HSO announces Talcott Mountain summer season
The lawn of the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center will transform into Woodstock, Detroit, 52nd Street and a bridge over troubled waters this summer, thanks to the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.
The HSO has announced the shows in its 2022 Talcott Mountain Music Festival, five concerts happening outdoors in July. As with previous years, most of the shows are pop-themed, with the orchestra performing a variety of classic rock hits from the 1960s and ‘70s.
The schedule
The concerts all happen on Friday nights, with gates opening at 6 p.m. and the concerts beginning at 7:30 p.m.
July 1: The summer season opens with the traditional “Celebrate America!” concert, always held close to Independence Day and featuring patriotic songs followed by fireworks. HSO Music Director Carolyn Kuan conducts. Rain date July 2.
July 8: “Summer of ‘69” is a celebration of the historic Woodstock festival, with orchestral renditions of songs by Hendrix, Santana, Janis, Joe Cocker, Jefferson Airplane, The Band, The Who and other legends of the 1960s and ‘70s. The conductor is Adam Boyles. Rain or shine.
July 15: The “Paul Simon Songbook,” conducted by Adam Boyles and including songs from all phases of Simon’s career: from Garfunkel to solo, from “The Sound of Silence” to “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Rain or shine.
July 22: “Michael Cavanaugh: The Music of Billy Joel,” conducted by Adam Boyles and starring the singer from the 2002 Broadway musical based on Joel’s music, “Movin’ Out.” Songs range from “My Life” to “River of Dreams.” Rain or shine.
July 29: The series ends with “Queens of Soul,” songs made famous by Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, Tina Turner, Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight and even Adele, conducted by Tong Chen. Rain date is July 30.
Tickets
Single lawn tickets are $27.50 for adults ($32.50 on the day of the concert) or $5 for children. “Grass passes” are packages of multiple tickets for sitting on the lawn, which can be used in any combination. Packages of 10 adult lawn tickets are $235, 10 children’s lawn tickets are $45 or “family packages” of 6 adult and 6 child lawn tickets for $165.
Eight-person tables in front of the stage are $50 per seat or $222.50 for the season for one person; and $400 for a full table for a single concert, or $1,785 for a full table for the season.
Parking passes are $10 per vehicle at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center and free at numerous locations near the center, plus a free shuttle bus from Henry James Memorial Middle School on concert nights.
The current HSO Masterworks season ends June 10 with “Beethoven’s Ninth,” three weeks before the start of the Talcott Mountain Music Festival.
The Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center is at 22 Iron Horse Blvd. in Simsbury. More information on symphony events is at hartfordsymphony.org.