NEWS RELEASE
The 2010 Blossom Festival opens with a
Cleveland Orchestra “American Spectacular” program
and “Salute to the U.S.A.” concerts featuring
the Blossom Festival Band
July 2 program features conductor Robert Porco leading The Cleveland Orchestra in American music by Bernstein and Copland, topped off by Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture
July 3 and 4 concerts celebrate Independence Day with the Blossom Festival Band and conductor Loras John Schissel performing Sousa marches, a salute to the U.S. Armed Forces, and the “1812” Overture
New this year: Print-at-home tickets
Release date: June 2, 2010
Friday, July 2
Robert Porco
Blossom Festival Band
Loras John Schissel
The Cleveland Orchestra opens the 2010 Blossom Festival with an “American Spectacular” concert conducted by Director of Choruses Robert Porco, on Friday, July 2, at 8:30 p.m. The program includes Bernstein’s Overture to Candide and Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring, as well as William Steffe and Julia Ward Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic, Samuel Ward and Katharine Lee Bates’s America the Beautiful, and three spirituals, which are among the works on the program that feature the Blossom Festival Chorus. The program concludes with a perennial audience favorite, Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture, also performed with the Chorus. The concert will be followed by fireworks, weather permitting.
Saturday, July 3, and Sunday, July 4
In celebration of Independence Day, the Blossom Festival Band will perform a “Salute to the U.S.A.” program conducted by Loras John Schissel on Saturday, July 3, and Sunday, July 4, at 8 p.m. The program includes patriotic works by John Philip Sousa, a salute to the U.S. Armed Forces, Memorials scored by Loras John Schissel, music by Victor Herbert and Percy Grainger, and Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture. The concerts will be followed by fireworks, weather permitting.
Print-at-Home Tickets
This summer, for the first time, Blossom patrons have the option of printing their tickets at home. Choose the new “Print-at-Home” option on the Delivery Method page during checkout at clevelandorchestra.com.
Select Your Own Seats
This summer, for the first time, Blossom patrons can select their own seats online. Clicking on any “Buy Ticket” button at will link to the Ticket Reservations page. This ticket ordering page automatically displays the new “Select Your Own Seat” option (if applicable). Patrons may alternatively select the “Choose Best Available” option.
The July 2 concert is sponsored by the Blossom Women’s Committee. The July 3 concert is sponsored by Forest City Enterprises, a Cleveland Orchestra Partner in Excellence. The July 4 concert is sponsored by PNC, a Cleveland Orchestra Partner in Excellence.
Media Partner for July 3 is WCLV 104.9 FM. Media Partner for July 4 is WQAL 104.1 (Q104).
All-American Cookouts
In the spirit of these Independence Day concerts on July 2, 3, and 4, the Blossom Festival will offer patrons an All-American Cookout on the Blossom grounds. Gates open at 6 p.m. on July 2 and at 5:30 p.m. on July 3 and 4 for picnicking. The All-American Cookout (located at the Lawn Terrace at the top of the Lawn seating area), prepared by Blossom chefs, will feature hot dogs and hamburgers, grilled chicken and sausages, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, fruit salad, baked beans, and corn on the cob. Elmore Smith’s barbeque sauce (a specialty of the former Cleveland Cavs player) will be featured at the Cookouts, and Chef’s Specials will be available each evening.
In addition, the Blossom Grille will be open for pre-concert dining. Dinner reservations may be made by calling (330) 916-6063 Monday-Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or after 4:00 p.m. on Festival concert nights.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park Exhibit
Another pre-concert activity on July 3 is the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Exhibit, which provides concertgoers with the opportunity to learn more about the wildlife and recreational activities available in the national park adjacent to Blossom Music Center. The exhibit will be on display at the Special Events Center in Smith Plaza, just inside the Main Gate.
TICKET INFORMATION
Severance Hall Ticket Office, 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106. Open 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday-Friday (closed Monday, July 5).
Blossom Box Office (in-person only). Beginning Friday, June 4, open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1:00-5:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. through intermission on Blossom Festival concert dates.
Group Sales: Discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Call the Cleveland Orchestra Group Sales Office at Severance Hall at (216) 231-7463 for more information.
Parking: Free parking is available for all performances.
Venue information: Blossom Music Center, which opened in 1968 as the summer home of The Cleveland Orchestra, is located at 1145 Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 25 miles south of Cleveland, just north of Akron, Ohio.
New this year: Print-at-home tickets, at clevelandorchestra.com
Calendar Selections
Friday, July 2, 2010, at 8:30 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Robert Porco, conductor
Blossom Festival Chorus
American Spectacular
Bernstein: Overture to Candide
Copland: Suite from Appalachian Spring
Grofé: “On the Trail” from Grand Canyon Suite
Ringwald: Deep River
Hairston: Elijah Rock
Dawson: Soon-Ah will be done
Steffe/arr. Wilhousky: Battle Hymn of the Republic
Ward/arr. Dragon: America the Beautiful
Tchaikovsky: “1812” Overture
Fireworks follow the concert, weather permitting.
Pavilion Tickets: $27, $32, $43.
Lawn Tickets: $19; Children ages 12 and under are admitted free to the Lawn. Kids’ Lawn Passes are available at the Blossom Box Office, the Severance Hall Ticket Office, and online, with the purchase of an Adult Ticket.
To order: (216) 231-1111, 800-686-1141 or clevelandorchestra.com
Location: Blossom Music Center, 1145 Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls
New This Year: Print-at-home tickets!
Saturday, July 3, 2010, at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 4, 2010, at 8:00 p.m.
Blossom Festival Band
Loras John Schissel, conductor
Salute to the U.S.A.
Program includes:
John Stafford Smith: The Star-Spangled Banner
Daniel-François Auber: Overture to Masaniello
Percy Grainger: Molly on the Shore
Works by Victor Herbert and John Philip Sousa
Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10
Robert Jager: Esprit de Corps (after the Marines’ Hymn)
Loras John Schissel: Memorials
arr. Loras John Schissel: Armed Forces on Parade
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: “1812” Overture
Fireworks follow the concert, weather permitting.
Pavilion Tickets: $19, $27, $32; Box Seats: $43. Pavilion tickets for children ages 12 and under are half the adult price.
Lawn Tickets: $19; Children ages 12 and under are admitted free to the Lawn. Kids’ Lawn Passes are available at the Blossom Box Office, the Severance Hall Ticket Office, and online, with the purchase of an Adult Ticket.
To order: (216) 231-1111, 800-686-1141 or clevelandorchestra.com
Location: Blossom Music Center, 1145 Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls
New This Year: Print-at-home tickets!
All artists and programs are subject to change.
* * *
Contacts: Jennifer Schlosser, (216) 231-7518; Email: jschlosser@clevelandorchestra.com
Ana Papakhian, Office: (216) 231-7476; Cell phone: (216) 370-2595; Email: anap@clevelandorchestra.com
Photos by Roger Mastroianni
