The Pops park along the great outdoors

For 37 years it's been a summertime tradition in Cincinnati: freeCONCERTS IN THE PARK by the CINCINNATI POPS. On four consecutive evenings at 7:30, Maestro ERICHKUNZEL will present pleasant tunes and voices -- singers MARY ELIZABETH SOUTHWORTH and DAVID WHITESEL -- at some of our region's most popular greenspaces. On Aug. 27 the program is at Northern Kentucky University; for the 28th, it's Miami Whitewater Forest; they'll be downtown at Sawyer Point on Aug. 29, with Rozzi's Famous Fireworks. And to wrap it up, Kunzel and the musicians return to the CINCINNATI ZOO for the first time in more than two decades. The Zoo is offering free parking and free admission on Aug. 30, beginning at 5 p.m. The Zoo's Pavilion has 2,500 seats; overflow seating will be in the lawn area. Coolers and lawn chairs are not allowed at the Zoo, but the concession stands will be open. Info: 513-381-3300. ...

If you think the Zoo might be too crowded on Aug. 30, you have another choice: The KENTUCKY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA offers a free concert of its own at Covington's Devou Park Amphi-theater the same evening at 7:30 p.m. The KSO will present Simply Sinatra, a tribute to the timeless vocalist, featuring singer JOHN VINCENT. With Music Director JAMES R.CASSIDY conducting, the KSO will run through a program of familiar tunes including "Come Fly With Me," "Luck Be a Lady," "It Was a Very Good Year," "My Way," "Strangers in the Night" and "Young at Heart." Parking is free, but if you want to avoid the traffic TANK will offer free shuttles for concertgoers from the Notre Dame Academy parking lot, starting at 6 p.m. And south of the river, it's a bit more customer-friendly: The publicity says, "Blankets, lawn chairs and picnics are welcome." If it rains, by the way, the concert moves indoors -- to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Info: 859-431-6216 or www.kyso. org ...

The CINCINNATI OPERA's summer season was another strong one, with total attendance reaching 28,158: La Traviata was the box-office winner, playing to virtually sold-out houses (98 percent capacity). Verdi's popular opera attracted 2,532 people who had never before attended a performance by the Cincinnati Opera.