CHAUTAUQUA - This summer, Chautauqua Institution offers a lineup of popular entertainment designed for music lovers of every generation, featuring the best in rock 'n' roll, country, jazz and classical music. Artists confirmed for the 2012 season include world-renowned jazz singer Diana Krall, four-time Grammy winner k.d. lang, country superstar Vince Gill, a capella sensation Straight No Chaser and the legendary voice of Supertramp, Roger Hodgson.
Single tickets for the 2012 Chautauqua Amphitheater concert series go on sale Monday.
The summer kicks off June 23, with Under the Streetlamp, one of America's hottest new vocal groups, presenting an evening of classic hits from the American radio songbook. These recent leading cast members of the Tony-winning musical "The Jersey Boys" deliver the best of Doo-Wop, Motown, and old-time rock 'n' roll. Watch for the group's first televised concert premiering this month on PBS.
Jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall - set to perform at Chautauqua July 6 - has become the toast of the international jazz scene since the release of her 1993 debut album Steppin' Out. The Grammy-winning artist is known for her relaxed and intimate singing style through her interpretation of jazz standards, original works with husband Elvis Costello and her 2009 bossa nova album Quiet Nights.
The nation's finest young musicians are in the spotlight on July 20, as the Chautauqua Amphitheater becomes the site for a livetaping of National Public Radio's "From The Top." Hosted by Christopher O'Riley, the program shares the stories and performances of pre-collegiate musicians ages 8 to 18 with millions each week and is broadcast on more than 200 stations around the United States.
Four-time Grammy Award winner k.d. lang, who helped define the alt-country music scene in the late 1980s, brings her unique blend of country-rock styling and playfully punk-like attitude to the Chautauqua stage on Aug. 10. Over the years she has expanded her celebrated singing style to pop, jazz and Brazilian, collaborating with Roy Orbison, Tony Bennett, Elton John, Anne Murray and Bonnie Raitt, among others.
Returning to Chautauqua on Aug. 17 is one of the most successful artists in the history of country music. Singer, songwriter, producer and TV host Vince Gill has sold more than 26 million albums worldwide and was recently received his 41st career Grammy nomination.
Straight No Chaser's performance was widely considered one of the highlights of the 2011 concert series at Chautauqua, and the male a cappella ensemble is thrilled to return to the amphitheater this summer on Aug. 24. The group was originally formed over a dozen years ago while students together at Indiana University. Since then, the ensemble has reemerged as a phenomenon with a massive fan base, more than 25 million views on YouTube, numerous national TV appearances and sold-out concerts across the country.
Roger Hodgson, the legendary voice of Supertramp and composer of most of the band's greatest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "Breakfast in America," closes Chautauqua's concert series on Aug. 25. This is Hodgson's first solo U.S. tour in 30 years.
Other Friday night concerts scheduled for the 2012 Season include The Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap on June 29; Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Peter, Paul and Mary on July 27; and The Temptations and The Four Tops on Aug. 3. The concert for July 13 has yet to be announced.
Every summer, Chautauqua Institution also provides free anddiscounted programming in the amphitheater designed to give greater access to the community at large. Two evening concerts each week are designated Community Appreciation Nights with a single ticket price of $18. These evenings, which represent a cross-section of the Institution's programming, include performances by the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, the Music School Festival Orchestra, popular entertainers in a variety of musical genres, and family entertainment.
Sundays are always free at Chautauqua, including admission to the grounds and an afternoon musical performance in the amphitheater. Sunday concerts this summer include the U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers' Chorus and the Brass Band of the Western Reserve.
Popular entertainment concerts in Chautauqua's amphitheater fill on a first-come (festival seating) basis. Guaranteed floor seating is available for select events for an additional $15 fee. To learn more about the 2012 Chautauqua Season, including morning and afternoon lectures, theater and opera performances, and concerts by the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, please visit www.ciweb.org.
To order your tickets, contact the Chautauqua Institution Box Office at 357-6250 or visit chqtickets.com. Tickets can also be purchased in person 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Main Gate Welcome Center.
