As happens every four years, the Concerts in the Garden have been overshadowed by the Van Cliburn Competition. However, now that the competition is over, you can turn your attention to Fort Worth’s quintessential classical music event of the summer.
This weekend’s performances begin with a concert of music from Hollywood films, including old standbys like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the Harry Potter series. Will Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra play John Williams’ music from Superman? Now would be a good time for it. (It’s a shame that Man of Steel jettisoned the music, especially since it’s one of the best things that Williams ever composed.)
The movie music will be followed by a symphonic tribute to the artists of Woodstock, with FWSO playing The Who, Janis Joplin, and others who performed at that legendary music festival. The weekend concludes with a salute to Russian music. Tchaikovsky’s chestnut 1812 Overture figures to be the main attraction, but we’re most interested in Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto, which was recently played by the eventual gold medalist at the Cliburn but here will be played by Evan Ritter. This thorny, humorous piece, ending in an exhilarating wash of sound, is a great showcase for a piano virtuoso. All three concerts will be under the baton of associate conductor/Concerts in the Garden artistic director Andrés Franco.
[box_info]Concerts in the Garden are at 8:15pm Fri-Sun at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, FW. Tickets are $20-50. Call 817-665-6000.[/box_info]
