Every summer since 1961, crowds have gathered in Park Ridge’s Hodges Park to hear outstanding concerts by professional musicians who perform on the steps of City Hall. This year’s free four-concert series by the acclaimed Park Ridge Fine Arts Symphony kicks off on June 21 with a program dedicated to “The Heart of Europe.”
“The music that I’m featuring on this program is sort of the core of orchestral repertoire — late eighteenth and nineteenth century music from Central Europe,” said Barbara Schubert, musical director and conductor. “They’re all very famous composers and very beautiful and appealing pieces. I thought it was appropriate to start out the season with something that represents the orchestra and its main repertoire and its main mission.”
Selections include Mozart’s overture to “The Marriage of Figaro;” Dvorak’s “Czech Suite;” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7 in A Major.”
“The Mozart overture that we’re doing is very familiar,” Schubert said. “The Dvorak ‘Czech Suite’ is a little less familiar but Dvorak was representative of a very important trend in 19th century music of incorporating folk music and nationalistic flavor into his compositions and this piece is a prime example.”
The conductor praised Beethoven’s nine symphonies as “probably the most famous set of symphonic works from the early 19th century. The seventh symphony is particularly beautiful but also a very exuberant and inspiring piece.”
Schubert said most people will recognize the slow movement. “It’s very plaintive with gorgeous melodies overlaid on a repeating rhythm and then a very, very energetic, exuberant, and positive spirit for its final movement.”
“Patriotic Splendors” is the theme of the June 28 concert.
“It’s close to the Fourth of July holiday, so I thought we’d do some American music,” Schubert said. The program will feature the holiday favorite, Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” There will also be works by John Williams, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, and others.
On July 12, the orchestra will share “Summer Dreams.” “Hopefully, we’ll be in the middle of a beautiful summer and we’re going to have gorgeous Friday nights,” Schubert said. The program will feature “Midsommarvaka” by Swedish composer Hugo Alfven, selections from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Mendelssohn; and Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8 in G Major.”
Schubert noted that Alfven’s piece “is maybe not as familiar as some of the other things we’re doing, but it’s a very charming piece that captures the folk spirit and the idea of celebrating the summer and celebrating the solstice.”
Dvorak also incorporates folk elements into his music. “Symphony No. 8” is “very lively, particularly its last movement, and has a very tuneful, happy, charming flavor throughout,” Schubert said.
“Hollywood Heroes” will be featured in the July 19 concluding concert. “We always try to do something from Hollywood or Broadway,” Schubert explained. Film scores by such composers as Elmer Bernstein, Klaus Badelt, Hans Zimmer, and John Williams will celebrate Indiana Jones, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and other heroes.
That concert will present, “an overview of Hollywood style and how richly it’s scored,” Schubert concluded.
Brian Patti Big Band will take the steps on July 26 with an evening of “Dance Band Hits Through the Decades.” They will also perform a salute to Aretha Franklin.
The Park Ridge Park District Band will perform Latin music, including salsa, cumbia, and merengue on Aug. 2. They’ll offer free salsa lessons from 7:15 to 8 p.m.
Park Ridge Fine Arts Symphony’s Summer Concert Season
When: 8 p.m. June 21, June 28, July 12 and July 19
Where: Hodges Park: Vine, Main and Courtland, Park Ridge
Admission: Free
Information: www.prfas.org