NC Symphony Celebrates Independence Day with Free Concerts and Fireworks
By: Gabrielle Sierra Jun. 01, 2011
Join your North Carolina Symphony in celebrating our nation's 235th birthday with a concert of classical favorites and patriotic tunes capped by some of the area's biggest fireworks displays. The orchestra takes over Lake Benson Park in Garner for a free concert on Sunday, July 3, at 8:30 p.m., followed by a free July 4 concert that is part of the Symphony's Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series in Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre.
The Cary concert begins at 7:30 p.M. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. As with every Summerfest concert, outside food and beverages, including wine and beer, are welcome.
Acclaimed guest conductor Sarah Ioannides leads the performances. Praised by The New York Times for her "unquestionable strength and authority," the Australian conductor is a creative force behind two of America's finest up-and-coming orchestras, the El Paso and Spartanburg symphony orchestras. Her engagements have spanned five continents, and she has served as an assistant conductor to Paavo Järvi at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and to Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun.
She takes the podium for a concert program featuring a little bit of everything. John Williams's Olympic ode Summon the Heroes, composed for the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, paves the way for a Duke Ellington medley, an arrangement of Harold Arlen's timeless "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," classical favorites by Verdi and Tchaikovsky and more.
Fans hoping to hear the traditional Fourth of July fare will not be disappointed. The lineup includes many patriotic staples, from works by Sousa and Leroy Anderson to a special salute to America's Armed Forces.
Lending his vocal talents to the evening is tenor Adam Ulrich. A New York native, he makes his North Carolina Symphony debut after previously appearing in the Piedmont Opera's La bohème and in the title role in Bernstein's Candide at the Brevard Music Center.
"Being an alumnus of UNC School of the Arts and the A. J. Fletcher Opera Institute, I consider North Carolina to be my home," he says. "Making my symphony debut is the best welcome home gift I could think of."
The Symphony also presents the free concert in Fayetteville's Festival Park on Friday, July 1, at 8:00 p.m.
Lake Benson Park is located at 921 Buffaloe Road in Garner.
Koka Booth Amphitheatre is located at 8003 Regency Parkway, just off the intersection of US-1 and US-64/Tryon Road, in Cary. The Whole Foods Market of Cary Picnic of the Week contest will not be held during the July 4 concert.
About the North Carolina Symphony
Founded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony performs over 175 concerts annually to adults and school children. The orchestra travels extensively throughout the state to venues in over 50 North Carolina counties. Under the artistic leadership of Music Director and Conductor Grant Llewellyn, Resident Conductor William Henry Curry and Associate Conductor Sarah Hicks, the orchestra employs 67 professional musicians.
Based in downtown Raleigh's spectacular Meymandi Concert Hall at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts and an outdoor summer venue at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, N.C., the Symphony performs about 60 concerts annually in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary metropolitan area. It also holds concerts in Fayetteville, New Bern, Southern Pines, Wilmington and many other North Carolina communities throughout the year.
For tickets, program notes, podcasts-or just to get to know your Symphony's musicians-visit the North Carolina Symphony Web site at www.ncsymphony.org. Call North Carolina Symphony Audience Services at 919.733.2750 or toll free 877.627.6724. The State of North Carolina has issued your Symphony an $8 million challenge; learn more at www.ncsymphony.org/challenge.
Concert/Event Listing:
North Carolina Symphony
Independence Day
Sarah Ioannides, conductor
Adam Ulrich, tenor
July 1, 2011, 8pm
Festival Park, Fayetteville
July 3, 2011, 8:30pm
Lake Benson Park, Garner
July 4, 2011, 7:30pm
Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Regency Park, Cary
Program Listing:
North Carolina Symphony
Independence Day
Sarah Ioannides, conductor
July 1-4, 2011
The Star-Spangled Banner
John Stafford Smith/arr. Damrosch/Sousa
Summon the Heroes
Duke Ellington Medley
arr. Lee Norris
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
"Granada"
Agustin Lara
Adam Ulrich, tenor
"La Donna e mobile" from Rigoletto
Adam Ulrich, tenor
Allegro con fuoco from Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Belle of the Ball
The Sound of Music: A Symphonic Picture
Richard Rodgers/arr. Bennett
Bugler's Holiday*
Semper Fidelis March
John Philip Sousa
Armed Forces Salute
arr. Bob Lowden
Amazing Grace
John Newton/arr. Beckel
"American Anthem"
Gene Scheer
Adam Ulrich, tenor
"This is the Moment" from Jekyll and Hyde
Frank Wildhorn/arr. Scharnberg
Adam Ulrich, tenor
*July 4 concert only
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