Sunday, July 11, 2010

Boston Landmarks Orchestra @ Fenway

Wednesday July 7th I attended the Boston Landmarks Orchestra season opening concert at Fenway Park.
This was the first time an Orchestra performed at a major United States ballpark. I was really excited to be in attendance along with Adam, his twin sister Kirsten and her fiancée Phil.
The concert took place in the Bleachers section of the park. It was a rather hot evening, so the four of us sat high high up in seats away from the masses where a cool breeze was blowing.
The Boston Landmarks Orchestra was founded in 2001 by conductor Charles Ansbacher. His mission to perform only free concerts in an effort to allow a diverse audience to experience and appreciate vibrant classical music has been a huge success. Boston Landmarks is only one of a few professional orchestras in the U.S. who abide by this mission.
I'll admit, I don't necessarily know the songs by reading their title in the program below, but once the Orchestra starts to play a familiarity seeps in. They don't call them classics for nothing!
I'm pretty sure you would all know Beethoven's Ode To Joy. And the majority of you probably know the William Tell Overture, too. But I guarantee if you can't hum Copeland's "Hoedown" from Rodeo in your head right now, you'd know it once you heard it. (Hint: "Beef: It's What's for Dinner" TV commercial theme song circa 10+ years ago.)
These are genuinely fun, vivacious, energetic pieces of music. It's not what the kids are listening to, but if you're not down with the classics, you're missing out. Combined with a setting like Fenway Park on a warm summer evening, I was completely moved and in awe of the music and my surroundings. Which is no doubt what Ansbacher hopes for his concert-goers to experience. Selections from West Side Story proved for an upbeat finale. In an encore performance The Star Spangled Banner and A Fifth of Beethoven kept the crowd in lively spirits 'till the very end.
I grabbed a Fenway Frank for dinner at intermission.
Mayor Menino spoke in the beginning of the show and Governor Deval Patrick narrated the touching Jackie Robinson Story towards the end. Needless to say there was an exuberant amount of Boston pride resonating through Fenway in those moments. We live in a great city and we're proud to call it home. 
Every Wednesday beginning July 14th and lasting through September 1st Boston Landmarks Orchestra performs free concerts at the Hatch Shell. As quoted from the website: "It's like a Symphony, but with more leg room and picnicking and people watching."
Have you ever been to a concert at Fenway Park?
I saw The Police on their Reunion tour in 2007! Good times.

17 comments:

  1. Chels and I were there too! Wasn't it so much fun?! Your photos are beautiful... Especially the panoramic ones.

    Sues

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  2. That looks like a lot of fun and you can't beat free! I'll have to check that out soon!

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  3. Oh, how fun! I love Boston, and I love your blog because it makes me feel like I'm there! XO!

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  4. How nice! Nothing beats a Fenway Frank :)

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  5. That sounds like a fun event! It would be fun to relax at Fenway and listen to the orchestra. Boston has great summertime things to do. I can't wait to see Othello on the Common.

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  6. it sounds amazing! oh how i love fenway park. my family is full of diehard sox fans... we named our puppy fenway ;)

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  7. Wow, what a fun event...we were there last year for a tour, and it was raining. Great pictures!

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  8. I haven't even been to Fenway before. I know, crazy right? But I've only been to Boston a few times so time constraints sort of prevented a trip.

    The Police at Fenway sounds like a dream come true.

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  9. This looks like a great time! I saw Neil Diamond at Fenway Park and I think it is just really cool to see a show at such a historical place!

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  10. I haven't but this looks like so much fun!! And it always seems like you guys are out having fun... what's up with that? ;-) But no, cute pics of you guys! And that hotdog? You can't beat a stadium dog!

    Happy Tuesday Dear! Love ya.

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  11. That hot dog looks so good!! I have never been to Fenway park ... actually had never heard of it until now!

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  12. Wow that looks like so much fun! And that hot dog is freaking enormous lol it's one of my goals to take my boyfriend to a game at fenway park. Maybe next year? Fingers crossed!

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  13. Great post! Fabulous photography. You have a very good eye for capturing a moment.

    Bravo

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  14. tee heeee, adam's shirt :) so glad you enjoyed the evening AND a fenway frank

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  15. Just found your blog and noticed you were from New England as well, so nice to meet other bloggers from the area! I am based in MA <3
    I am now a follower, follow me?

    XO Lynzy
    http://fromskirtstoskillets.blogspot.com

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