Dusk Variations: Portland Cello Project August 2, 2010

Dusk Variations returns to the stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park this summer. Mixing pop and alternative genres with classical music, this series of four free concerts will take place on Monday nights in August (August 2, 9, 16 and 23 at 6:30 PM). Dusk Variations is presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Millennium Park, with support from WBEZ Radio and vocalo.org. Back for a second season, Dusk Variations mixes electronica, folk, rock and the avant-garde with classical sounds challenging listeners’ perceptions and exploring ways that popular and alternative music influences classical musicians and composers.

Formed in late 2007, this indie-cello orchestra has had a meteoric rise in Portland’s vibrant music scene. “Portland Cello Project is a rotating cast of classically trained cellists known for mixing Salt ‘n’ Pepa with Bach and providing the lush backdrop for some of indie rock’s most compelling voices,” said Spin Magazine. The group has a strong community focused approach and aims to increase accessibility to international audiences. Whether playing a symphony hall or a local punk club, the Portland Cello Project continues to cross the popular-classical divide by collaborating with a veritable who’s who of local musicians across different genres. In Millennium Park, we’ll see six cellos on the stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, under the musical stewardship of Douglas Jenkins.
 
For more about the artists:

Official Website: http://www.millenniumpark.org/parkevents/event.aspx?id=1137