Acclaimed British maestro Alexander Joel makes his Vail debut with an evening of classical favorites from the Golden Age of Hollywood to today's latest blockbusters. Enjoy famous themes from the scores of Vertigo, The Godfather, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and more, including Gershwin's beloved An American in Paris.
PAVILION SEATS AVAILABLE | LAWN TICKETS SOLD OUT
$49 - $159
$5 - $29
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Thursday
06:00 PM
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
ALEXANDER JOEL, CONDUCTOR
Legendary movie scores from: Vertigo, The Godfather, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and more.
LAWN TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT FOR THIS PERFORMANCE
CLASSICAL MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES
CLASSICAL MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES
“Ride of the Valkyries” from Die Walküre (1854-1856)
RICHARD WAGNER (1813-1883)
The Valkyries are the nine warrior-maidens of German mythology who ride through the air on their steeds, bringing heroes killed in battle to Valhalla, home of the gods. The Ride occurs in Wagner’s opera when the curtain rises on a rocky mountain to reveal four of the Valkyries watching their sisters return from the battleground.
“Fanfare” and “Love Scene” from The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD (1897-1957)
The Adventures of Robin Hood, Warner Bros.’s first full Technicolor feature, is based on the legend of the nobleman who turns virtuous outlaw to rob from the rich, give to the poor, and defend England from internal usurpers and external enemies. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won for Korngold’s score.
Suite from Vertigo (1958)
BERNARD HERRMANN (1911-1975)
Hitchcock’s masterful thriller Vertigo concerns Scottie Ferguson, a San Francisco police detective who has been forced into early retirement because a rooftop chase that resulted in the death of another officer has caused him to suffer from extreme fear of heights. The climax finds Scottie at the top of the bell tower of a mission church trying to prevent what he thinks will be the attempted suicide of Madeleine, whom he has come to love. The Prelude provides the musical gateway for this gripping tale. In The Nightmare sequence, Scottie has a terrifying dream in which he has a premonition of himself falling from the tower. The Scène d’amour accompanies Madeleine and Scottie’s first embrace.
An American in Paris (1928)
GEORGE GERSHWIN (1898-1937)
In 1951, An American in Paris and several of Gershwin’s finest songs inspired an Oscar-winning film from director Vincente Minnelli. In the story, a struggling American painter in Paris falls in love with a lovely French girl. An American in Paris provides the music for the colorful ballet that serves as the film’s dazzling climax.
Overture to Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
MAURICE JARRE (1924-2009)
Lawrence of Arabia, which brought French composer Maurice Jarre an Oscar, is based on the exploits of the British author, archaeologist, diplomat and military officer Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888-1935), who helped lead the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. Jarre’s score evokes the film’s sweeping panoramas and action sequences, as well as its cultural settings.
“Nimrod” from Variations on an Original Theme, “Enigma,” Op. 36 (1898-1899)
SIR EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934)
Nimrod has become associated with musical commemorations, but it was conceived as a musical tribute to August Jaeger, Elgar’s publisher and close friend, who lived and worked for another decade after “Enigma” was written. The title, borrowed from the Old Testament hunter Nimrod, is a play on Jaeger’s name and the German homonym “Jäger” (“hunter”). Hans Zimmer used Nimrod as the theme for his score for the 2017 film Dunkirk, which portrayed the heroic rescue by civilian boaters of British soldiers from the shores of France after the failed invasion of June 1940.
Sunset Boulevard: Suite (1950)
FRANZ WAXMAN (1906-1967)
Sunset Boulevard was director Billy Wilder’s unblinking cinematic look at a faded silent-era star named Norma Desmond (played by Gloria Swanson) living in a crumbling Hollywood mansion whose hopes for a comeback are encouraged by the struggling screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) and her devoted butler (and one-time husband and director) Max von Mayerling (Erich von Stroheim). When Joe falls in love with a young writer (Nancy Olson) at the studio, Norma loses her reason and Joe loses his life. Sunset Boulevard was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and all four leading actors, and won for Best Screenplay, Art Direction and Waxman’s score.
“Superman March” from Superman (1978)
“Rey’s Theme” from Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
“Raiders’ March” from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
JOHN WILLIAMS (B. 1932)
Superman, starring Christopher Reeve, was director Richard Donner’s screen realization of America’s quintessential superhero, created in Cleveland in 1938 by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. The film was nominated for four Oscars (including Williams’ score) and won for Best Visual Effects. The “Superman March,” also known as the Theme from Superman, evokes the daring and bravery of the title character and includes the lyrical “flying theme” (recorded by Maureen McGovern in 1978 as the single Can You Read My Mind?) as its central episode.
Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the first installment of the sequel trilogy to the original Star Wars series, is set when the First Order has succeeded the defeated Empire as the enemy of the Republic. Among the characters who enter the epic tale in that film is the resourceful female scavenger Rey, who was abandoned as a child and joins the Resistance against the First Order. Williams’ music, his fifth Oscar nomination for the Star Wars series (he won for the first, in 1978), weaves themes associated with characters seen in earlier installments through a brilliant new score.
Indiana Jones made his screen debut in 1981 in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first adventure for the tweedy college archeologist-turned-bullwhip-toting action hero, Stephen Spielberg’s tribute to the Saturday matinee cliffhanger serials. John Williams’ score matched the speed, wit, thrills and varied locales of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and his work was recognized with a nomination for an Academy Award, one of nine the film received, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Alexander Joel is a regular guest at the Royal Opera house Covent Garden since the 2012/2013 season, having conducted Carmen, La traviata and La bohème (twice) there since then.
Alexander Joel’s 2016/17 season started with a highly acclaimed new Andrea Breth production of Manon Lescaut for the Dutch National Opera with Eva-Maria Westbroek (with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra), followed by a complete new Ring cycle at the Staatstheater Wiesbaden (directed by Uwe Laufenberg), and a new production of Simon Boccanegra at the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp, where he has been appointed Principal Guest Conductor since this season.
Opera Highlights in his 2017/2018 Season include the David McVicar production of “Rigoletto” at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, a new production of „Cavaleria Rusticana“ and „Pagliacci“ at the Grand Theatre de Geneve, a new production of Korngold’s „Das Wunder der Heliane“ at the Vlaamse opera, „Tosca“ at the Royal opera house in Stockholm. On the concert podium he will be conducting several concerts with the Vlaamse Opera orchestra, where he is the principle guest conductor, as well as a return the Staatsorchester Braunschweig where he is still is a regular conductor following his postion as music director.
Alexander Joel is a regular guest at the Royal Opera house Covent Garden since the 2012/2013 season, having conducted Carmen, La traviata and La bohème (twice) there since then. Other opera highlights in the last few seasons have included premieres of Madama Butterfly at the Staatsoper Hamburg (available on DVD with Arthaus), Verdi's Macbeth at the Royal Danish Opera, new productions of Rigoletto and Madama Butterfly at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Faust at the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden. Furthermore, he is a regular guest since 2001 at houses such as the Bayerische Staatsoper, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Semper Oper Dresden, the Finnish national Opera, then New National Theatre in Toyko, and Den Norske Opera, the Vlaamse opera, the Deutsche Opera am Rhein , the Oper Cologne, the Hamburg Staatsoper, the Teatro Municipale Santiago di Chile, the Boston Lyric opera, the Royal opera Stockholm, the Volksoper Wien, the opera de Marseilles.
On the concert platform, he is a regular guest with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (after his work with them at the Geneva Opera), the WDR Rundfunkorchester, Duisburger Philharmoniker, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de Montpellier, Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano, BBC Philharmonic, the RSO Wien.
Alexander Joel held the position of Generalmusikdirektor of the Staatstheater and Staatsorchester Braunschweig from 2007 to 2014 where he conducted most of the symphonic repertoire, with his emphasis being the Mahler Symphonies (Mahler’s Symphony No.1 available on CD at Corvello Classics) and the german/austrian repertoire- Bruckner, Brahms and Beethoven. In the opera field, he specialised in the core German repertoire with operas such as Salome, Lohengrin, Rosenkavalier, Tristan und Isolde and Parsifal,
Son of a British mother and a German father, Alexander Joel is a dual national who grew up in Vienna and London and was educated in Switzerland. After a brief spell of studying French and English Law at King's College in London, he moved back to Vienna to study piano at the Academy of Music, before completing his conducting studies at the Vienna Conservatory of Music with honours in 1996. He was a prize winner at the European Conducting Competition in Spoleto that same year. After various Kapellmeister positions in Baden, Klagenfurt and the Vienna Volksoper, Joel was First Kapellmeister at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein from 2001 to 2007.
Sunday, June 30 | 7:30PM
Featuring visually stunning imagery and groundbreaking special effects, the action-packed adventure of Jurassic Park pits man against prehistoric predators in the ultimate battle for survival. Experience it now, projected in HD with the Dallas Symphony performing John Williams’ iconic score live to picture.
PG-13 MOVIE
Saturday, July 6 | 6:00PM
The Fabulous Philadelphians evoke the vivid energy of youth through the magic of music, featuring Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, selections from Harry Potter, and Britten's beloved Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
Tuesday, July 30 | 7:30PM
Paddle-to-the-Sea, inspired by the classic children's book and Academy Award-nominated film, is a new score composed by Third Coast Percussion performed live with the film. The music interweaves an original score with music by Philip Glass, Jacob Druckman, and the Shona people of Zimbabwe to create a thrilling multimedia tribute to sun, Earth, and the shared waterways that connect us.
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Where are the orchestra concert performances held?
Bravo! Vail orchestral concerts take place at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater (GRFA) located at 530 S. Frontage Rd E Vail, CO 81657
What time do performances begin?
Concerts start promptly at 6:00PM (except for the movie screening which starts at 7:30PM). The GRFA lobby opens 90 minutes prior and gates open 60 minutes prior to performances. Give yourself plenty of time to park and get into the venue. Latecomers will be escorted by ushers at an appropriate interval.
Where do I park?
FREE concert parking is available at the Vail Parking Structure (241 South Frontage Road East, Vail) and the Lionshead Parking Structure (395 South Frontage Road West, Vail). A Town of Vail Special Event express bus provides continuous service from both parking structures to the GRFA before and after concerts. Limited $10 parking is available at Ford Park by the Tennis Center (500 South Frontage Rd). Additional $10 parking is available at the Vail Athletic/Soccer Field lot.
WALKING DIRECTIONS FROM THE VAIL VILLAGE PARKING STRUCTURE:
Via Gore Creek Trail: 15-minute scenic walk
1. Exit the parking garage by following the Pedestrian Exit signs towards “Vail Village” / “Golden Peak”
2. Turn left out of the parking garage onto East Meadow Drive and head east
3. At the end of the road turn right on Vail Valley Drive and cross the road
4. Turn left on the walking path before the bridge, following the street signs towards "Ford Park"
5. Continuing east, follow the walking path along Gore Creek until reaching the GRFA
Via Frontage Road: 15-minute walk
1. From the top level of the parking garage, exit onto the South Frontage Road
2. Turn right and follow the sidewalk east along the south side of the frontage road
3. Cross East Meadow Drive and continue east along the sidewalk
4. Turn right after passing The Wren at Vail on the right
5. Continue down the path down to the GRFA
How long do concerts last?
Concerts generally last 2 hours including intermission. Please call the box office 877.812.5700 for exact running times.
How do I buy tickets?
Tickets, passes, and gift certificates may be ordered in the following ways:
1. Online: bravovail.org
2. By phone: 877.812.5700
3. In person: Bravo! Vail 2271 N Frontage Rd W Suite C, Vail, CO 81657
Bravo! Vail accepts American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards, cash, and checks. There is a $2 fee per ticket. Tickets are delivered by mail or email,or may be picked up at the Box Office.
What are the Box Office hours?
Bravo! Vail Box Office hours are Monday-Friday from 9AM to 4PM. During the Festival, hours include Saturday & Sunday from 10AM to 4PM. The Bravo! Vail Box Office can be reached at 877.812.5700.
The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater box office is open from 11AM until concert start time (5PM on days with no concerts) during the Festival. Tickets for upcoming performances may be purchased on-site at the GRFA before concerts and during intermission.
Where is the Will Call window?
Will Call tickets may be picked up at the Box Office located to the right of the main GRFA entrance lobby. The Box Office is open 11AM to concert start time during the Festival.
Does Bravo! Vail offer group pricing?
Discounts for groups of 15 or more are available for select concerts. Please call 970.827.4316 for more information.
What if I buy tickets and cannot attend?
Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. You may release your tickets or leave them for a friend at Will Call by calling the Box Office.
What if I misplace or forget to bring my tickets?
There is no charge to reprint tickets. Please call 877.812.5700 before 3PM on the day of the performance or allow extra time to request new tickets at the Will Call window.
Where are seating options for people with disabilities?
Per the American Disability Act (ADA), the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater is accessible to individuals with disabilities. ADA seating is available in Section 1 Row L and Section 4 Row O in all reserved seating zones and prices (Premium Aisle, Premium, Reserved, and Saver). A limited number of ADA General Admission Lawn seats are available for sale behind Section 2. You must have a designated ADA lawn seat ticket to sit in this area. By purchasing an ADA seat, you are stating that you require an ADA seat. If purchased fraudulently, you may be subject to relocation. If you need assistance purchasing ADA seating, please call the Box Office at 877.812.5700.
What if it rains?
Concerts take place rain or shine. The GRFA is an open-air venue. Refunds are not given due to weather unless a concert is canceled in its entirety with no performance rescheduled.
What should I wear?
There is no dress code for concerts. Please be prepared for rain and cooler temperatures.
What should I bring to the concert?
If you will be on the lawn, a blanket, sunglasses, and a hat are recommended. If rain is predicted, please bring appropriate rain gear. Food, commercially sealed non-alcoholic beverages, low-profile lawn chairs, and umbrellas are permitted at concerts. All backpacks, bags, purses, picnic baskets, and coolers will be checked upon entry.
The following articles are not allowed at the venue: cameras, audio/video recording devices, standard-height lawn chairs, baby strollers, alcoholic beverages, firearms, pets, smoking, skateboards, bicycles, scooters, and skates.
What food and beverages are available for purchase at the GRFA?
Concessions are offered for purchase inside the venue. Menu items include snacks, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. A full bar is also available. All major credit cards and cash are accepted for payment. If you have a pavilion seat, please eat prior to the concert or at intermission.
Are lawn chairs available to rent?
Low-profile lawn chairs are available at the GRFA to rent for $10. You may also rent a lawn chair with your lawn ticket purchase online or by calling the Bravo! Vail Box Office at 877.812.5700. To reserve a lawn chair in advance, please email ticketing@bravovail.org
What are some general rules of concert etiquette?
Please allow time for parking and seating. Concert attendees must silence all mobile devices prior to performances to not disrupt musicians and other patrons. Please limit conversations and other noisy activities during the performance. In the pavilion seating, we recommend eating prior to the concert or at intermission. Parental supervision is required for all children attending Bravo! Vail concerts.
What else should I know?
Vail’s high elevation requires adequate hydration and sun protection. Visitors from lower elevations may experience altitude sickness.
What if I lose something at the concert?
Check with the GRFA box office for lost items at intermission or call 970.748.8497.
What if I still have questions?