IN A LANDSCAPE

Laurelhurst Park was once part of Hazel Fern Farm, a 486-acre estate owned by William S. Ladd, a two-time Portland mayor and the developer of Ladd’s Addition. Known for his prized Jersey cattle, Ladd played a role in shaping Oregon’s early livestock industry before the land was sold for residential development as East Portland grew.

The IN A LANDSCAPE concert takes place on the open lawn near Firwood Lake, with listeners free to settle in or move through the surrounding paths during the performance.

In 1911, the City of Portland purchased 32 acres of the property, including a spring-fed pond, and established Laurelhurst Park as a public green space. Designed in 1912 by park superintendent Emanuel Mische in the naturalistic style associated with the Olmsted Brothers, the park features Firwood Lake, open meadows, picnic areas, and walking paths. A recognized example of the City Beautiful Movement, Laurelhurst Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

For the 11th season, IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild tours the American West. Mountain tops, old-growth forests, and sunny meadows replace the traditional concert hall in the series featuring pianist Hunter Noack on a 9-foot Steinway concert grand piano. Listen through wireless headphones and wander afield with the music as a soundtrack to your experience in the wild.