Pictures At An Exhibition: The Painting of Bob Peak

Experience “Pictures at an Exhibition: The Paintings of Bob Peak” at the Redlands Bowl Fireworks Finale

We’re bringing Pictures at an Exhibition: The Paintings of Bob Peak to the legendary Redlands Bowl as the grand Fireworks Finale of its 102nd summer season. This historic venue — the longest-running summer music festival in America — has hosted world-class performances since 1924. Now, we’re adding a night of music, art, and celebration to that legacy.

This performance marks only the second-ever presentation of this monumental new concert work, co-produced and commissioned by Abu Dhabi Festival and Robert Townson Productions. After a stunning world premiere at Walt Disney Concert Hall with Leonard Slatkin and the Los Angeles Film Orchestra, the piece now arrives in Redlands.

Conducted by Ransom Wilson and performed by the Redlands Symphony Orchestra, this bold orchestral work explores the imagination of iconic American illustrator Bob Peak. Each movement is inspired by one of Peak’s paintings — from cinematic epics to intimate portraits — reimagined through a powerful new musical narrative.

Join us under the open sky for an unforgettable evening of symphonic storytelling and visual inspiration.

Mark your calendars. Bring your family. Celebrate the power of music and art.

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Legendary artist Bob Peak was considered the artist and also the artist that other artists wanted to be, during the1960s, 70s and 80s.  He re-defined the language and reshaped the face of illustration while ushering in a bold new look for commercial art in the fast-paced postwar era.  He revolutionized advertising in the film industry by transforming the approach to movie advertising from basic collages of film stills or head shots to flamboyant artistic illustrations. His innovative solution – painting characters and scenes into a single montage-became the first of over 100 such posters, among them "West Side Story", "My Fair Lady," "Camelot," "Rollerball," "Star Trek," "Superman" and" Apocalypse Now." Peak also did work on editorial assignments with 45covers of Time Magazine featuring his illustrations – most notably the portrait of Mother Teresa. In 1961 Peak was named Artist of the Year by the Artists Guild of New York, and in 1977 the Society of Illustrators elected him to its Hall of Fame. Peak received the largest commission ever from the U.S. Postal Service for the 1985 Olympic Games.  For his 30 years of outstanding contribution to the film industry, the Hollywood Reporter presented him the1992 Key Art Lifetime Achievement Award. His work hangs in many permanent collections including the Smithsonian Institution and the Society of Illustrators.

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Part One: Bob Peak in Hollywood

Before we turn to the gallery walls, we’ll visit the silver screen. The first half of the concert is a sweeping tribute to Bob Peak’s iconic work in cinema — the posters thatdefined an era. From My Fair Lady to Star Trek, from Camelot to Apocalypse Now, we'll bring to life a series of unforgettable themes from the films Peak helped etch into American culture and imagination.

Part Two: Pictures at an Exhibition – The Paintings of Bob Peak

Then, the concert’s second half offers a musical exhibition: ten newly composed works inspired by ten different Bob Peak paintings.

Movements &Composers:

Maria Newman – Rhapsody for a Golden     Age: 1937 Academy Players Directory

Mychael Danna – Mother Teresa of     Calcutta

Harry Gregson-Williams – Two Girls with     Sparklers, 1970

Ihab Darwish – Curva Grande, Fastest     Corners in Car Racing, 1970

Jeff Beal – New York World’s Fair,     1964–65

Marco Beltrami – The Spirit of Sport:     Jack Nicklaus, Special Olympics 15th Anniversary, 1983

Michael Abels – Unbound: Jesse Owens,     1936 Berlin Olympics

Marc Shaiman – A Song About Audrey

Don Davis – Golden Eagles, 1978

Bill Conti – The Great Bridge: 100th     Anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge, 1983