2024 Blossom Music Festival features Broadway's Leslie Odom Jr., banjo great Bela Fleck
The Cleveland Orchestra has announced nine new programs for this summer's Blossom Music Festival that range from classical favorites by Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky to pop concerts featuring "An Evening with Leslie Odom Jr." and a night of Sinatra classics with singer Tony DeSare.
The newly announced programs will join the previously announced movie nights "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
Odom, the Tony and Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, author and actor best known for originating the role of Aaron Burr in Broadway's smash hit "Hamilton," will make his Cleveland Orchestra debut at 7 p.m. July 21 at Blossom Music Center. His appearance will be paired with a special fundraising event, Blossom Summer Soiree, before the concert.
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Other concerts will include Grammy Award-winning banjo player Bela Fleck July 6, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Gershwin's beloved "Rhapsody in Blue" with his new banjo transcription of the showpiece.
The full festival schedule is yet to be completed, with some additional concerts expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Blossom Festival lineup for 2024
7 p.m. June 29 and 30: "Movie Night Live: Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert" will feature the film shown on the big screen with John Williams' live orchestral underscore, conducted by Sarah Hicks.
8 p.m. July 4: "Salute to America" is a star-spangled celebration with the Blossom Festival Band, conducted by Loras John Schissel. The concert will include patriotic marches, Broadway favorites, an Armed Forces salute and fireworks.
7 p.m. July 6: "Rhapsody in Blue" will feature banjoist Fleck with a fresh take on the American classic. The concert of all-American orchestra gems, conducted by Brett Mitchell, will include Bernstein's Three Dance Episodes from "On the Town," Barber's Overture to "The School for Scandal" and Still's Symphony No. 1, "Afro-American."
7 p.m. July 13: In his Cleveland Orchestra debut, Domingo Hindoyan will conduct Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 3, which premiered in 1936. The program will feature orchestra trumpeter Michael Sachs in Arutiunian's Trumpet Concerto, a Cleveland Orchestra premiere. Borodin's Polovtsian Dances from "Prince Igor" also be performed. The Blossom Festival Chorus will perform.
7 p.m. July 20: Violinist Christian Tetzlaff will perform Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5, "Turkish," under the baton of Antonello Manacorda, who will make his Cleveland Orchestra debut. Mendelssohn's Overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 also will be on the program.
7 p.m. July 21: An evening with vocalist Odom Jr.
7 p.m. July 27: Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony, one of the most powerful symphonies in the orchestral repertoire, will be featured, with Hannu Lintu conducting. The program will include Cleveland Orchestra principal cellist Mark Kosower with Walton's virtuosic Cello Concerto and Sibelius' tone poem "Lemminkainen's Return." The Kent Blossom Chamber Orchestra also will be featured.
7 p.m. Aug. 2-4: The live movie night "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" will feature the film, which is the culmination of Peter Jackson's epic trilogy, with Howard Shore's orchestral underscore performed live. Ludwig Wicki will conduct, with soloists, the Blossom Festival Chorus and Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus also performing.
7 p.m. Aug. 17: Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Franz Welser-Moest will conduct Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, which journeys from turmoil to a celebration of life. Vikingur Olafsson will make his Blossom Music Festival debut with R. Shumann's Piano Concerto, a showcase for soloist and orchestra.
7 p.m. Aug. 25: Singer, pianist and songwriter Tony Desare will sing a tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes with "Sinatra and Beyond." Classics will include "Come Fly with Me," "I've Got the World on a String," "The Summer Wind," "I Get a Kick out of You," "Night and Day," "New York, New York" and more.
7 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 1: The Akron Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Lucas Waldin, will perform "Cirque Goes Broadway," featuring Cirque de la Symphonie's acrobatic tricks and feats set to Broadway hits from "Les Miserables," "Frozen," "Miss Saigon" and more. Soloists will be Morgan James and Hugh Panaro.
Additional concerts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks to complete the summer's full lineup.
For 2024 Blossom Music Festival tickets and subscriptions, call 216-231-1111 or see clevelandorchestra.com. Lawn ticket books cost $200 for 10 adult vouchers. Audience members under 18 attend for free, with two free lawn vouchers for children 17 and under with each adult ticket purchased.
Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Blossom Festival lineup features stars Leslie Odom Jr., Bela Fleck
