Grant Park Music Festival Season Opens 6/13 in Millenium Park

Summer in Chicago begins in just six weeks when the Grant Park Music Festival begins its 78th season at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, running June 13-August 18, 2012. Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar will lead the Grammy® Award-nominaTed Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus Director Christopher Bell will direct the award-winning Grant Park Chorus in a soaring season of world premieres, Festival favorites and collaborations with local artists and cultural organizations.  

All concerts are free and take place on Wednesday and Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).

The Festival embarks on an ambitious ten-week season of 30 concerts. "Every year, the Festival integrates the best of the local arts scene and the wider national and international arts community," said Executive Director Paul Winberg.  "This season, we will collaborate with a variety of partners including the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera, the Harris Theater and the Paris Opéra Ballet, as well as other Chicago artists, music schools and choruses, offering a season of exciting programming that reflects our vibrant cultural community."

This summer, the Festival will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Grant Park Chorus with a series of special events, including two world premiere commissions for orchestra and chorus by American composers Michael Gandolfi (June 15 and 16) and Sebastian Currier (July 6 and 7). The Festival will also release the Grant Park Chorus' first ever a cappella recording, Songs of Smaller Creatures and other American Choral Works (Cedille Records), led by Chorus Director Christopher Bell performing recordings of choral works by American composers Abbie Betinis, Paul Crabtree, David Del Tredici, Stacy Garrop, Ned Rorem, Lee Kesselman and Eric Whitacre.  

Other June highlights include Opening Night with Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar on the podium joined by Festival favorite, guest cellist Alban Gerhardt (June 16); Mozart's Jupiter Symphony with guest pianist Steven Osborne making his Festival debut (June 20 and 22); An American in Paris program with guest conductor Koen Kessels making his Festival debut (June 23); a collaboration with the Paris Opéra Ballet indoors at the Harris Theater that will also be simulcast to audiences outside at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion (June 27) and a Golden Anniversary Choral Spectacular featuring Carlos Kalmar and Christopher Bell sharing the podium for two unforgettable evenings (June 29 and 30).

Memberships to the Grant Park Music Festival are still available. Most membership levels include specific reserved seats or general seating in a reserved section of the Pavilion for all Grant Park Music Festival concerts. Memberships with seating benefits begin at $140.

For more information about the Grant Park Music Festival including membership and group seating, visit grantparkmusicfestival.com or call 312.742.7638.  For additional information, visit Grant Park Music Festival on Facebook or follow the Festival on Twitter @gpmf.  

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