Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Performs Broadway Favorites at Oregon Ridge, July 24

Concert concludes with grand fireworks display

Baltimore, Md. (July 7, 2010)— The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will conclude its summer season with Broadway Melodies led by guest conductor Randall Craig Fleischer and featuring vocalists Doug LaBrecque and Patricia Phillips at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, Md. on Saturday, July 24 at 8 p.m. The evening includes music from George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Richard Rodgers and Andrew Lloyd Webber and favorites like “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady,“ Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera and "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables. A grand fireworks display will end the evening. See below for complete program information.

Vocalists Doug LaBrecque and Patricia Phillips will join forces to bring these Broadway melodies to life. LaBrecque has starred on Broadway as Ravenal in Harold Prince’s revival of Show Boat, featured in Oscar Hammerstein's 100th Birthday Celebration on Broadway at The Gershwin Theatre and toured nationally with Les Misérables. The San Diego Union-Times Tribune complimented LaBrecque’s technique in his performance of The Phantom of the Opera: “he excelled, bringing fervent, sensuous tones." Patricia Phillips was the first woman of African-American descent to perform the role of Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. She also appeared in the original cast of Baz Luhrmann’s Broadway production of Puccini’s La Bohème, as well as in the casts of The Secret Garden and The Sound of Music.

For more than 20 years, the BSO at Oregon Ridge has been a Baltimore-area summer tradition, drawing tens of thousands for family fun, music and fireworks in the wooded enclaves of the Cockeysville, Md., park. Patrons are invited to arrive early with lawn chairs, blankets and picnic dinners or purchase food and drink from onsite venders for a full evening of entertainment with the BSO. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m.

Randall Craig Fleischer, conductor
Randall Craig Fleischer has appeared as a guest conductor with many major orchestras in the United States and internationally including repeat engagements with the Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, San Diego Symphony and Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. As music director and conductor of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, Anchorage Symphony and Flagstaff Symphony, he has led each orchestra through a dramatic period of artistic growth, demonstrating his abilities as a proven orchestra builder. Winner of Newsweek Magazine’s “Parent’s Choice Award” for his CD ROM of Peter and the Wolf, Mr. Fleischer is the only American conductor to receive this award.

Doug LaBrecque, vocalist
Doug LaBrecque thrilled theatre audiences as The Phantom and Raoul in the Harold Prince production of The Phantom of the Opera. He has starred on Broadway as Ravenal in the Harold Prince revival of Show Boat, a role he also performed in Canada and Chicago. He was featured in Oscar Hammerstein's 100th Birthday Celebration on Broadway at The Gershwin Theatre, and toured nationally with Les Misérables. An active concert performer, he has been a soloist with some of the world’s finest symphony orchestras including National Symphony, Israel Philharmonic (Tel Aviv), Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony and San Francisco Symphony. In the last few years, his U.S. appearances have included Seattle Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Houston Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Utah Symphony and with Marvin Hamlisch both at the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony and with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Patricia Phillips, vocalist
Patricia Phillips was honored to be the first woman of African-American descent to perform the role of Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. She was most recently seen on the HBO series “The Sopranos.” She appeared in the original cast of Baz Luhrmann’s Broadway production of Puccini’s La Bohème and also appeared in the original Broadway casts of The Secret Garden and The Sound of Music. Other credits include the title role in Motherbone at The New Dramatists Guild, the national tour of Carousel (Nettie) and regional theatre appearances including Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. Her concert work includes solo performances with the Minnesota Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony and Virginia Symphony.

COMPLETE PROGRAM INFORMATION
Broadway Melodies
Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 8 p.m. – Oregon Ridge Park*
13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030

*Rain date July 25

Randall Craig Fleischer, conductor
Doug LaBrecque, vocalist
Patricia Phillips, vocalist

Lerner & Loewe: Selections from My Fair Lady
Berlin: “Top Hat”
Berlin: ”Steppin' Out”
Porter: "Begin the Beguine"
Loesser: "Luck Be a Lady" from Guys and Dolls
Bernstein: Overture to Candide
Gershwin: "Fascinating Rhythm"
Lerner & Loewe: "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady
Kern & Hammerstein II: Medley from Show Boat
Rodgers: Tribute to Richard Rodgers
Kander and Ebb: "Sara Lee"  
Claude-Michel Schönberg: "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables
Bernstein: Overture to West Side Story
Various: Medley from Jersey Boys
Andrew Lloyd Webber: "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera
Andrew Lloyd Webber: "Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera

Tickets are general admission lawn seating and are available through the BSO Ticket Office, 410.783.8000, 877.BSO.1444 or BSOmusic.org. Advanced tickets are $18 for adults and $9 for children under 12. If purchased at the gate, tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Free onsite parking is available.