Waterfront Concert and Festival

Oregon Symphony’s Waterfront Concert and Festival, the free, family-friendly event, returns on Saturday, September 3 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park for an all-day celebration full of music! The concert features a variety of music from outstanding local artists and a robust musical program performed by the Oregon Symphony.

The evening's concert includes a variety of music, from pieces featured in popular films (John Williams’ “Flying Theme” from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and the main theme from the epic film The Mission) to masterworks from iconic composers (Mozart, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky) and pieces that provide a window to other cultures (Ginastera’s “Four Dances” from Estancia and Sibelius’s Finlandia). It will also include a performance of “O Soave fanciulla” from Puccini’s La Bohème featuring Portland Opera vocalists: Soprano Vanessa Isiguen and Tenor Anthony Kalil. The concert culminates with the Oregon Symphony performing Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, complete with cannon fire from the Oregon Army National Guard.

The free festival begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland with performances from local artists and community partners such as Portland Taiko, MYSfits, vocalist Alonzo Chadwick and Zoulful, blues and gospel vocalist LaRhonda Steele, Jan Michael Looking Wolf with Indigenous flutists and Orquestra Pacifico Tropical, who will perform the music of Central and South America. The Oregon Symphony concert follows starting at 7:00pm.

Program

Mozart: Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio
Sibelius: Finlandia
Barber: Adagio for Strings
Puccini: “O Soave fanciulla” from La Bohème
Ginastera: Four Dances from Estancia
Hailstork: Celebration
Morricone/Mancini: The Mission:  Gabriel’s Oboe
Williams: Flying Theme from E.T. [40^th Anniversary]
Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 1, G minor
Tchaikovsky: Overture 1812

Read Program Listing

Artists

Oregon Symphony
Portland Taiko
MYSfits
Alonzo Chadwick and Zoulful
LaRhonda Steele
Jan Michael Looking Wolf
Orquestra Pacifico Tropical
Joe Powers & Courtney Von Drehle

This year’s concert and festival will again feature jumbotron screens to enhance the concert-viewing experience. Concertgoers are asked to bring only low-profile chairs or blankets for seating to preserve sight lines for those behind them. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in Tom McCall Waterfront Park pursuant to the Oregon Symphony’s permit with the City of Portland. There are no current state or local COVID-19 regulations regarding entry to this outdoor event, therefore proof of full vaccination or negative COVID test or wearing a mask are not required. We ask that everyone be respectful of and considerate to all event goers.