Tony Bennett and Wynonna Judd will appear this summer with the San Diego Symphony at the Bayside Summer Nights, organizers announced Monday.
Also coming are “Hamilton” and Tony Award-winner Leslie Odom Jr.; Brazilian artist Sergio Mendes; Grammy Award-winning Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo; and films accompanied by live orchestra — “La La Land,” “Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets” and “E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial.”
Bennett, 90, will perform July 12, and Judd, 52, will perform with her country band The Big Noise before the Big Bay Boom fireworks show July 4.
The symphony’s long-running summer concert series is at Embarcadero Marina Park South, beginning with the patriotic Star Spangled Pops on June 30, July 1 and 2, and concluding with the 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular on Sept. 1, 2 and 3.
Formerly known as Summer Pops, the 10-week Bayside Summer Nights season provides a variety of musical offerings – from popular tunes to light classical to movie entertainment.
“Last year’s Bayside Summer Nights was our most successful summer season on record,” said CEO Martha Gilmer. “Bringing some of the greatest artists of today to perform with our extraordinary orchestra musicians makes this a unique musical festival here in San Diego.”
Single ticket prices range from $18 to $91. Special concert prices range from $25 to $100. Pre-paid parking is $25, and subscribers will reserve first with their orders. Box Office is 619-235-0804.
Sunday, July 16, is the second annual “Community Day,” featuring some of the region’s best musicians and culminating in a free performance by the San Diego Symphony.
On Thursday, Aug. 31, the symphony will perform its annual free concert for military families.
Concert-goers may bring picnics for the lawn seating section or take advantage of the tableside food service offered in the Champagne seating section by Behind The Scenes – a catering and events company with a client list that includes the Olympic Games, ESPN X Games and the NFL Super Bowl.
Thursday Night Jazz
In its second year, the Symphony’s popular Jazz Series, Thursday Night Jazz, is back with a wide range of styles. This three-concert series begins on July 27 with New Orleans Jazz and a salute to the birthplace of American jazz and the many masters who forged it on Bourbon Street and beyond.
On Aug. 10 is Latin Jazz Masters. The series concludes Thursday, Aug. 24, when John Beasley presents MONK’estra, the tribute big band covering Thelonious Monk.
Movies by the Bay
The San Diego Symphony’s multiyear Harry Potter Film Concerts project continues as audiences relive the magic of the phenomenal Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets™ on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 on giant screens while hearing the orchestra perform John Williams’ unforgettable score.
On Friday, August 11, Steven Spielberg’s family classic E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial will be shown on the big screen while the orchestra performs the entire Academy Award-winning score live.
Then, on Saturday, August 12, the winner of six Academy Awards® including Best Original Score and Best Original Song, La La Land will be screened with the orchestra and jazz musicians performing live.
New Sunday Classic and World Celebration Series
Supplementing the existing subscription series, a new three-concert series is being offered and is perfect for those who love hearing the classics or looking to have some fun sampling the sounds of the world. The Sunday Classic Series includes the Star Spangled Pops (July 2), Boléro By the Bay (August 20) – the ultimate classical pops experience of Beethoven’s famous Symphony No. 5 – and on the final Sunday of the season, the 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular (September 3).
The Sunday World Celebration Series will explore the 1960s bossa-nova master Sergio Mendes (August 6), Benin’s Angélique Kidjo (August 13) and a special Latin artist to be announced (August 27). The Sunday Sunset Series will now be all six of these Sunday concerts.
All Bayside Summer Nights concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted; gates open at 6 p.m. Fireworks happen at the conclusion of all Friday and Saturday night concerts—and also on Sunday nights at the Star Spangled Pops and 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular.
