thursday, July 2, 6:00pm

Michael Stern, conductor (bio)

Maurice Ravel Mother Goose: Suite

Aaron Copland Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes

Igor Stravinsky The Firebird: Suite

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Concert will be followed by a drone show at 9:00pm on the Riverwalk Lawn.

“Folklore and Fable” invites audiences into a world where storytelling and symphonic color intertwine, revealing how legends, fairy tales, and frontier myths continue to shape our musical imagination. Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite shimmers with delicate textures and pastel hues, each movement unfolding like a storybook illustration brought gently to life. Copland’s Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes shifts the scene to the American West, brimming with rustic charm, open-air vitality, and the unmistakable snap of “Hoe-Down.” Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite crowns the evening with elemental force, rising from shadowy enchantment to blazing triumph, its brilliant orchestration conjuring magic, menace, and redemption in a vivid, unforgettable sound. 

FEATURED PHOTO BY ANDREW MAGUIRE

This year, the NRO is proud to partner with local photographers whose work embodies the theme “American Adventures.” Andrew Maguire is a Breckenridge, Colorado–based photographer and director known for crafting cinematic, human-centered stories rooted in the outdoor lifestyle. Blending Detroit grit with Rocky Mountain spirit, his work celebrates authentic connection, adventure, and the real people who move through wild places with purpose.