Rite of Summer Music Festival Presents Ljova and Friends & the Fireworks Ensemble, 8/10

Blair McMillen and Pam Goldberg present the third annual Rite of Summer Music Festival, taking place Summer 2013 at Colonels' Row on Governors Island, New York City. This marks the return of the first classical-contemporary concert series on Governors Island, a place The New York Times has called a "Playground for the Arts." The aim of the Festival is simple: to present the highest quality live performances, and to bring free contemporary classical music to as many people as possible in a relaxed, fun, outdoor setting.

This summer's amazing line-up kicked off with the Bang on a Can All-Stars on Saturday, July 13th, with a fantastic program of works by David Lang, Julia Wolfe, Michael Gordon, Louis Andriessen, Steve Reich and Thurston Moore. To read Steve Smith's exuberant New York Times review, please click here.

Next up on Saturday, August 10th is An Homage to Stravinsky's Rite of Spring honoring its centennial year featuring interpretations by Ljova and Friends and the Fireworks Ensemble. At 1pm, Ljova and Friends present The First Rite - a new suite he put together especially for this festival celebrating the folk sources of the Rite of Spring. This will also mark the debut of his wife, Inna Barmash's singing in Lithuanian, even though she was born and grew up in Vilnius.

At 3pm, the Fireworks Ensemble presents the rock-inspired version of Stravinsky's masterpiece that first brought the ensemble to the attention of audiences and critics worldwide. Fireworks' version brings a creative, 21st-century sensibility to "The Rite." While staying true to the spirit of Stravinsky's conception, Fireworks' stripped-down, rock-inspired chamber version of the piece presents "The Rite" as a living, breathing work that speaks to our current condition as vibrantly as any piece being written today. The group's daring, conductorless performance inspired Fanfare magazine critic Robert Carl to write, "This simply has to be heard to be believed; the music sounds completely contemporary in this orchestration, and one hears things one never has before. It's a gamble that triumphs."

Labor Day weekend brings a RITE-A-THON running the gamut from Schumann to Bolcom to Kate Bush with Blair McMillen, Pam Goldberg, TIGUE, Theo Bleckmann, Classical Jam and more on Sunday, September 1st.

The second Rite of Summer shows will be presented at 1pm and 3pm; the RITE-A-THON from 12pm-5pm. Audiences should feel free to walk by, stop and listen, lay down a picnic blanket and relax, eat lunch, intermingle, and take in these exciting live performances.

Governors Island is a short 5-minute ferry ride from South Ferry, in lower Manhattan and a 3-minute ride from Brooklyn Bridge Park. Ferries and concerts are free. For a full ferry schedule, please visit www.govisland.com.

For more information, visit www.riteofsummer.com.

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