Sat 7/3-Sun 7/4 @ 8PM
Last summer the hills around Blossom Music Center were silent as the Cleveland Orchestra cancelled its season there, and rock, pop and country acts pulled the plug on their tours.
That’s about to change when the Orchestra takes the stage for its annual July 4th extravaganza, “An American Celebration.”
Conducted by Brett Mitchell and featuring pianist Michelle Cann in the Cleveland Orchestra debut, the program will feature not only such traditional Americana favorites as Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide, John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever,” and Aaron Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring, but a pair of Cleveland Orchestra premieres. Both are by black women composers, a group way underrepresented on classical concert stages. One is from the early 20th century; the other is contemporary and still working at age 82. Florence Price’s Concert in One Movement debuted in 1934, while Mary D. Watkins’ Soul of Remembrance is recent, part of her suite, Five Movement in Color.
Weather permitting, there’ll be fireworks both nights. Oh wait — did we forget something? YES, they will be playing Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. If they didn’t the audience would probably take the Orchestra hostage until it was played!
Go here for tickets and info.
clevelandorchestra/blossom-music-center/