The North Carolina Symphony will return to its summer home at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre for another season of popular outdoor concerts under the stars, May 27 through July 15. For over 30 years the Symphony has performed on the banks of its namesake lake and this is the 17th year of great music in the performance pavilion built by the Town of Cary, a long-time partner and major sponsor of the Summerfest Series. Prices range from $17 for a student ticket to $40 for an adult ticket purchased the day of the show. 

NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY SUMMERFEST CONCERT LINE UP

2017: PLAY WITH THE PROS

Saturday, May 27 | 7:30 p.m.

Memorial Day weekend, hear Dvořák’s take on American music in his ever-popular “New World” Symphony and Sibelius’ pride in his own native Finland. Experience a rousing overture by Verdi and witness the talent of our 2016 Youth Concerto Competition winner in Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. You might even see friends and neighbors on stage! We welcome citizen musicians to perform with us in the 20th anniversary of “Play with the Pros.”

ROMANTIC BROADWAY

SATURDAY, JUNE 3| 7:30PM

Let us whisk you off to Broadway! Guest singers join the Symphony for timeless love stories told through some of the most romantic music ever written—including songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, and more.

CLASSICS UNDER THE STARS

FRI, JUNE 9| 7:30PM

Hum along to familiar tunes from operas like Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Ponchielli’s Dance of the Hours. Tap your toes with the rhythms of Copland’s Hoe-Down from Rodeo, a Dvořák Slavonic Dance, and Leroy Anderson’s extravaganza for strings, Fiddle Faddle. This evening is a real crowd-pleaser, with some of the most recognizable moments in classical music.

A SPACE SPECTACULAR

SAT, JUNE 10 | 7:30PM

Hear how composers across generations and genres have imagined the mysteries of space in their music. From John Williams’ music for Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, to selections from Holst’s powerful suite depicting the planets, this is the perfect family fun program to enjoy under a star-filled sky.

AN EVENING IN FRANCE

SAT, JUNE 17 | 7:30PM

French music and cuisine come together as we celebrate the Triangle’s sister cities, Le Touquet and Compiegne. Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 and the Bacchanale from Sampson and Delilah will dazzle you, and works by Impressionist composers Ravel and Debussy— including Claire de Lune— create an evocative atmosphere. Visit the food trucks for French-inspired treats.

A NIGHT OF BEETHOVEN

SAT, JUNE 24 | 7:30PM

Nicholas Hersh, conductor

Gilles Vonsattel, piano

Enjoy a beer garden, German food, and fun— a preview of Cary’s Oktoberfest Celebration— while you experience the  musical craftsmanship of Beethoven. We begin with the stormy Egmont Overture and the lighthearted Symphony No. 8. Then, pianist Gilles Vonsattel—praised for bringing  a sense of adventure to everything he plays— is featured in Beethoven’s final piano concerto, nicknamed the “Emperor” for its grandeur.

STEEP CANYON RANGERS

FRI, JUNE 30 | 7:30PM

The Grammy award-winning bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers—based in the North Carolina mountains—take the stage with the North Carolina Symphony! The Rangers showcase smooth vocals, smart songwriting, ferocious instrumentals, and jaw-dropping harmonies.

APPALACHIAN SPRING

SAT, JULY 1 | 7:30PM

Gemma New, conductor 

Paul Huang, violin

Just before Independence Day celebrations, hear depictions of our country in music by American masters. Copland’s Appalachian Spring conjures the simple pleasures of life in the Pennsylvania countryside; John Williams’ The Cowboys calls to mind the Wild West; and dances from Bernstein’s opera On the Town tell the adventures of sailors on leave in New York City. The lyrical Barber Violin Concerto is a perfect match for guest violinist Paul Huang.

THE MUSIC OF U2

FRI, JULY 7 | 7:30PM

Brent Havens, conductor

Experience the music of U2 like never before— with the powerful sound of a full rock band backed by your North Carolina Symphony. Hear four decades of the band’s uplifting hits, including “With or Without You,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” “Pride (In the Name of Love),” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Desire,” “One,” and many more.

ANNUAL BEACH PARTY WITH JACKIE GORE AND NORTH TOWER BAND

SAT, JULY 15 | 7:30PM

Dance to the best in Carolina beach music performed by local legends: North Tower Band and Jackie Gore will keep you grooving all night at this annual beach bash! The North Carolina Symphony presents these guest artists and will not perform at this concert.

Tickets for the series concerts can be purchased at Booth Amphitheatre, through etix.com, or by phone at (800) 514-3849. For complete concert information go to www.boothamphitheatre.com or call (919) 462-2025.