Currents & Crescendos

Water has a music all its own — the gentle trickle of a stream, the steady movement of a river, the shimmer of a fountain, and the breathtaking rush of flowing currents. In Music of Rivers, Streams and Fountains, guests will enjoy an accessible, entertaining journey through music inspired by one of nature’s most powerful and poetic forces.

Designed for the average music listener as well as longtime music lovers, this program brings each selection to life through engaging introductions, composer backstories, performance clips, and visual imagery. You’ll hear how Beethoven imitated the peaceful ripple of a brook in the second movement of his beloved Pastorale Symphony, and how Schubert’s playful song "The Trout" uses the piano to suggest bubbling water beneath a fisherman’s story. Smetana’s famous orchestral work "The Moldau" follows two small mountain streams as they join to become a mighty river, carrying listeners through one of classical music’s most vivid musical landscapes.

The program also explores the beauty of fountains — those human-made wonders that bring the movement of water into parks, gardens, and public spaces. Respighi’s colorful orchestral suite captures the brilliance of Rome’s famous fountains, while Liszt’s dazzling piano music evokes the sparkling waters of the Villa d’Este. And in a warm, unexpected finale, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Ripplin’ Waters” connects the gentle flow of water with love, memory, and family.

About the Speaker: A native of Los Angeles, Marc Shulgold was a music journalist at the Los Angeles Times, and for the Rocky Mountain News. He taught music history at the University of Denver's adult enrichment program for over 20 years and is a contributor to Opera Magazine among other publications. Marc is a program annotator for University of Colorado concerts and a longtime speaker at the Vail summertime music festival.

Ticket price for the Music & Nature series is $10 - proceeds benefit conservation, park enhancement, and nature education in Geauga County through the Foundation for Geauga Parks.

This series is included in the Foundation for Geauga Parks Membership Program:

-Friend level receives 20% off.

-Member level participants may attend free.

-Member Plus level participants receive one free ticket AND a free ticket for a friend attending with you.

MEMBERS: Make sure you're logged into the website and when you enter your information and select your tickets, the membership option you chose will be applied.

If the event is canceled or postponed, registered attendees will be notified promptly and we will make every effort to reschedule. Unless otherwise noted, registrations and ticket purchases are nonrefundable.