Alfred Savia Reflects on More Than Three Decades of Star-Spangled Symphony
For more than 35 years, Alfred Savia has stood before the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra to lead Star-Spangled Symphony, helping make the annual Fourth of July concerts one of Central Indiana’s most beloved summer traditions. Having conducted the performances since 1990, missing only a handful over the years, Savia has watched the event grow into a celebration that combines patriotic music, theatrical moments, and a spectacular fireworks finale.
“What makes the ISO’s celebration of the Fourth of July holiday so unique is the combination of music and spectacle,” Savia says.
Over the years, the concert has evolved to include Civil War re-enactors marching through the audience during music from Gettysburg, Revolutionary War re-enactors accompanying John Williams’ score from The Patriot, featured guest soloists, the 1812 Overture complete with live cannons, and fireworks synchronized to three Sousa marches. Together, those traditions have created an experience Savia believes is unlike any other.
“All that plus our diverse soloists, the 1812 Overture with a fantastic cello section and our live cannons, not to mention the fireworks set to three Sousa marches, makes this possibly the best orchestral Independence Day celebration in the country!”
Even after conducting the program for decades, each performance still offers something to look forward to. This year, Savia is especially excited to welcome the Indianapolis Opera Chorus to the production. As Principal Conductor of the Indianapolis Opera, he has worked with the professional chorus for years and is eager to share them with Kroger Symphony on the Prairie audiences.
“I can’t wait for the audience’s response to the stirring settings of ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ and ‘America the Beautiful’ for chorus and orchestra,” he says.
Looking back on his favorite memories, Savia says there is one that has stayed with him since his earliest years conducting the concerts. While seeing the enthusiastic crowd gathered to celebrate each summer is always a highlight, one particular moment stands above the rest.
“The first time we came to the final part of the concert with Irving Berlin’s ‘God Bless America,’ seeing and hearing the crowd spontaneously stand and join in with the orchestra was certainly a favorite memory.”
It is that sense of shared celebration that continues to make Star-Spangled Symphony a special tradition year after year, bringing thousands of people together to celebrate Independence Day through music.