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When does Charlotte’s Summer Pops season start?

May 4, 2015

 
By Lawrence Toppmanltoppman@charlotteobserver.com

Think of the Charlotte Symphony's 2015 Summer Pops season as an international smorgasbord.

It starts in England, with Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March No.1." It ends in the United States, with Ferde Grofe's "Ode to 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'" In between come visits to Russia, Spain, Hollywood yes, and a Polish polka party.

The CSO has held these concerts from early June through July 3 every year since 1983. As usual, ageless conductor Albert-George Schram will lead the orchestra (and occasionally the audience) at Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Rd. (near SouthPark Mall).

And as in recent years, the orchestra will perform at other outdoor venues around the county. In fact, Schram kicks off the season June 6 at Stumptown Park in Matthews, before bringing that same program to SouthPark on June 7.

Programs look like this:

June 7, "Opening Night." A non-themed lineup that ranges from Disney to Henry Mancini to a Beatles tribute to "The Chicken Reel."

June 14, "Tchaikovsky Spectacular" offers the complete "Capriccio Italien," "Marche Slave" and "Romeo and Juliet," plus excerpts of other works.

June 21: "A Night at the Movies" pays tribute to "Frozen," "Grease," "The Godfather," "Aladdin," "Exodus," "The Wizard of Oz" and other classics.

June 28, "Hot Spanish Nights" celebrates composers who are Spanish (de Falla), of Hispanic heritage (Lecuona) or simply liked Iberian flavor (Rimsky-Korsakov, Chabrier, etc.).

July 3, "Celebrate America" brings the music of Sousa, Stephen Foster, Irving Berlin and Michael Jackson, plus patriotic songs and a salute to United States armed forces.

Countywide concerts are: June 6 at Stumptown Park, Matthews, "Opening Night"; June 12 at Romare Bearden Park, uptown Charlotte, program TBA; June 19 at Energy Explorium, Lake Norman, program TBA; June 27 at Bailey Road Park, Cornelius, "Celebrate America"; July 1 at Belle Johnston Park, Pineville, "Celebrate America"; July 2 at Village Park, Kannapolis, "Celebrate America."

Article at Charlotte Observer