of the only free outdoor classical-music concert series in the US.

2011 Season

View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Opening Night: Symphonie Fantastique

Wed, Jun 15, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Jean-Philippe Collard, Piano

Program

Maurice Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major       
Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique  


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Mendelssohn and Peace on Earth

Fri, Jun 17, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Sat, Jun 18, 2011, 7:30-9pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra And Chorus
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Christopher Bell, Chorus Director
Tamara Wilson, Soprano
Maire O’Brien, Soprano
Brendan Tuohy, Tenor

Program

Arnold Schoenberg: Friede auf Erden
Felix Mendelssohn: Lobgesang


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Regina Carter & the Reverse Thread Project

Wed, Jun 22, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Regina Carter, Violin
Yacouba Sissoko, Kora
Will Holshouser, Accordion
Chris Lightcap, Bass
Alvester Garnett, Drums

Program

Billy Childs: Violin Concerto
Duke Ellington: The River
Regina Carter: Reverse Thread (without orchestra)


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Latin Works for Orchestra

Fri, Jun 24, 2011, 7:30-9pm
Sat, Jun 25, 2011, 7:30-9pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor

Program

Elbio Barilari: Canyengue
Inocente Carreño: Margaritena
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Uirapuru
Carlos Chavez: Suite de Caballos de Vapor (Horse Power Suite)
Alberto Ginastera: Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals, Op.48


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

American Choral Works

Tue, Jun 28, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Chorus
Christopher Bell, Conductor

Program

Abbie Betinis: Toward Sunshine, Toward Freedom: Songs of Smaller Creatures
Lee Kesselman: Buzzings: Three pieces for Mixed Chorus   
Eric Whitacre: When David Heard
Stacey Garrop: Sonnets of Desire, Longing, and Whimsy    
Gian Carlo Menotti: Regina Caeli    
David Del Tredici: Acrostic Song from Final Alice   
Ned Rorem: Seven Motets for the Church Year
Paul Crabtree: Five Romantic Miniatures from The Simpsons: Abe, Lisa, Homer, Marge & Homer  
Eric Whitacre: Sleep


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Mahler: Song of the Earth

Fri, Jul 1, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Sat, Jul 2, 2011, 7:30-9pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar Conductor
Alexandra Petersamer Mezzo-Soprano
Christian Elsner Tenor

Program

Witold Lutosławski: Musique Funebre
Guestav Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (Song of the Earth)


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Independence Celebration

Sun, Jul 3, 2011, 5:30-7:30pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Christopher Bell, Conductor
Artists From Remy Bumppo Theatre

Program

Francis Scott Key/John Stafford Smith: Star Spangled Banner
Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
E.E. Bagley: National Emblem March
Aaron Copland: Hoe-down from Rodeo
John Philip Sousa: Belle of Chicago
Arr. Bob Lowden: Armed Forces Salute    
Jacques Offenbach: Can Can from Orpheus in the Underworld
Robert Wendel: St. Bailey’s Rag
George M. Cohan: Star Spangled Spectacular      
Samuel A. Ward/arr. Carmen Dragon: America the Beautiful
Pyotr Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture
John Philip Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

American & Russian Landscapes

Wed, Jul 6, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Andrew Grams, Guest Conductor

Program

Alexander Borodin: Prince Igor: Overture
Aaron Copland: The Tender Land: Suite
Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2, Little Russian


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Spanish Guitar and Alondra De La Parra

Fri, Jul 8, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Sat, Jul 9, 2011, 7:30-9pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Alondra De La Parra, Guest Conductor
David Russell, Guitar

Program

Arturo Márquez: Leyenda de Miliano   
Joaquín Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez   
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 7


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Broadway Rocks!

Wed, Jul 13, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Randall Craig Fleischer, Guest Conductor
Christianne Noll, Vocalist
Capathia Jenkins, Vocalist
Rob Evan, Vocalist
Doug LaBrecque, Vocalist
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus

Program

Broadway blockbusters from some of the most electrifying shows ever to hit the Great White Way: Hairspray, RentMamma MiaTommyPhantom of the Opera and more!


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Penderecki Conducts Penderecki

Fri, Jul 15, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 7:30-9pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Krzysztof Penderecki, Guest Conductor
Julie Albers, Cello
Kira Kraftzoff, Cello
Amit Peled, Cello

Program

Krzysztof Penderecki: Concerto Grosso No. 1 for Three Cellos and Orchestra
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, Eroica


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Kwamé Ryan: Furioso & Le Tombeau de Couperin

Wed, Jul 20, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Kwamé Ryan, Guest Conductor

Program

Rolf Liebermann: Furioso   
Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin
Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 2, Op.61


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Choral Masterpieces: Bernstein and Fauré

Fri, Jul 22, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Sat, Jul 23, 2011, 7:30-9pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus
Christopher Bell, Conductor
Ryan Belongie, Counter Tenor
Lindsay Metzger, Soprano
Keven Keys, Baritone

Program

Leonard Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
J.S. Bach: Cantata No. 170 (Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust)
Gabriel Fauré: Requiem


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Prokofiev Symphony No. 7

Wed, Jul 27, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Hannu Lintu, Guest Conductor

Program

Serge Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7
Rodion Shchedrin: Concerto for Orchestra No. 3, Old Russian Circus Music


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Sibelius: Epic Finland

Fri, Jul 29, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Sat, Jul 30, 2011, 7:30-9pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus
Hannu Lintu, Guest Conductor
Christopher Bell, Chorus Director
Johanna Rusanen, Soprano
Ville Rusanen, Baritone

Program

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Vesna (Spring), Op. 20        
Jean Sibelius: Kullervo, Op. 7


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Jennifer Koh Returns

Wed, Aug 3, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Jennifer Koh, Violin

Program

Benjamin Britten: Violin Concerto
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 1, Op. 68


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Mozart and Strauss

Wed, Aug 10, 2011, 6:30-7:45pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor

Program

Marches, Polkas, Waltzes from Austria


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

The Book with Seven Seals

Fri, Aug 12, 2011, 6:30-8:45pm
Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 7:30-9:45pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
William Spaulding, Guest Chorus Director
Edith Lienbacher, Soprano
Christa Ratzenböck, Mezzo-Soprano
Robert Künzli, Tenor
Alexander Kaimbacher, Tenor
Albert Pesendorfer, Bass

Program

Franz Schmidt: The Book with Seven Seals


View from section 106 of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Grant Park Orchestra onstage

Shostakovich Symphony No. 10

Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor

Program

John Adams: The Chairman Dances (from the opera Nixon in China
Dimitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10, Op.93


Pritzker Fuller Skyline

Closing Night: Verdi Requiem

Fri, Aug 19, 2011, 6:30-8pm
Sat, Aug 20, 2011, 7:30-9pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Featuring

Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
William Spaulding, Guest Chorus Director
Amber Wagner, Soprano
Michaela Martens, Mezzo-Soprano
Michael Fabiano, Tenor
Kyle Ketelsen, Bass

Program

Giuseppe Verdi: Requiem