PLYMOUTH, MA — The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off its 104th season in grand style, performing The Esther and Alcide Ruffini Fourth of July Concert, a free-to-the-public Independence Day celebration. Steven Karidoyanes conducts.
The Phil’s July 4th performance includes musical tributes observing two significant anniversaries. The first is the 50th anniversary of mankind’s first steps onto the lunar surface. The orchestra performs the introductory music to Richard Strauss’ Thus Spake Zarathustra, more widely known as the main theme to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, and an orchestral suite from the film score to Apollo 13 by James Horner.
The other musical tribute celebrates one of the most iconic fictional comic book characters in popular culture, Batman. The Caped Crusader’s comic book debut was 80 years ago this year. For this tribute, the Phil performs music from The Dark Night Rises by Hans Zimmer, as well as music from the Batman film series of 30 years ago composed by Danny Elfman.
Additionally, performance highlights include Tchaikovsky’s exciting 1812 Overture, excerpts from the Declaration of Independence read by Town of Plymouth Select Board chairman Kenneth Tavares accompanied by a lush symphonic score, and A Salute to the Big Bands, a collection of Swing Band standards like April in Paris, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Serenade in Blue and Sing Sing Sing.
The concert takes place in historic Pilgrim Memorial State Park on the Plymouth Waterfront near the Plymouth Rock Portico, across from the natural amphitheater of Cole’s Hill. The music starts at 7:30 PM on Thursday, July 4th (rain date: Friday, July 5th).
The Esther and Alcide Ruffini Fourth of July Concert is made possible through the generosity of The Ruffini Charitable Trust with additional support from The James Spooner Trust and the Town of Plymouth Promotions Fund. The 104th Season of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
The concert will be broadcast and streamed live on WATD, 95.9 FM and PACTV, Plymouth Area Community Access Television (Comcast channel 13 and Verizon Channel 43.)