Arts Beat: History, art accompany return of ‘Hamilton’ to Hartford

Hamilton Summer, a collaboration between The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Connecticut Historical Society and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art will bring a summer of revolutionary experiences to Hartford, providing varying perspectives on the era of the American Revolution and its contemporary retelling through the prism of the award-winning musical “Hamilton.” This month marks the launch of these experiences, with the exhibition “Hamilton Heroes and Villains” now open at the Connecticut Historical Society. It will be followed next month by the return of “Hamilton” to The Bushnell on June 22, and the opening of the exhibition “Hamilton: The Art of Remaking History” on June 24 at the Wadsworth. For details on the Connecticut Historical Society: www.chs.org. For details on the Wadsworth Atheneum: www.thewadsworth.org. For details on “Hamilton” at The Bushnell www.bushnell.org.

Kevin Rhodes, former Springfield Symphony Orchestra maestro, has been named chief conductor of Bratislava’s Slovakian National Opera SND. Next season, productions for Rhodes will include a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen” and important revivals of “Turandot” and “Aida,” in addition to productions of “Giselle,” “La Fille mal Gardée,” and “Swan Lake” with the ballet. Rhodes returns to Springfield on July 23 to conduct MOSSO, the Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, on a program that includes violinist Yevgeny Kutik. For details: www.springfieldsymhonymusicians.com.

Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s Talcott Mountain Music Festival will bring the orchestra outdoors for a series of summer concerts in Simsbury, Connecticut. The series opens July 1 (rain date July 2) with Maestra Carolyn Kuan conducting “Celebrate America!” — fireworks included. Adam Boyles conducts the HSO in “Summer of ‘69″ (July 8, rain or shine), a tribute to music from Woodstock. Boyles conducts a “Paul Simon Songbook” on July 15 (rain or shine), followed by “The Music of Billy Joel” with Broadway’s Michael Cavanaugh on July 22 (rain or shine). The season ends with Tong Chen conducting “Queens of Soul” on July 29 (rain date July 30). It’s an evening featuring vocalists singing the hits made famous by the reigning divas of soul and R&B such as Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, Adele and more. For details: www.hartfordsymphony.org.