The core of July Fourth celebrations have always been community gatherings enhanced by fireworks.
For a crowd numbering in the thousands, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will combine fireworks, community and classical music to kick off its summer season at Oregon Ridge.
“This is a great BSO family event,” said Jeremy Rothman, vice president of artistic administration at the BSO, of the program, Star-Spangled Spectacular. “Every single year, I see our ?regulars,? dead center of [the orchestra], there at 5 p.m.”
The orchestra, under the direction of Maestra Marin Alsop, will play a program packed with the music of John Philip Sousa and Tchaikovsky?s “1812 Overture.”
“Each year we try to introduce new elements to the repertoire,” Rothman said. “This program will include Gershwin?s ?Summertime?, Gould?s ?American Salute?, Copeland?s ?Ho Down?, and ?Liberty Fanfare? by John Williams.”
Retiring BSO associate principal horn Peter Landgren has chosen the Star-Spangled Spectacular as his last performance before assuming the post of conservatory director at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.
“Whenever we would play at Oregon Ridge, it was a chance to let our hair down [and] to picnic with friends and neighbors,” he said. “It?s not often a performer gets to play for crowds of 7,000 to 10,000 at one time.”
Blankets spread throughout the park, picnics, balloons and children?s games are as much a part of the event as the music and fireworks.
Baltimore Opera performer Jennifer Blades first brought her family to Oregon Ridge years ago when she sang in a pre-concert event.
“It?s all the great music you would expect from the BSO but in a casual atmosphere,” she said. “The music washes off the ridge and it?s so very nice.”
IF YOU GO
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Star-Spangled Spectacular
» Venue: Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville
» Times: Today and Wednesday, 8 p.m.
» Tickets: $18/$9 children
» More Info: Park opens at 5 p.m.; Free shuttle parking available; 410-783-8000
