City: Atlanta, GA

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (404) 733-5000

Address: 1280 Peachtree St. NE

Description: Since its first concerts in 1945, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) grew from an inspired group of high school music students into a major orchestra with an international reputation. Since the 1976 release of its first commercial recording, the ASO’s work has earned 14 Grammy Awards. The orchestra’s renown grew steadily under the leadership of Robert Shaw, who passed the baton to Yoel Levi in 1988 after 21 years as music director. In 2000, Robert Spano, music director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, was named to replace Levi, and Donald Runnicles, music director ofthe San Francisco Opera, was named principal guest conductor. In 2008, Spano was named Musical America Conductor of the Year. The ASO has commissioned and premiered works by Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Philip Glass, and Gian Carlo Menotti. In 1994 the Pointer Sisters headlined the ASO’s Gospel Christmas concerts, which were taped and broadcast nationally on PBS. The regular ASO season runs from September to May. The festive summer series, inaugurated in 1972, takes place under the stars in the 6,000-seat amphitheater at Chastain Park in Buckhead. This very popular series, attracting more than 150,000 patrons, has grown to include 30 concerts headlined by famous pop and country stars. All shows feature reserved tables for picnicking in style. In 2008 the Atlanta Symphony celebrated its 35th season at Chastain. Also during the summer, watch for the orchestra’s free concerts in Piedmont and other city parks. Here you’ll find tens of thousands of Atlantans lounging on blankets amid flickering candles, transported by the magic of music as the heat of the day breaks and the evening cool sweeps through the park. A variety of full- and partial-season subscription packages is offered; call the Season Ticket Office, (404) 733-4800. For tickets to orchestra concerts, call (404) 733-5000 or visit the High Museum Shop in Perimeter Mall, 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. NE (a service charge applies). Ticket prices for individual concerts range from $15 to $90 but are reduced for family concerts and youth orchestra concerts. Public sneak preview rehearsals are held before the opening of six regular season concerts. These previews are given in Symphony Hall on the Thursday morning before the program’s Thursday night premiere.