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Celebrating the Year of Chicago Music, the 10-week festival returns with the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus under the leadership of artistic director and principal conductor Carlos Kalmar.
The music of Beethoven, Berlioz, Haydn and Handel and more will fill Millennium Park this summer when the 2020 Grant Park Music Festival returns June 10-Aug. 10.
Celebrating the Year of Chicago Music, the 10-week festival at the Pritzker Pavilion (and various other locations) will feature the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus under the leadership of artistic director and principal conductor Carlos Kalmar. Christopher Bell returns as the Festival Chorus director. All concerts are free and most will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; 7:30 p.m. Saturdays.
Here are some highlights from this year’s festival:
The Year of Chicago Music: Celebrating Chicago’s rich musical heritage, the fest’s lineup will feature Polish dance company Polonia Ensemble and Tango 21 Dance Theater (June 17), Soul Children of Chicago (July 1 at the Pritzker Pavilion; July 2 at the South Shore Cultural Center) with renowned conductor and Chicago native Charles Floyd. Honoring the city’s heritage as the birthplace of gospel music, urban blues, and modern jazz, the festival will present two composers-in-residence: Chicago’s Mischa Zupko (June 12-13) and the Grammy Award-winning jazz composer Billy Childs (July 17-18) with violinist Rachel Barton Pine premiering Childs’ Violin Concerto No. 2.
The Genius of Beethoven: The festival season opens on June 10 with Carlos Kalmar conducting the Grant Park Orchestra in Beethoven’s Triple Concerto featuring the Tempest Trio with violinist Ilya Kaler Additional Beethoven programming includes: the Eroica Symphony (July 17-18), the Fourth Piano Concerto with soloist Andreas Haefliger (July 22), and the Mass in C major with the Grant Park Chorus and guest soloists (July 24 and 25).
The Genius of Berlioz: “Symphonie Fantastique: is presented (6:30 p.m. June 19 and 7:30 p.m. June 20) with Carlos Kalmar conducting; Janice Carissa, piano.
The Genius of Haydn: “Surprise Symphony” featuring the orchestra and chorus, with Markus Stenz conducting; Christopher Bell, chorus director (6:30 p.m. July 24 and 7:30 p.m. July 25).
The Genius of Handel: “Royal Fireworks,” with Carlos Kalmar, conducting; Simone Lamsma, violin (6:30 p.m. Aug. 5).
Premieres: The season boasts several Midwest premieres, including “We Are Shadows” by Judith Weir (June 12-13), “Drum Circles” by Christopher Theofanidis (June 24), “In principio” by Arvo Pärt (June 26-27), “La Madre de Agua” (July 17-18) by Victor Agudelo, “Chase” by Joey Roukens (July 24-25) and “Mythic” by Elena Kats-Chernin (July 31-Aug. 1 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph).
Fourth of July: Christopher Bell conducts the annual Independence Day Salute featuring Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever,” the Armed Forces Salute and more (July 4).
International artistry: An guest artists making their festival debuts include Swiss pianist Andreas Haefliger in the Beethoven Fourth Piano Concerto (July 22); Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski in Rachmaninoff’s Fourth Piano Concerto (July 31 at the Harris Theater) and Dutch violinist Simone Lamsma in Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy (Aug. 5).
Classic movie night: “Singin’ in the Rain,” a screening of the film with the score performed live by the Grant Park Orchestra, with Norman Huynh conducting (8 p.m. July 8).
Broadway Tonight!: Music from some of Broadway’s greatest musicals are featured with guest vocalists accompanied by the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus; Lawrence Loh, conductor (8 p.m. July 10-11).
Grant Park Chorus in the Parks: “From Ireland with Love” celebrates Chicago’s Irish community in a cappella concerts featuring the chorus at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. Shore Dr., 6:30 p.m Aug. 6; and the Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 W. Jackson, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10.
Tchaikovsky “Sleeping Beauty”: Carlos Kalmar conducts the orchestra in the iconic suite (6:30 p.m. Aug. 12)
For the complete festival schedule, times and locations, visit gpmf.org.