Orange County's Pacific Symphony Presents 2012 Target Symphony in the Cities, Now thru 8/19

Grab a lawn chair, pack a picnic and head to a nearby park for an evening of free outdoor music and entertainment when Pacific Symphony's 2012 Target Symphony in the Cities (SITC) concert series celebrates summer with a mix of American and Spanish music (and more). For the eighth year in a row, Target returns as the title sponsor for this popular event, which attracts thousands of people annually to parks throughout Orange County.

This year's concerts, "Spanish Nights and American Flair," led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, take place in three cities: Mission Viejo's Oso Viejo Park (tonight, July 28), Irvine's Orange County Great Park (July 29) and Lake Forest's Pittsford Park (Aug. 19). Featuring the popular guitar group Triada, the program offers light, Spanish-infused classical and pop music by Rodrigo and Bizet, favorite patriotic songs and a little Tchaikovsky for good measure.

For more information about these concerts, call (714) 755-5799 or visit PacificSymphony.org/SITC.

"To complement our traditional Target Symphony in the Cities patriotic sing-along, marches and, of course, the unforgettable moment when the children help me conduct the concert, we are pleased to offer an evening of Spanish-influenced music!" says Music Director Carl St.Clair. "From the sizzling overture to Bizet's beloved opera 'Carmen' and the dances of the Farandole, to the famous Triada guitar quartet, we will have the audience smiling and tapping their toes!It will be another great time under our beautiful California summer sky!"

For this evening of cool American favorites and hot Latin rhythms, the Symphony welcomes the brilliant guitar ensemble Triada, which combines the unique talents of Bulgarian brothers Nikola, Petar and Vasil and their sister Petya Chekardzhikov. Individually, the family members are virtuoso guitarists and their intuitive sense of synergy makes their performances appealing and unique. Triada tackles Latin-flavored gems such as Farandole from "L'Arlesienne," Suite No. 2 and tasty morsels from Bizet's alluring "Carmen." The audience is also treated to Triada performing a special arrangement of Rodrigo's "Concierto andaluz" for four guitars. Plus, the concert includes selections from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker," John Philip Sousa's rousing "Hands Across the Sea," a salute to our armed forces and a patriotic sing-along.

"We are excited to bring Target Symphony in the Cities to the Orange County Great Park this summer," says Beth Krom, chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. "Pacific Symphony does a wonderful job bringing the joy of symphonic music to the people of Orange County, and the Great Park will provide a perfect backdrop for their performance."