Save the date for ESO late summer series

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is once again set to breathe fresh magic into six late-summer outdoor concerts.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 26 years since the first Symphony Under the Sky crystallized its presence in the great outdoors at Hawrelak Park.

And that the wildly popular three-year-old ATB Financial Symphony in the City, a summer-night Disney cine-concert that packs up to 13,000 into Churchill Square, is a reminder of just how animation music charms audiences.

“We work very hard to put on these two festivals and it’s a thrill to see people enjoy everything from pops to classics, and it’s wonderful to share with so many people in the city,” said St. Albert raised cellist Julia Dolman. As Winspear Centre artistic associate, Dolman is also one of the primary organizers.

The six days of concerts – Symphony Under the Sky from Aug. 25 to Aug. 28 and ATB Financial Symphony in the City on Sept. 2 and 3 – is an opportunity to hear an eclectic palette of music.

This year Symphony Under the Sky ranges from the stylings of legendary Simon and Garfunkel and the more classic works of Mendelssohn and Rimsky-Korsakov to Hollywood movies and a newly introduced heritage night that includes a new composition by an Edmonton composer.

Instead, the family oriented Symphony in the City is an identical two-night affair that features Disney classics from Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Pirates of the Caribbean, Frozen, and Hunchback of Notre Dame.

It gives families a chance to relive key scenes from feature-length films and animation projected on a 17 by 30-foot screen while the symphony accompanies with its magnificent music.

Dolman also explained that since people start arriving at Churchill Square at 3 p.m. for the evening concert, extra activities are provided including pop-up performances, a Lion Dance, face painting, a family fun zone and an instrument petting zoo.

While Disney has received its fair share of criticism, the outdoor experience creates a unique energy that flows through the large crowd, in large part due to like-minded admirers seeing tidbits of franchise films projected on a massive screen.

“For Disney concerts we have a lot of children dressing in costume. It’s really a family event and we love to put it on. It’s great music with added visuals,” said guest conductor Robert Bernhardt, considered a charismatic winner among ESO audiences.

The gifted conductor is currently the principal pops conductor for the Louisville Orchestra and has demonstrated a special talent for rejuvenation.

Since his Carnegie Hall debut in 1978, Bernhardt has left his imprint on numerous symphonies that range from Rochester Philharmonic and Houston Symphony to Baltimore Symphony and Boston Pops.

• Feelin’ Groovy: The Music of Simon & Garfunkel

Thursday, Aug. 25

The legendary Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were a product of the New York sixties folk scene, and as a poetic duo, their influence was on par with that of Bob Dylan.

Canadian musician Jim Witter (The Piano Man) has obtained the rights to Feelin’ Groovy. Backed by a tight three-piece band and the symphony, their music is resurrected in numbers such as Mrs. Robinson, I Am a Rock, The Boxer, Sounds of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Water to name a few iconic hits.

“Their legacy was a combination of beautiful music and important messages. They became the voice of a generation. There was a lot of aspiration to higher ideals, and they took on 12-point harmony to its height,” Bernhardt commented.

• Mendelssohn, Strauss & Rimsky-Korsakov

Friday, Aug. 26

The ESO kicks off Friday night with ballroom music designed for nobility, Johann Strauss Jr.’s Emperor Waltz.

“It’s a beautiful way to start a concert – elegant, tuneful and romantic. It’s a couple of generations earlier but it sets it up for Mendelssohn.”

Bernhardt was 10 years old when he fell in love with Mendelssohn’s achingly beautiful Violin Concerto.

“There’s two measures of orchestra before the violin dives in and it’s incredibly powerful. He’s (Mendelssohn) able to take musical ideas and create a gamut of emotions. But mostly, it’s joyful and clever.”

ESO concertmaster Robert Uchida will deliver one of his sterling performances.

“He’s a blast to be with on stage. He’s a fantastic leader and that’s important for a concertmaster. He has a virtuosic sound that needs to be heard. We have done small pieces before, but never something of this magnitude.”

Last but not least is Rimsky-Korsakov’s epic Scheherazade.

“It’s one of the most famous and popular orchestral tour-de-forces. It is truly an orchestral showpiece and it gives eight members of the orchestra significant solos.”

• Saturday Night in Hollywood

Saturday, Aug. 27

Composer John Williams’ significant contributions to the movie landscape are the foundation of Saturday Night in Hollywood. All the music – Jurassic Park, Far and Away, The Lion King and three selections from Star Wars: The Force Awakens – with the exception of one piece is a celebration of his genius.

Joining the symphony is The Ukrainian Male Chorus, the Edmonton Youth and Children’s Choirs and former Sturgeon County vocalist Tyler Hamilton (Canadian Idol).

“Tyler has a Broadway baritone, but at the same time he’s very versatile. He’s a crossover artist and can sing many different genres. He’s a wonderful artist. He’s fearless on stage and he’s happy to do anything with us. We have him come back every other year. This is his town and we love him. It’s a perfect match.”

• Heritage Collection

Sunday, Aug 28

In his numerous visits to Edmonton, Bernhardt often heard many compliments about Edmonton’s colourful Heritage Festival. But he was never able to attend.

“This is a musical tip of the cap to Heritage Festival.”

It commences with the Edmonton & District Pipe Band piping Bernhardt to the conductor’s podium.

Throughout the evening Vinok Worldance, Métis Family and Child Jiggers along with fiddler Calvin Vollrath, hula hooper Annie Dugan from Firefly Theatre and the Edmonton Chinese Dance Academy will perform the exotic and exciting.

In addition, ESO young composer Michael Nunes premieres Egyptian Dreams and March.

“It’s terrific music and it fits our theme.”

The series closes with Tchaikovsky’s traditional 1812 Overture.

Choosing a showcase evening to attend can be a difficult.

Dolman said, “Symphony Under the Sky is a very relaxing and peaceful concert experience. Hawrelak Park feels like an oasis in the middle of the city. You are surrounded by nature with occasional geese flying by, the view of the lake from the amphitheatre, and the beautiful sunset that occurs mid-concert.”

“On the other hand, at Symphony in the City, the audience will feel the bustle of downtown Edmonton all around them, which adds to the excitement of the concert. It’s a family-focused festival and a great opportunity for the community to share not only in the nostalgia that always seems to come with Disney music, but also to experience live orchestral music as part of a vibrant crowd.”

No matter what your taste is, Bernhardt is adamant about one thing.

“What you have in the ESO is a brilliant orchestra, and it’s brilliant across all genres. It plays music that is 200 years old back-to-back with popular music. The success of these concerts is really a testament to the ESO.”