Happy 125th Birthday, Boston Pops!
May 6, 2010
The Boston Pops opens 125th season on May 4, with concert focusing on the distinctive contributions of its most famous conductors, Arthur Fiedler, John Williams and Keith Lockhart.
Symphony Hall, festively decorated for the occasion, to welcome guests with red carpeted entry and special arrivals by Keith Lockhart and Peter Fielder in a vintage firetruck.
In honor of Arthur Fiedler, a legendary fire buff during his 50-year tenure as conductor of the pops, 1930-79
Actors in period dress portray Henry Lee Higginson (Pops Founder) and Isabella Stweart Gardner, two notables from the first pops concert over a century ago.
CONCERT FEATURES BROADWAY STAR IDINA MENZEL AND TRUMPET ICON DOC SEVERINSEN, AS WELL AS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND SING-ALONG, WITH ORCHESTRATED BEATLES
SONGS SET TO IMAGES FROM THE POPULAR VIDEO GAME
On May 4, 2010 at 8 p.m., Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops open the orchestra’s landmark 125th anniversary season with a gala three-part program honoring the distinctive legacies of its most famous conductors – Mr. Lockhart, John Williams, and Arthur Fiedler. The concert, which features guest soloists Broadway sensation Idina Menzel (Wicked, Rent), legendary trumpeter Doc Severinsen (“The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”), and pianist Michael Chertock, an artist who’s work Keith Lockhart has championed throughout his 15-year tenure with the Pops, celebrates the orchestra’s rich tradition of performing an innovative blend of great music, from beloved classics to cutting-edge contemporary favorites.
PRE-CONCERT ENTERTAINMENT AND RECEPTION
Symphony Hall will be festively transformed for the evening, with giant balloon arches at the main entrance, a huge “125” on top of the marquee to commemorate the anniversary milestone, accent lighting on the exterior of the building to illuminate Symphony Hall’s distinctive architecture and a special red carpet leading from the Massachusetts Avenue sidewalk up the stairway to the main lobby. Horse-drawn carriages will arrive with actors in period dress portraying two of the notables from the very first Pops concert over a century ago, Isabella Stewart Gardner and Boston Pops Orchestra founder Major Henry Lee Higginson. Keith Lockhart and Peter Fiedler, son of conductor Arthur Fiedler, will make a grand entrance from an antique fire truck reminiscent of the legendary maestro’s early days with the orchestra. The evening also includes a celebratory pre-concert reception throughout the hall.
PROGRAM DETAILS
The concert’s opening highlights the extraordinary legacy of Arthur Fiedler (Pops Conductor 1930-79), the Pops’ legendary maestro for nearly half a century. One of the most beloved figures in Boston music history, he put the Pops on the map beginning in the 1930s and elevated the orchestra into a treasured national institution celebrated for its groundbreaking embrace of both classical and popular music. For this tribute, pianist Michael Chertock joins Keith Lockhart and the orchestra for a performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.
The program continues under the direction of Keith Lockhart with a series of musical selections that showcase the distinctive contributions of conductor/composer John Williams (Pops Conductor, 1980-93). Mr. Williams is one of America’s most accomplished and successful composers for film, and this section of the concert features the orchestra in some of the special arrangements focusing on the great movie scores he has brought to life for Pops audiences. The inimitable Doc Severinsen, the longtime trumpeter, bandleader, and irreverent sidekick on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” makes a special appearance. He is one of the very few performers to have collaborated with all three of the evening’s tribute conductors.
Keith Lockhart (Pops Conductor 1994-present) leads the program’s grand finale, which highlights the Pops’ present-day accomplishments and provides a lighthearted glimpse into what the future may hold for “America’s Orchestra.” Multiple Tony Award-winning actress/vocalist Idina Menzel, featured this spring in new episodes of the hit TV show “Glee!,” is the soloist for this portion of the program. The Broadway powerhouse sings hits from two of her most famous shows, Rent and Wicked, as well as songs from her album I Stand.
The Opening Night concert also features the world premiere of The Beatles: Rock Band Sing-Along. Produced in collaboration with videogame development company Harmonix Music (producers of the wildly popular game The Beatles: Rock Band), their parent company, MTV, and the Beatles’ record label, Apple Records, “The Beatles: Rock Band Sing-Along” is a fully orchestrated audience sing along featuring some of The Beatles’ iconic songs synched to the groundbreaking game design projected above the orchestra on the Pops’ 44-foot-wide screen. The Beatles: Rock Band Sing-Along connects past to present in that Arthur Fiedler was among the first to recognize the incredible musical force the Beatles would become when he arranged, programmed (around 1964), and recorded “The Boston Pops Plays the Beatles” in 1969, including “Hey Jude,” “Eleanor Rigby,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” and more.
Photos, video, artist bios, and a Boston Pops 125 timeline and history are available at www.bostonpops.org/presskit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF 125TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
The 125th anniversary season of the Boston Pops celebrate the orchestra’s incredibly rich tradition of performing the great music of this country’s past and present. The season opens on May 4 with a gala concert featuring multiple Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel and the inimitable Doc Severinsen, who holds the distinction of having performed under the batons of Arthur Fiedler, John Williams, and Keith Lockhart—a perfect addition to a program honoring the artistic vision of the three most famous Boston Pops conductors. In addition to the world premiere of the new work in honor of the Kennedy brothers, the season will mark the 10th anniversary of the popular radio and TV show “From the Top,” focus on esteemed artists from the fields of jazz, musical theater, and pop, including Dave Brubeck, Kelli O’Hara, and Maureen McGovern, and honor the legacies of such musical titans as Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and Rodgers and Hammerstein. Daniel Bernard Roumain, who in concert melds his classical music roots with his own Haitian-American cultural references and vibrant musical imagination, and Ozomatli , the multi-Grammy award-winning, genre-defying sensation, join the orchestra for programs that continue the Pops tradition of focusing on the best and brightest new talent on the musical scene today. Returning to the Pops schedule is the legendary film music series under the direction of John Williams, this year marking his 30th anniversary with the Pops, and one of the newest Pops traditions, Gospel Night with Charles Floyd. To bring the 125th season to a close in June, the Boston Pops will present one of this country’s greatest living legends—the incomparable Arlo Guthrie. Other highlights include A Boston Pops 125th documentary, entitled America’s Orchestra: Celebrating 125 years of the Boston Pops to air on PBS in the spring, and a national contest trough Twitter, Facebook, and mobile phone text messages for a family of four to win a trip to Boston’s famous Fourth-of-July celebration, details of which are available at bostonpops.org/125.
BACKGROUND ON THE BOSTON POPS
Celebrating its 125th anniversary this spring, May 4-June 19, the Boston Pops Orchestra has distinguished itself as the founder of and leader in its genre, presenting the best of a wide variety of music from jazz to pop, indie rock to big band, film music to the great American songbook, and Broadway to classical. Affectionately know as “America’s Orchestra,” the Boston Pops is the most recorded and arguably the most beloved orchestra in the country, beginning with the establishment of the modern-era Pops by Arthur Fiedler and continuing through the innovations introduced by John Williams and the new-millennium Pops spearheaded by Keith Lockhart.
With the 125th anniversary season, the Boston Pops reaches a landmark moment in a remarkable history that began with its founding in 1885. Civil War veteran Henry Lee Higginson, the founder of the Boston Symphony (1881) and Boston Pops, intended from the very start to present concerts of light classics and the popular music of the day.
It was Arthur Fiedler’s nearly 50-year tenure as Pops Conductor (1930-1979) that established the Boston Pops as a national icon by moving the Pops beyond its origins in light-classical music into the world of pop culture showcasing the popular artists of the day as well as the work of young American composers and arrangers. Mr. Fiedler organized the first free outdoor orchestral concerts on the Charles River Esplanade that led to the Boston’s now-famous Fourth of July concert, established the Pops as the most recorded orchestra in history–including the first orchestral recording to sell more than a million copies–and introduced the “Evening at Pops” television series, bringing the orchestra into the living rooms of countless Americans.
When John Williams (1980-1993) succeeded Arthur Fiedler in 1980, he was the most highly acclaimed composer in Hollywood, and today, with 45 Academy Award nominations, he is the most-nominated living person in Academy history. With the Pops, Mr. Williams continued the orchestra’s prolific recording tradition with a series of best-selling recordings for the Philips and Sony Classical labels, broadened and updated the Pops repertoire–commissioning new compositions and introducing new arrangements of Boston Pops classics–and entertained audiences with live orchestral accompaniment to film clips of memorable movie scenes, many of which featured iconic music from his own film scores. He traveled extensively with the Pops both nationally and internationally, leading the Pops on its first tours to Japan. Mr. Williams also brought a bit of Hollywood to the Pops stage, with special appearances by Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Frank Langella, not to mention Darth Vader, R2D2, and C3PO.
Having led more than 1,200 Boston Pops concerts, Keith Lockhart (1995 – present) is now in his sixteenth season as Boston Pops Conductor. In response to the ever-diversifying trends in music, Keith Lockhart has taken the Pops in new directions, creating programs that reach out to a broader and younger audience by presenting artists–both established performers and rising stars–from virtually every corner of the entertainment world, all the while maintaining the Pops’ appeal to its core audience. He has made 67 television shows, led 33 national and four overseas tours with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, and recorded eleven albums. Mr. Lockhart’s tenure has been marked by a dramatic increase in touring, the orchestra’s first Grammy nominations, the first major network national broadcast (on CBS Television) of the Fourth-of-July spectacular from the Esplanade, and the release of the Boston Pops’ first self-produced and self-distributed recordings, now numbering four: Sleigh Ride, America, Oscar & Tony, and The Red Sox Album. He led the Pops for Chris Botti’s “In Boston” CD and DVD, featuring special guests Sting, John Mayer, Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, and Steven Tyler, recorded live from two performances at Symphony Hall. The recording received multiple Grammy nominations earlier this year and the show was aired on PBS stations nationally. Mr. Lockhart has also led the Boston Pops at several high profile sports events, including the pre-game show of Super Bowl XXXVI and the opening game of the 2007 World Series, at Fenway Park with the Boston Red Sox. Further information about the Boston Pops is available at bostonpops.org.
IDINA MENZEL
With her soaring vocal power and artistic versatility, Idina Menzel reached superstardom on Broadway in two career-defining roles—as Elphaba in the musical blockbuster Wicked, for which she won a Tony Award, and as Maureen in the revolutionary musical Rent. A native of Long Island, New York, she began her vocal career singing at weddings and bar mitzvahs, amassing a huge repertoire of songs from classic rock and Motown to jazz and the latest hit singles. While working toward her bachelor’s degree in drama from New York University, she also performed with rock bands in downtown clubs in New York City. In 1995, she won the part of Maureen, an outspoken bisexual performance artist, in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Rent, a role for which she earned her first Tony nomination. In 2003, she originated the role of Elphaba, the misunderstood green witch in the hit musical Wicked, which included her show-stopping performance of the song “Defying Gravity” and earned her a Tony Award. In 2007, her re-recorded and remixed version of “Gravity” became a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Dance Chart. Other credits include two Drama Desk nominations for her roles in The Wild Party and See What I Wanna See at the Public Theatre. In 2006, she opened and reprised her starring role in Wicked in London’s West End. Film credits include starring roles in the Disney romantic fable Enchanted, Rent, and Robert Towne’s Ask The Dust. The Robert Zemeckis film and soundtrack album Beowulf includes her performance of the song “A Hero Comes Home.” In television, Ms. Menzel recently completely an arc on “Private Practice” and makes a guest appearance this spring on “Glee!.” Her debut recording album, I Stand, is a collection of new self-penned pop tunes and ballads ranging from the anthemic new single “Brave” to the emotional “Better To Have Loved.” She lives with her husband, actor Taye Diggs, their son, a dog, and two “jazz cats” named Ella and Coltrane.
DOC SEVERINSEN
Doc Severinsen’s accomplishments began in his hometown of Arlington, Oregon, population 600. Carl H. Severinsen was born on July 7, 1927, and was nicknamed “Little Doc” after his father, Dr. Carl Severinsen, a dentist. Little Doc originally wanted to play the trombone, but had to settle for the only horn available in Arlington’s small music store, a trumpet. A week later, with the help of his father and an instruction manual, the seven-year-old was so good that he was invited to join the high school band. At age twelve, Little Doc won the Music Educators National Contest and, while still in high school, went on the road with the Ted Fio Rito Orchestra. After serving in the Army during World War II, he played with the Charlie Barnett, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman bands. In 1949, he became a staff musician for NBC. After years of playing with the peacock network’s studio bands, conductor Skitch Henderson asked him to join “The Tonight Show” band in 1962 as first trumpet. Five years later, Mr. Severinsen took over as music director until 1992. After the “Tonight Show,” he continued to perform with and conduct major orchestras throughout the United States and Canada. He held simultaneous titles as pops director for the Milwaukee Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, and Phoenix Symphony. His more than 30 albums include two critically acclaimed CDs with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra that showcase his multifaceted talents in music from Bach to ballads, as well as The Very Best of Doc Severinsen and the Grammy-nominated Once More With Feeling. He received a Grammy Award for “Best Jazz Instrumental Performance—Big Band” for his recording of Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Band-Volume I. Since moving to Mexico in 2006, Mr. Severinsen has maintained a busy performance schedule and crafted an innovative and exciting Latin-flavored program with Gil Gutierrez and Pedro Cartas called “El Ritmo de la Vida” (“The Rhythm of Life.”) Mr. Severinsen and “El Ritmo” are touring throughout 2009-10 with stops in the midwest and northeast United States. His most recent Boston Pops appearances were in June 2000, as conductor and soloist.
MICHAEL CHERTOCK
Pianist Michael Chertock’s unique approach to programming and his sensitive performance style make him a favorite soloist among conductors. Since his concerto debut at age 17 playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, he has performed with numerous orchestras around the world in repertoire ranging from Tchaikovsky to Messiaen to contemporary world premieres, including the 2005 premiere of Tod Machover’s concerto for hyper-piano and orchestra, Jeux Deux, in Symphony Hall. He has performed frequently as soloist with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops, including during tours of Asia and Florida. His most recent Boston Pops appearances were in June 2008. Mr. Chertock’s recordings include four collections of piano music from movies as well as the world premiere of Roger Davis’s Piano Concerto in F with the Sofia Philharmonic. Mr. Chertock joined the piano faculty of the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music in 1998 and was appointed chair of the piano department in 2008. In 2009, his department was presented in a special segment on CBS Sunday Morning after becoming an all-Steinway institution. Also active as a conductor, Mr. Chertock has graced the podiums of the Columbus Symphony and the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, and he has been conductor of the Blue Ash/Montgomery Symphony, a professional orchestra in suburban Cincinnati, since 2002. Together, Chertock and BAMSO have presented over fifty diverse concerts featuring numerous world premieres. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife Maaike, three children, and four cats.
HARMONIX MUSIC
Harmonix Music is a videogame development company based in Cambridge, MA. Known worldwide for its addictive music games and groundbreaking design innovation, Harmonix was founded with a simple mission: To make the thrills of music-making accessible to non-musicians. Our best-known games, Rock Band and Rock Band 2, have brought that mission to living rooms, garages and practice spaces around the world. A full-blown band simulation game that combines guitar, bass, drum and singing game play — as well as online multiplayer competition and co-op play — Rock Band and its sequel have become a true cultural phenomenon; hailed as “the ultimate music game” (Wired) and “the best party game ever made” (Time). The games have appealed equally to rock-crazed kids and their parents, to newbies and seasoned musicians alike.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for “Opening Night at Pops” on May 4 are priced from $40 to $119. Tickets for the 2010 Boston Pops season at Symphony Hall are priced from $20-$99. All performances start at 8 p.m. with the exception of the Sunday Family Concert at 3 p.m. on June 20.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.bostonpops.org or by phone through SymphonyCharge at 617-266-1200 or 888-266-1200, Monday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (with a $5.50 handling fee for each ticket ordered online or by phone). Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Symphony Hall box office, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday from 1 p.m. through the first concert intermission on concert dates. Most major credit cards and cash are accepted at the box office. For Group Sales of 25 or more, please call 617-638-9345 or 800-933-4255.
Tickets to the gala fund raiser, Presidents at Pops, on May 18, start at $500, with some options including tickets to an exclusive Boat Cruise and Esplanade Concert on July 3, as well an additional Pops 125 event to be announced soon. For further information, call 617-638-9466.
The Boston Symphony has a dedicated line for disabled patrons who would like to purchase tickets to BSO, Boston Pops, or Tanglewood concerts, or who need information about disability services at Symphony Hall or Tanglewood. This line can be reached by dialing 617-638-9431. For access via TDD/TTY, please call 617-638-9289. Patrons with disabilities can access Symphony Hall through the Cohen Wing on Huntington Avenue or through the Massachusetts Avenue entrance.
SPONSORSHIP
Opening Night at Pops and the entire 2010 Boston Pops season is sponsored by Fidelity Investments. The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel is the Official Hotel of the Boston Pops. Commonwealth Worldwide is the Official Chauffeured Transportation Provider of the Boston Pops. American Airlines is the Airline Partner of the Boston Pops.
The Film Night Series (May 11-14) is sponsored by Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation. The World of Arlo Guthrie Series (June 17-18) is sponsored by New England Coffee, the Official Coffee of the Boston Pops. The June 1 Dave Brubeck concert is sponsored by The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. The June 16th Rodgers and Hammerstein at the Movies concert is sponsored by UBS.
All programs are subject to change.
BOSTON POPS PROGRAM LISTING
Tuesday, May 4, 2010, 8:00 PM
Opening Night at Pops: 125th Anniversary Celebration
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Doc Severinsen, trumpet
Idina Menzel, vocalist
Michael Chertock, piano
Featuring festive opening night pre-concert reception
Program includes Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and the film music of John Williams. Doc Severinsen, one of the few artists to have performed with all three Pops maestros, performs. Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel—the Tony award-winning “Elphaba” from the international blockbuster Wicked—joins Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops for this program, performing diverse repertoire including classic pop, musical theater favorites—featuring hits from Wicked and Rent—as well as songs from her album I Stand.
PRESS CONTACTS
Bernadette Horgan, Director of Public Relations (bhorgan@bso.org) 617-638-9285
Kathleen Drohan, Assoc. Director of Public Relations (kdrohan@bso.org) 617-638-9286