There will be concerts at Red Rocks this summer after all, as the Colorado Symphony performs a five-night acoustic series at the legendary amphitheater.
The symphony announced today that it will present “Acoustic on the Rocks” from July 29 to Aug. 2, the first live concerts for both Red Rocks and the Colorado Symphony since the start of the pandemic in March. Tickets sales are open to the public on AXS.com, and the event will have limited seating to adhere to coronavirus restrictions.
Christopher Dragon will conduct the symphony’s unplugged concert at the end of this month. Anthony Pierce, chief artistic officer for the Colorado Symphony, said fans can expect classical pieces from Mozart, Tchaikovsky and George Walker, the first African American composer to receive the Pulitzer Prize in music. Because of health restrictions at Red Rocks, the first concert will be only 20 musicians, with no microphones, no sound system, just instruments.
If you go
“Acoustic on the Rocks,” July 29-Aug. 2 at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison. Tickets are $65, on sale now at AXS.com. Doors open at 6:30, and the show starts at 7:30. Runtime is 75 minutes with no intermission.
“We’re committed to sharing our art with people during a difficult time,” Pierce said in an interview with The Post on Thursday. “It’s an organic, natural, outdoor experience. It’s so unique. And it’s the beautiful backdrop of the city, the sunset. It’s going to be incredible.”
For its virtual Independence Day performance, Pierce said the symphony filmed portions at Red Rocks to get a sense of the acoustics. He said he could hear the music from the last row with such a “beautiful, vibrant space” on stage.
Pierce emphasized the challenges the symphony has faced to put on this event, from figuring out how to perform spread out across the stage to limited opportunities to practice together since they can’t meet in person inside. And as a nonprofit, the symphony is operating on a tight budget with only 175 tickets available per night, he added.
The news release emphasized that all guests must wear masks to enter and move around the amphitheater, and parties must sit 6 feet apart. It also said people should not come if they feel sick the day of the event, and the symphony may use ticket sales for contact tracing if necessary.
But Pierce said people are excited and ready to come back, as long as they feel safe. The show will also be accessible for those who aren’t avid classical fans with a shorter run time and favorites everyone can enjoy.