The Florida Orchestra plays patriotic pops for free, fireworks go pop and the crowd goes, “Ahhh.”That’s the game plan for a series of three Bay area parks concerts.
The first takes place at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, in Plant Park on the campus of the University of Tampa. Set along the Hillsborough River, under the minarets of the old Tampa Bay Hotel and with a clear view of Tampa’s downtown — the park is an ideal spot for such an outdoor event. Mayor Pam Iorio introduces the concert as one of six the city of Tampa is sponsoring during The Florida Orchestra’s 2003-04 season.
“By offering concerts in places where people live and work,” Iorio says, “the orchestra promotes Tampa’s development as a city for the arts.”
Where’s Richard Florida to put a gold star on Iorio’s blazer?
The second concert takes place at 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 25, in Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg. The bayfront park, adjacent to the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, is within easy walking distance of the historic Old Northeast neighborhood and The Pier, with quasi-scenic views of the new condos going in along Beach Drive.
Homes by Helen, the real estate company of Helen Torres, sponsors the St. Petersburg concert. Torres, also a benefactor of Opera Tampa, certainly doubly deserves decoration.
The third concert takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 on the grounds of Grace Episcopal Church in New Tampa. Tampa City Council member Shawn Harrison introduces this concert, which is also sponsored by the city of Tampa.
Four free concerts scheduled for later this season will take place in West Tampa, South Tampa, East Tampa and at the Lowry Park Bandshell.
Newly appointed Associate Conductor Susan Haig leads the three current concerts, which share an identical program. It opens with “The Star-Spangled Banner,” easing into light classics such as Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and “Ashokan Farewell,” arranged by famed soundtrack composer John Williams. After a brief intermission, things get a bit more rousing with a Duke Ellington medley and highlights from the ’70s (“California Dreamin'”) before closing with Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” as fireworks burst overhead.
Pack a good old-fashioned picnic — blanket, wine (don’t forget the wine key) and fancy finger food — and stake a prime spot at one of these lovely, lush locales.
And if you have room in your basket, please pack a canned food item or two to drop off at receptacles for Tampa Bay Harvest, an all-volunteer charity working to end hunger in our community.
For more info, visit www.floridaorchestra.org or call 800-662-7286.
This article appears in Oct 23-28, 2003.
