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For many, summer in Orange County officially gets underway with the first concert of Pacific Symphony's Summer Festival 2010-FOURTH-OF-JULY CELEBRATION: A John Denver TRIBUTE-on Sunday, July 4, at 8 p.m., at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, the orchestra's summer home. Sponsored by Hoag Hospital, the Symphony's 23rd season of symphonic music under the stars, begins on a heart-warming and inspirational note, featuring music by Denver, one of the world's best-known and best-loved performers, who earned international acclaim as a singer/songwriter, environmentalist and humanitarian. Channeling this American legend with uncanny skill is vocalist Jim Curry, singing such Denver hits as "Rocky Mountain High," "Sunshine On My Shoulders," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," and "Annie's Song." Over the course of three decades, the late singer recorded and released approximately 300 songs, outlasting countless musical trends and garnering numerous music awards and honors.
Conducted by the Symphony's Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the 4th of July celebration also includes a moving tribute to the U.S. armed forces-and a spectacular fireworks finale! Individual tickets are $25 (lawn) to $105 (orchestra); kids under 14 are half price in most sections with the purchase of an adult ticket. Five-concert packages range from $89 for lawn seating to $459 for orchestra seating. Guests are welcome to picnic on the grounds of the amphitheater starting at 6 p.m.
"As John Denver's conductor for almost 25 years, I experienced first-hand the tremendous enthusiasm of audiences everywhere as they listened to his songs," says Maestro Kaufman. "And now our audience will have the opportunity to hear them sung by Jim Curry, a terrific performer who truly captures the uplifting spirit that John brought to every performance. Jim brings an extraordinary vocal resemblance to John, and in a way, its like part of John is still here! And in a special treat, the Symphony will be using the original orchestrations used by John when he performed with orchestras, including our own Pacific Symphony."Curry first came to national attention in the CBS movie, "Take Me Home: The John Denver Story," in which he landed an off-camera role singing as the voice of John Denver. Curry's subsequent show was the first and only full-length, sell-out Denver tribute in Las Vegas, and he often performs with Denver's former band members. Curry, who believes that Denver's words still ring true in these difficult times of war and environmental crisis, says: "These songs blend the images of our natural earth with a love for each other as people. The care you give to someoNe You love is the best care. Making that connection to our earth and to each other is the goal."
"John Denver's music speaks to peoples' hearts in a beautiful and exciting way," adds Kaufman. "It's going to be a night to celebrate America...and to celebrate an American treasure, John Denver."Coming up-the Symphony's second concert of the series takes place on Saturday, July 17, at 8 p.m., with Assistant Conductor Maxim Eshkenazy leading "Cirque de la Symphonie," a spectacular event featuring a jaw-dropping fusion of classical music and the circus feats of aerial fliers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers and strongmen. Summer Festival 2010 is presented by Hoag Hospital, with additional support from the Orange County Register; the Symphony's official airline, American Airlines; official hotel, The Westin, official classical music station, KUSC; official television station, KOCE-TV; official pops radio station, K-EARTH; and official media partner, KPCC. For more information on the series or purchasing tickets, call the Symphony ticket office at (714) 755-5799, or visit the website at www.pacificsymphony.org.
