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Symphony brings first free concert to new Estero park

By LIANE SMITH (Contact)

Saturday, January 13, 2007

When Estero Community Park and Recreation Center first opened its doors in late 2005, park staff said they hoped to utilize the outdoor stage for concerts, envisioning local residents sitting in lawn chairs and sprawled out on blankets enjoying the park, music and atmosphere of the new facility.

The time has now come for the park to welcome the Southwest Florida Symphony — Lee County's only professional orchestra — in a free outdoor concert, on Saturday, Jan. 20.

"We're really excited to have that stage used," said park staffer Katharine Bruns.

The concert, which will start at 4 p.m., will feature Beethoven's "Prometheus" overture to start the afternoon concert. According to the Southwest Florida Symphony, this lesser-known masterpiece was Beethoven's only piece written for dance. Another piece includes Aaron Copland's "Hoe Down" from "Rodeo," and other light, popular classics.

The Southwest Florida Symphony is now in its 46th season, offering 38 concerts across five series from October through May.

This season, the orchestra is searching for a new music director. More than 250 candidates applied and seven finalists remain.

At the park, guest conductor and finalist Mark Mandarano will try his hand with the orchestra. Mandarano was recently named principal guest conductor of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and currently serves as orchestra conductor at Bard College. Last year, he conducted the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and has also served with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra in California as an associate conductor.

"It's exciting to see how the conductor interacts with the audience and the orchestra," Southwest Florida Symphony member Amy Crabb said.

The orchestra has tried over the last year to expand the programs it offers further into Lee County. Last October, it held a children's Halloween-themed concert, and in March, it plans to offer another family concert with a Harry Potter theme.

"It's very family down there," Crabb said of the park.

According to Crabb, interested music listeners should plan to bring lawn chairs and blankets, and should also plan to arrive a little early.

There will be vendors onsite selling food and drinks, but because it is a county park, there will be no alcoholic beverages available or permitted.

"It's going to be a very fun event, and something we can hopefully build on with additional outdoor concerts in the future," Crabb said.

Executive Director for the Southwest Florida Symphony Ernie Toplis added: "We're looking forward to the beginning of a long-term relationship (with Estero)."