The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors kicks off its series of weekly summer concerts, presented free to the public, at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 12, waterside in Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way. Thursday evening classical concerts feature world class artists appearing with the Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, conducted by its Musical Director Frank Fetta. On alternate weeks, Saturday evening concerts bring to the Marina internationally famed artists from the worlds of pop and jazz.
This year’s Classical Thursdays begin on July 12 with a concert featuring the 75-member Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, conducted by Frank Fetta, along with finalists from the famed Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition for an evening of “Opera at the Shore.”
On July 26, the Orchestra performs music from Elgar, Walton, and Delilus as part of the theme of “Looking to England,” which will feature popular radio personality Rich Capparela of KUSC-FM 91.5 as the narrator in Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. Mr. Capparela also acts as the host of all four concerts in the classical concert series.
On Thursday, August 9, twin duo pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton will perform Poulenc’s Concerto in D minor for Two Pianos as they join the Orchestra’s program of “Remembering France,” which will also include Debussy and Ravel.
On Thursday, August 23, Maestro Fetta welcomes back Lindsay Deutsch to Burton Chace Park with her artful arrangement of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, as part of the Orchestra’s theme of “Russians There and Here,” which will also include Serge Rachmaninov and John Adams.
Pop Saturdays open July 21 with the co-headline show of two exciting female singer-songwriters with unique musical styles, acclaimed musicians Shelby Lynne and Lisa Loeb.
On August 1, six-time Grammy-award winning trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval performs original as well as standard jazz compositions in his signature style.
He will be followed on August 18 by the Grammy-nominated rock band Ambrosia, which will perform music and hits influenced by rhythm-and-blues and classical music.
The 2012 Marina del Rey Summer Concerts season closes on September 1 with disco and post-disco icon Evelyn “Champagne” King singing her best-known hits.
Sponsors of the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts are Supervisor Don Knabe, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; the Department of Beaches and Harbors; The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey; and KUSC Classical FM 91.5.
Hornblower Café in Burton Chace Park is open for sunset dining on concert nights with chairs available for rent at the concert site for a minimal fee.
Concertgoers can take the WaterBus from six Marina locations directly to and from the concert site, or catch the land-based Beach Shuttle, which will operate with special hours to and from Burton Chace Park on concert nights. Parking is available at County lot # 4 and # 77 on Mindanao Way or lot # 5 on Bali Way.
For additional information, call the Marina del Visitor’s Center at (310) 305-9545 or access the Beaches and Harbors website at http://marinadelrey.lacounty.gov or DBH social media sites Facebook.com/LACDBH and Twitter.com/LACDBH.