Date: May 26, 2009
Contact: Nancy Gray, (865) 436-1207
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced the musical selection for the 75th Anniversary outdoor concert performance by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra on June 13 at 3 p.m. in Cades Cove. Tickets are available until June 3 and can be purchased at the KSO’s Box Office at 865-291-3310. The cost of the event is $25 for vehicles with up to a 15-passenger capacity and $50 for vehicles with a capacity greater than 15 passengers.
Among the pop and light classical favorites led by Music Director Lucas Richman, the orchestra will present the world premiere of local composer James Carlson’s Off-trail in the Smokies, commissioned by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra specifically for this concert. The narrative episodes are preceded and followed by a majestic theme that reflects the awe-inspiring beauty of the Smoky Mountains. The narrative text is by poet, historian and avid hiker Jenny Bennette. Composer Carlson said that, "I’ve selected three of her poems that describe her experiences hiking in the Smoky Mountains. I, too, frequently hike in the Smokies and around East Tennessee and I found it easy to relate to these poems and musically bring them to life. The first depicts a hike riddled with clouds and fog, the second, a vigorous ascent with a storm approaching and finally, the expansive view from Andrews Bald on a clear winter day."
Additionally, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) will appear as a guest pianist and perform three works with the orchestra that include Mozart’s Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Chopin’s Prelude in C Minor, and a Gospel Medley. Other favorites that will be performed during the concert include The Star Spangled Banner, Williams’ Overture to The Cowboys, Foster’s Beautiful Dreamer, Ungar’s Ashokan Farewell, America the Beautiful, selections from Rodgers’ Sound of Music and more. Soprano Katy Wolfe Zahn will also join the orchestra throughout the afternoon.
The outdoor concert, in partnership with the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will be held in the Cable Mill area adjacent to the Cades Cove Visitor Center, located half-way around the 11 mile one-way loop road. Due to limitations in the amount of parking available at the concert site, the event will be restricted to those having purchased a vehicle pass in advance which serves as an admission ticket. Concert-goers are encouraged to carpool and bring chairs and/or blankets, and food and drinks and should be prepared for hot summer weather as shelter and shade will be limited. Only water, soft drinks, and snacks will be available for purchase, along with 75th Anniversary merchandise items. For those who have purchased a vehicle pass, they will be permitted to enter the concert site starting at 10 a.m. Prior to the concert, cultural demonstrations such as rug hooking, basketmaking, quilting, and blacksmithing, along with musical entertainment by Boogertown Gap will take place.
Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson said "This event will also be managed as a "green" event and all participants will be asked to pack out what they bring in to Cades Cove, leaving no litter or trash on the grounds. Stewardship is one of the main themes of this year anniversary celebration, and we ask that our visitors share in this responsibility every time they visit the park, but especially during this outdoor event. We don’t want to see unsightly trash left around this revered place."
More specific information on how the concert will be managed, what people should bring and what items will be restricted can be found at www.GreatSmokies75th.org. In addition, important tips on how to plan and prepare for spending the day outdoors, parking, traffic, and general information about the Cove and June weather conditions are also posted.
For the general public who are not attending the concert, Cades Cove will be closed starting at 12 p.m. to accommodate the concert participants. The closure will begin at the Townsend Wye on the Laurel Creek Road, just outside of Townsend, Tenn. The website also advises the general public on the partial day closure and reduced visitor activities and services.
