“Thousands attended the opening night concert of the 2015 Grant Park Music Festival last night, Wednesday, June 17,” reads an unsigned post at Chicago classical radio station WFMT. “Despite downpours earlier in the day, the sun was shining and everyone was eager to kick off summer with food, friends, and free live music. Conductor Carlos Kalmar led the Grant Park Orchestra for a spectacular concert featuring Russian piano sensation Yevgeny Sudbin, making his Festival debut in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Also on the program were [Andrew] Norman’s Drip and Beethoven’s rhythmically charged Seventh Symphony. Maestro Kalmar surprised the audience when he entered the stage wearing a Blackhawks jersey, commemorating their recent Stanley Cup victory. Before, during, and after the concert, WFMT spoke with audience members about what they packed in their picnic baskets. We saw a number of impressive picnics and elaborate spreads. One common denominator among all the picnics with the diverse crowds? Wine!” Included is a slide show from the concert. The Grant Park Music Festival takes place over ten weeks at the outdoor Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park, ending on August 22 with Elgar’s oratorio The Kingdom.
Posted June 18, 2015
Photo courtesy WFMT
