
Review: Grant Park Music Festival opens with Latin dances and a multitasking conductor
On Wednesday, a very Americano opening night of the Grant Park Music Festival, led by guest conductor Andrew Litton, took that wide angle. Gabriela Lena Frank's 'Three Latin American Dances' references indigenous American and European sources alike, mixing — like so much Latin American music — in a fluid, unbroken tapestry. The Spanish dances in Manuel de Falla's 'The Three-Cornered Hat,' later in the program, hit home those Old World influences. Even 'Rhapsody in Blue,' the U.S.-of-American piece at the concert's heart, briefly shuffles atop Latin rhythms.
Though studiously apolitical, the concert's Pan-American outlook took on added resonance this week amid demonstrations in Chicago and across the country over immigration raids targeting migrants from Latin America. Just a few short months ago, festival music director Giancarlo Guerrero — born in Nicaragua, raised in Costa Rica — placed 30-second ad spots for the festival on Spanish-language radio, a savvy marketing move for a city that is more than a fifth Spanish-speaking. But the festival has opened to a stark new political reality.
Guerrero will arrive at the festival starting next week. In the meantime, Litton devised a sufficiently show-stopping opener by conducting and playing 'Rhapsody in Blue.' Doing double duty is doubtlessly a feat, but it's an entirely possible one, Litton told the audience: the solo piano part and orchestral backing more or less trade off throughout.
There are about a million ways to tackle Gershwin's perennial, and local audiences have heard a few already in recent summers. On Wednesday, Litton and the Grant Parkers went for contrast: The orchestra's raucous, jazzy heft met the cool steel of Litton's primmer and ever-so-classical interpretation.
Litton's necessary focus on the solo part often freed the Grant Park musicians — especially solo voices like clarinetist Trevor O'Riordan and trombonist Jeremy Moeller — to take inspiring interpretive risks. Likewise, Litton seemed more in his element than in the rest of the program. Lines ebbed and flowed with ease, and he briefly superimposed some swing on his cadenza halfway through the piece.
However, Litton was less decisive when he recouped his baton. He appeared notably more reliant on the score to 'Dances,' written in 2004, than he did the Gershwin and de Falla's; unsurprisingly, a staid, mostly anonymous account followed. Grant Park's open-air setting is always a daunting container for atmospheric, hazily scored music like the opening of the second-movement 'Highland Harawi.' Here, though, it came off as detached rather than distant, draining the screeching-violin cataclysm a few minutes later of its drama. The lackadaisical tempo of the 'Mestizo Waltz' capper never reached liftoff, either. Overall, this was the rare Grant Park evening where the 21st century work got the short end of the stick.
'The Three-Cornered Hat' fared better. It still had its flat moments — the exposition felt a bit ushered along, as did the beginning of 'The Neighbors Dance' — but in this familiar repertoire, the ensemble did more to rise to the occasion. Cheeky pinprick staccatos from oboist Alex Liedtke and bassoonist Eric Hall enlivened the 'Dance of the Miller's Wife.' Later, the 'Jota' finale thrived in the delightful juxtaposition of grandiosity and mischief, represented by pulsing low voices and tiptoeing woodwinds.
It tends to take a program or two for the Grant Parkers to readjust to playing together in the Pavilion. Wednesday was no exception, with several scattered moments. But this ever-flexible orchestra course-corrects quickly: It only took a bar or so for violins to brush themselves off after some disagreement at the top of Frank's 'Dances,' and again in harried moments in 'The Three-Cornered Hat.' But its sound was always gleaming and well-rounded, the instrumental balance impeccable all evening.
From the curtain-raising 'Star-Spangled Banner' to the de Falla's hair-raising Jota, this was a banner night for the Grant Park brass in particular. Trombones converged cleanly and mightily for their soli in 'Rhapsody in Blue'; so did trumpets at the flamenco-y start of the 'Mestizo Waltz.'
In an uncertain, ugly summer, what a gift it is to have Grant Park.
The Grant Park Music Festival continues this Friday at 6:30 p.m. with Holst's 'The Planets,' conducted by festival chorus director Christopher Bell in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.; free, www.grantparkmusicfestival.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Eater
an hour ago
- Eater
Stunning Oceanfront Greek Restaurant Studio Opens This Fall at the Montage Laguna Beach
is the Lead Editor of the Southern California/Southwest region, and has covered dining, restaurants, food culture, and nightlife in Los Angeles since 2008. One of Southern California's most striking coastal restaurant spaces is returning after a multi-year hiatus as Studio Mediterranean, located inside the upscale Montage resort. Chef Dennis Efthymiou, a Greek native who trained in Athens as well as the U.K.'s three-Michelin-starred the Fat Duck, Central in Lima, and Luce in San Francisco, has come on board to lead the kitchen serving a high-end Greek seafood menu with fish flown in fresh from around the world and locally sourced produce. The restaurant became available to hotel guests on June 26, but will open to the public beginning October 10. Expect Studio Mediterranean to serve spreads with house-baked pita, keftedes (beef and pork meatballs) with smoked tzatziki, charred octopus with saganaki sauce, and tableside tossed Greek salad. Whole seafood like Greek branzino, Spanish Dover sole, Maine lobster, dorade, and rainbow trout comes deboned, grilled, and dressed simply with lemon, olive oil, and sea salt (priced between $52 and $88 per pound). There's salt-baked branzino in a coffee-salt crust for $165 while rarefied Spanish carabinero prawns are $95 apiece. More inventive fish dishes include black cod with turmeric butter or grilled steelhead with dill-butter sauce. Roasted chicken, bone-in rib-eye for two, and grilled lamb chops round out the proteins, while sides include lemon-roasted potatoes, charred broccoli, and Rancho Gordo gigante beans. To finish, a baklava ice cream sundae comes laced with honey in a copper pan while a medjool date tart gets a drizzle of chocolate, olive oil, caramel, and crème fraiche. Sommelier Gary Sullivan will continue Studio's lauded wine program, one that Virbila held in high regard, while cocktails such as the Odyssey will feature Ouzo 12 with kumquat-cello and elderflower ice. The interior gets a sleek upgrade from its somewhat stodgier look from before, with patterns carpets giving way to ecru stone tiling, off-white seating, and dainty potted olive trees. The wide windows afford glorious views of the Pacific, amplified further with long sunsets and crashing waves. It's giving HBO's The White Lotus in Mykonos, Santorini, or (a fictional season if the series ever reaches that many); for those of us living in Southern California, it's certainly a welcome retreat from urban hustle. Studio Mediterranean is currently open to hotel guests of the Montage Laguna Beach and will open to the public on October 10, 2025. It's open Wednesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is located at 30801 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA, 92651. Lounge seating outside Studio Mediterranean. The view from the patio. Inside Studio Mediterranean. Studio Mediterranean's main dining area. A smoky Ares cocktail from Studio Mediterranean. Studio's tableside Greek salad. Pita and spreads at Studio. Kanpachi crudo. Grilled octopus. Lobster hilopites pasta. Grilled branzino. Baklava sundae.


Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Boston's Age Strong Commission expands senior programming
Among the enthusiastic attendees was Diane Giacalone, 80, who frequents the weekly programming with her two close friends, Mimi Largey Lyons, 78, and Linda Santamaria, 76. 'The Three Amigos,' Giacalone calls them. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The longtime friends, who live in the neighborhood, participate in the programming any chance they get, with some of their favorites being Broadway dancing class and aerobics. They began attending events after the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to get out of the house and physically strengthen themselves, as well as strengthen their minds and foster new friendships. They all agree: The programming is 'life changing.' Boston's Advertisement Demand has been high, and since January, five new satellite locations for seniors opened at community centers to help meet it. The extra day of programming at the Elks Lodge , adding Wednesdays to their previous Tuesday/Thursday schedule, is the final satellite expansion the commission has planned for this year. It is in partnership with Wu was at the Elks Lodge to help kick off the celebration, as were Age Strong's commissioner, Emily Shea, City Councilors Benjamin Weber and Erin Murphy, state Representatives Rob Consalvo and William McGregor, and state Senator Michael Rush. 'For Boston to be a home for everyone, it needs to be a home for every generation,' Wu told a Globe reporter after her speech to the West Roxbury seniors. Mayor Michelle Wu has her picture made with daughter Mira and Age Strong programming attendee Corinne Balsamo. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff In her Offerings at each location, Shea said, are designed for a neighborhood's specific needs, whether that be activities in Spanish and Creole or simply more frequent activities. 'It's so important because each neighborhood is so different,' Shea said. The commission hosts a variety of drop-in classes throughout the week at these new locations. Participants can enjoy physical activities such as chair yoga and ballroom dancing, and creative activities such as watercolor painting and jewelry making. Participants just looking for good conversation and company can enjoy snacks, coffee, and board games throughout the day. Advertisement The programming also includes classes with field trips. One of Lyons's favorite memories is of a rowing class she and her two friends took together, which ended with an excursion: rowing on the Charles River. 'It's something I always wanted to do,' Lyons said. Corinne Balsamo joins the gentle pilates class. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Shea cites Age Strong's programming as one the city's efforts to decrease social isolation in its elderly population. The 'It's healing in mind, body, and spirit,' Giacalone said. She described how the regular group at the Elks Lodge looks out for one another, from celebrating birthdays to checking on friends who have missed a few classes to helping those who can no longer attend. 'The place is beyond friendship,' Lyons chimed in. 'It's family.' Isabella Bernstein can be reached at


USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Prince Royce runs on 'old-school' workouts, video games and action TV
In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set, or on the road. As far as Prince Royce is concerned, the mark of a great song is that it "lasts a lifetime." The multiplatinum Latin pop star, who broke out in the early 2010s with his charming bilingual rendition of the Ben E. King classic "Stand by Me," is tipping his hat to the greats once more on his latest album "Eterno" (out now). The singer reimagines pop standards from the likes of Elvis Presley, the Bee Gees, Backstreet Boys and others with his signature bachata style. But for Royce, it's about more than just throwback jams: "As an artist ... you want to put out music that could go through generations and that can fit in other genres and rhythms and hopefully can just cross the globe." Royce, who grew up in a Dominican family in New York City, says these tropical-infused covers not only "show love and respect" to the original hits but also allow him to share a slice of his bicultural heritage with fans of varying backgrounds. "I grew up listening to American music, but I also grew up listening to Latin music in Spanish and English, and that's just my upbringing, all these rhythms in one place," Royce, 36, says. "And I kind of can bring that mix of my upbringing to (Dominican Republic), to American people, to people who know both languages." Music isn't the only esencial in Royce's life. The singer dishes on some of his beloved staples, from video games and daily workouts to action-packed TV. Prince Royce stays fit with 'old-school' workouts, 'sweet' dog Ruby Who needs a gym buddy when you have man's best friend? Royce stays in shape with a series of daily workouts that span "old-school" weight training with metal free weights to outdoor runs and golfing. As for warming up, the singer gets his blood pumping with morning walks with his Belgian Malinois dog Ruby. "The physical aspect just forces me to be healthier, to wake up early," says Royce of his exercise regimen. "Subconsciously, I wouldn't stay out drinking all night because I know I got to walk my dog and go to the gym, get up early and grind." Royce, who's "never really been that much of a dog person," gushes about his canine pal. "It's like a military dog," he says with a laugh. "She's like 70 pounds. It's my first big dog, but she's a sweet girl." "Originally, it was more like, 'let's get a dog to protect the house' type of vibe," Royce adds. "We kind of got lucky. … We read all these things online that said Belgian Malinois are crazy and they'll eat up everything in the house, but she's been good so far." 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Prince Royce is all about the action for gaming, TV faves Royce doesn't play when it comes to his screen time. A self-described "big gamer," Royce often turns to video games as a travel pastime during long flights and hotel stays. Some of his favorites include the action franchises Call of Duty ("It's always the game that never ends") and Assassin's Creed. The singer's love of gaming extends beyond the console. When it comes to TV, Royce has been watching video game adaptations such as "The Last of Us" and "Fallout," with the latter blowing him away with its faithfulness to the game. "The way that they would play classical music while they're blowing something up and people are getting shot up, that's how the game actually was,' he says. "Those things kind of hype me up." Additionally, the Prime Video series' canine protagonist CX404, a Belgian Malinois, was the catalyst for Royce getting his dog Ruby. "It's also the same dog from 'John Wick,' and I like 'John Wick,' too. So then when I saw it in 'Fallout,' I'm like, 'That's it. I'm getting the badass dog.'" Prince Royce is grooving to deep house and this Drake album For Royce, there doesn't have to be a party to keep the beat going. The "Stuck on a Feeling" hitmaker has been listening to the pulsating grooves of deep house, a subgenre of house music known for its ambient and soul influences. "I've always liked it," Royce says, adding that the genre is perfect for "chilling by the pool on a Sunday or on a boat or just at home." "It's kind of chill vibes but still up-tempo." Royce's playlist is also bumping with Bad Bunny's reggaeton banger "Velda," taken from his latest album "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos," as well as the Drake and PartyNextDoor collaboration record "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U." "I'm a big Drake fan in general," he says. "That album was pretty cool." Prince Royce nerds out with self-help books, documentaries Royce isn't one for passive entertainment, whether it's the pages of a book or his channel-surfing destinations. The Latin Grammy-nominated singer recently finished reading "Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee" by Shannon Lee, a self-help biography he says he appreciated for its "motivational" exploration of the late martial arts icon's Zen philosophy: "You put water in a cup, and it just transforms into whatever shape of that cup. It kind of molds into whatever situation." "If I'm going to listen to something, or if I'm going to read something, I really hope that I'm reading something that can make me a better person or better my business or family," Royce says. Royce's thirst for knowledge also influences his viewing choices, citing documentaries as a favorite film genre. "I like learning something," he says. "I'll watch random animal documentaries on the History Channel or something, and those things sometimes interest me more than regular movies."