The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Patriotic movement
Designed for the Fourth of July, Cleveland Orchestra’s annual ‘Star-Spangled Spectacular’ slid back to make room for America’s pastime
Like the delayed boom that often follows exploded fireworks overhead, the Cleveland Orchestra is taking a better-late-than-never approach to its upcoming “Star-Spangled Spectacular.” ¶ The 30th annual free affair, which was delayed a month due to Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game festivities, is scheduled for Aug. 7 at Mall B in downtown Cleveland.
“We love having it over July 4, because obviously the program is called the ‘Star Spangled Spectacular,’ but if we can’t have it for a good reason like the All-Star Game, we certainly don’t mind pushing it back a little bit,” Cleveland Orchestra Artistic Administrator Ilya Gidalevich said. “It always kind of is geared towards this Americana feel, and it will be this year with the program, but with some slight additions.” While the normal Independence Day-celebration boasts patriotic classics and John Phillips Sousa marches, this year’s dogdays-of-summer concert isn’t exactly boldly going where no one has gone before. However, it is exploring a slight space theme with John Williams’ “Adventures on Earth” from “E.T.” and Jerry Goldsmith’s “Closing Credits” from “Star Trek: The Motion Picture.” “We also did venture a little bit into the Broadway world with some Gershwin (‘Hoctor’s Ballet from Shall We Dance’) and things like that,” Gidalevich said. “I think we’re still kind of keeping it American, but a little bit more varied.” With Loras John Schissel conducting, the estimated 70-piece Cleveland Orchestra also will be performing Williams’ “Overture: The Cowboys” and Samuel A. Ward’s “America, the Beautiful.” The program ends with aforementioned Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever” followed by fireworks. The “Star-Spangled Spectacular” is a special event for not only Northeast Ohio, but also the Cleveland Orchestra, which during the summer performs the Blossom Music Festival at its summer home Blossom Music Center, as well as a few Severance Hall concerts. In fact, Gidalevich said the Cleveland Orchestra members cite the Mall B concert as one of their favorites. “It’s funny, they come to us and have suggestions for repertoire,” Gidalevich said.
“That works really good for the public that’s coming to this kind of concert because we have to sort of pivot a little bit and cater to the people we’re playing for. “We look forward to this every single year. We only have one opportunity to really come out in the heart of the city and to provide this free concert for our community, which is incredibly important because ultimately it’s our community that kept us going for the 100 years we’ve been in existence.” The fun actually begins before the show with photo opportunities against star-spangled themed cutout boards for concertgoers, as well as an opening performance by the Cleveland Police Pipes & Drums. Also, along Mall B will be food trucks, including Beckham’s B&M Barbeque, 216 Bistro, Barrio Tacos, Chef Grey Wolf, East Coast Custard and Nom Nom Popcorn. “The ‘Star-Spangled Spectacular’ is a great kind of gateway to what we do,” Gidalevich said. “You don’t have to come out all the way down to Blossom. You don’t have to come to Severance. You don’t have to dress up. You can bring your family, sit on the lawn and just listen to some beautiful music.”