CHAUTAUQUA Week Two of Chautauqua's season features a wide-range of performances including the Music School Festival Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Chautauqua Opera as well as the Ladies First Big Band and Diana Krall.
On Sunday, July 1, admission to the grounds is free. Visitors are welcome to attend a performance by the American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, Post 264 at 2 p.m. in the Amphitheater. Access to the grounds is always free on Sundays and parking is free until 1:30 p.m.
Monday night, guest conductor Timothy Muffitt will lead the Music School Festival Orchestra in the Amphitheater at 8:15 p.m.
Stuart Chafetz returns to Chautauqua again this season to be the guest conductor for the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra Pops Concert on Tuesday, July 3. Beginning at 8 p.m. in the Amphitheater, the concert will also feature soprano Michele Ragusa. This family-friendly Independence Day celebration includes a variety of musical selections from American classics and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture."
Wednesday and Thursday nights of Week Two are Community Appreciation Nights. The Amphitheater Ball: Ladies First Big Band, a 16-member all-female group, will perform on Wednesday, July 4 at 8 p.m. The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra (CSO) led by guest conductor Timothy Myers, featuring 2010 winner of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis Clara-Jumi Kang perform on Thursday, July 5 at 8:15 p.m. Both performances will take place in the Amphitheater; evening passes can be purchased for just $18 on these special nights.
Jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall will perform Friday, July 6 at 8:15 p.m. in the Amphitheater. Krall has become established in the international jazz scene since 1993 and since then has won a Grammy and three Juno Awards. She is known for her relaxed and intimate singing style through her interpretations of jazz standards, original works with husband Elvis Costello and her 2009 bossa nova album Quiet Nights.
Chautauqua Opera presents Lucia di Lammermoor with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra on July 7 at 8:15 p.m. Set in the craggy moors of Scotland, Gaetano Donizetti's most famous opera will fill Chautauqua's historic Amphitheater with melodic invention, great singing and the most famous "Mad Scene" in opera. For this performance, the CSO will be led by guest conductor Joseph Colaneri.
Tickets for Amphitheater performances are $40. On Community Appreciation Nights, ticket prices are reduced to $18 and Family Entertainment Series performances are always free.
For additional ticketing information, visit chautauquatickets.ciweb.org/ or call 357-6250.
