Punta Gorda Symphony: Strings in the Garden March 14

After four successful outdoor concerts in December and February, select Punta Gorda Symphony musicians will perform newly added chamber concerts at two new locations in Punta Gorda: Strings in the Garden: Baroque + Beatles + Wine at Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens on March 14 and Harborside Brass at Four Points by Sheraton on April 11.
“Our February concerts were entirely sold out and audiences gave us two standing ovations – they keep asking us for more,” says executive director Craig Badinger.
After months of navigating the pandemic, the community has been starved for live cultural entertainment. Punta Gorda Symphony plans to meet the demand and continue its safe, outdoor, and socially-distanced live concert arrangements guided by CDC recommendations.
“We’re continuing to offer different concert times to accommodate as many patrons as possible, but due to limited capacity, we advise all interested patrons to act now – tickets are selling fast” says Badinger. Tickets are $30 and are on sale online for all concerts (11 a.m., 2 and 5 p.m.). Punta Gorda Symphony also offers a special youth and student ticket price available through the office.
Strings in the Garden: Baroque + Beatles + Wine on March 14 will feature a trio of violin, cello, and piano led by Punta Gorda Symphony’s Concertmaster Ming Gao. Attendees will have the option to purchase wine and beverages at the gardens and to enjoy discounted entry to the full gardens experience.
Expect everything from a rendition of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons: Summer to Ming Gao’s own arrangement of “Beatles Mania: A Celebration Medley.” The program will also feature arrangements of Led Zeppelin hits and rock staples “Kashmir” and “Stairway to Heaven.” Other contrasting works like “Oblivion” by Argentine tango composer will transport audiences from the rock halls to the deep undercurrents of Buenos Aires in the 1980s.
Concerts will be limited to socially-distanced audiences of 150, and will follow standard COVID-related health and safety guidelines. All patrons are required to wear a mask upon arrival and throughout the duration of the concert apart from drinking or eating refreshments within a patron’s own seating area.
Advanced ticketing is required for Strings in the Garden and Harborside Brass. For more information and tickets, visit www.PGSymphony.org, or call the office at 941-205-5996.