KEITH LOCKHART OPENS STAR-STUDDED SEASON WITH NATALIE COLE ON MAY 7
JOHN WILLIAMS LEADS FILM NIGHTS WITH LYNN REDGRAVE, GARRISON KEILLOR MAKES HIS BOSTON POPS DEBUT, NATALIE MERCHANT AND AMANDA PALMER FEATURED IN EDGEFEST,
ARTURO SANDOVAL & DIZZY GILLESPIE ALL-STARS PERFORM IN JAZZFEST, OLETA ADAMS SPOTLIGHTED IN GOSPEL NIGHT, AND BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL PERFORMS BROADWAY SHOW-STOPPERS
SEASON-LONG 90TH-BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO LEONARD BERNSTEIN, PERFORMANCES OF A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC WITH ALL-STAR CAST, AND FIRST-EVER BOSTON POPS HIGH SCHOOL SING-OFF
FILL OUT THE 2008 SEASON
BOSTON POPS’ 2008 SEASON AND OPENING NIGHT SPONSORED BY FIDELITY INVESTMENTS
Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops announce a wide-ranging lineup of music and artists, including time honored favorites along with new and inventive performances, for the Boston Pops 123rd season, May 7-July 2, at Symphony Hall. Keith Lockhart, now in his 14th year as conductor, opens the 2008 season on May 7 with a program featuring Grammy Award-winning Natalie Cole singing a selection of hits from her varied repertoire. A 90th-birthday tribute to Leonard Bernstein, one of Boston’s favorite sons and America’s most illustrious and beloved musicians, will be featured throughout the season, as well as the first-ever Boston Pops musical theater competition for Massachusetts high school students. Photos and bios of artists appearing in the 2008 Boston Pops season are available at www.bostonpops.org/presskit.
SEASON OVERVIEW
Garrison Keillor, the longtime host of the radio hit A Prairie Home Companion, brings the humor of his friends from the shores of Lake Wobegon to the Boston Pops on May 13 and 14, and Boston Pops Laureate Conductor John Williams leads the orchestra in his ever-popular Film Nights on May 20-24 featuring the esteemed British actress Lynn Redgrave taking us on a narrative tour of the world of Harry Potter accompanied by Maestro Williams conducting his “A Grand Suite from Harry Potter.”
The always innovative Edgefest continues to redefine the musical boundaries of rock and tradition with Natalie Merchant on May 27 and 28, and Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls on June 19 and 20, both performing for the first time ever with orchestra. Riders In The Sky bring their whimsical western music and way-out wit to the Symphony Hall stage on May 29-30 followed by the Boston Pops Gospel Choir joined by special guest singer and multiple Grammy nominee Oleta Adams on May 31.
JazzFest showcases this quintessentially American art form with the incomparable Cuban-born trumpeter and pianist Arturo Sandoval on June 10 and 11. The Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, featuring a host of renowned musicians including James Moody, Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi, John Lee, Lewis Nash, and Roy Assaf, take the Symphony Hall stage on June 21 and 22. Stephen Sondheim’s romantic score for A Little Night Music is brought to life by Broadway stars Christine Ebersole, Ron Raines, and Mary Louise Wilson collaborating with Vocal Fellows of the Tanglewood Music Center on June 12-14.
In its American premiere, “Judy Garland…A Life On Stage,” brings together the legendary Judy Garland and the symphonic sound of the Boston Pops through historic footage and modern technology on June 28 and 29. Brian Stokes Mitchell, named “The Last Leading Man” by the New York Times, performs an impressive collection of classics and new songs from his recent album on a program entitled Broadway’s Leading Man, June 17 and 18.
July 1 and 2 bring the euphoric sights and sounds of America’s great ball parks, including Boston’s own Fenway Park, to Symphony Hall in a rousing commemoration called “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” This gala celebration of the National Baseball Hall of Fame features classic baseball-inspired music, images, stories, and video in a spectacular tribute to America's favorite pastime.
NATALIE COLE FEATURED IN SEASON OPENER
Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Natalie Cole joins Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops to kick off the 2008 Pops season on May 7. Ms. Cole rocketed to stardom with her 1991 album, “Unforgettable…with Love,” featuring her own arrangements of her father Nat King Cole’s greatest hits. This program kicks off the Boston Pops’ season-long celebration of the immortal music of Leonard Bernstein, followed by Natalie Cole singing a collection of her memorable hits.
BERNSTEIN TRIBUTE
The Boston Pops pays tribute to Leonard Bernstein, one of America’s greatest and most beloved musicians, in honor of the 90th anniversary of his birth in Lawrence, Massachusetts (May 9 and 10;
June 3 and 6). In a special series of concerts occurring throughout the 2008 season, the Boston Pops celebrates Leonard Bernstein’s unparalleled legacy by featuring excerpts from the ballet Fancy Free and the film score On the Waterfront, as well as showcasing an ensemble cast of rising stars from The Boston Conservatory, who will sing selections from his Broadway musicals On the Town, Candide, Wonderful Town, and West Side Story.
GARRISON KEILLOR
Garrison Keillor, the host of the radio hit A Prairie Home Companion, is heard each week by more than four million listeners on nearly 600 public radio stations. Mr. Keillor brings the famous Minnesota humor of his friends from Lake Wobegon to Symphony Hall for a down home evening of music and storytelling, under the direction of guest conductor Philip Brunelle. Mr. Keillor’s program will also feature a special tribute to Boston (May 13-14). The Garrison Keillor series is sponsored by Pearle Vision.
JOHN WILLIAMS CONDUCTS FILM NIGHT
The brilliant composer and Boston Pops Laureate Conductor John Williams - whose remarkable film scores include the dynamic Star Wars, the heart-wrenching Schindler’s List, the spine-tingling Jaws, and the audacious Indiana Jones - joins renowned British actress Lynn Redgrave in a narrative tour of the world of wizardry with “A Grand Suite from Harry Potter.” Continuing a time-honored tradition of Film Night, John Williams conducts this memorable movie music while the audience experiences the magic of the silver screen live to the sound of the Boston Pops (May 20-24). The Film Night series is sponsored by the Arbella Charitable Foundation.
EDGEFEST
This year, EdgeFest pushes the musical boundaries of rock and symphonic sound with the distinct and opposing styles of Natalie Merchant and Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls. Natalie Merchant, former lead singer of the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, joins Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops with music from her successful solo career (Tigerlily, Ophelia, and Motherland) as well as new material (May 27-28). Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls presents a theatrical punk extravaganza featuring world premieres from a soon-to-be-released album by The Dresden Dolls and her upcoming solo release Who Killed Amanda Palmer, produced by Ben Folds. Post-concert EdgeFest Cafés feature New York-based Romanian gypsy punk band Luminescent Orchestraii, led by composer and multi-instrumentalist Sxip Shirey (June 19-20). The Natalie Merchant concerts are sponsored by New England Coffee, the official coffee of the Boston Pops.
RIDERS IN THE SKY
The legendary Riders In The Sky join the Boston Pops and guest conductor Robert Bernhardt (May 30). Featured in the hit film Toy Story, as well as being longtime staples of the Grand Ole Opry, Riders In The Sky craft classic and original western songs and transform them with their smooth acoustic harmony blended with outrageous humor.
GOSPEL NIGHT
The Boston Pops Orchestra and Boston Pops Gospel Choir, under guest conductor Charles Floyd, are joined by special guest singer and multiple Grammy nominee Oleta Adams to bring the power, joy, and elation of their signature Gospel sound. The choir that the Boston Globe said “raised the rafters and made spirits soar” returns to the Pops for its 16th glorious year (May 31).
ANNUAL ARTHUR FIEDLER CONCERT
This year’s annual Arthur Fiedler Concert commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of acclaimed composer Leroy Anderson. A fixture of American popular culture, Anderson is known for his distinctive and delightful miniatures, including “Sleigh Ride, “The Syncopated Clock,” “Blue Tango,” and many others that have had their premieres with the Boston Pops. This special tribute features pianist Michael Chertock performing Anderson’s piano concerto (June 3).
JAZZFEST
For four nights, the Boston Pops, conducted by Keith Lockhart, celebrates the quintessentially American art form of jazz. With The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars (June 21-22), the Pops features some of today’s greatest jazz musicians, such as National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Masters Award winners James Moody and Slide Hampton, as well as Claudio Roditi, John Lee, Lewis Nash, and Roy Asaf, all of whom are continuing Dizzy Gillespie’s legacy. The second pair of performances showcases the great Cuban trumpeter and pianist Arturo Sandoval with guest conductor Jeff Tyzik (June 10-11).
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Stephen Sondheim’s romantic and beautiful score to A Little Night Music is brought to life by Tony Award-winners Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson (both straight from the musical Grey Gardens) and Broadway singer and “The Guiding Light” star Ron Raines. This year marks the fourth collaboration between the Boston Pops and the Tanglewood Music Center, continuing the tradition of combining the greatest stars of Broadway with the rising stars of tomorrow (June 12-14).
BROADWAY'S LEADING MAN
American stage, film, and television actor Brian Stokes Mitchell was recently named “The Last Leading Man” by the New York Times. Throughout his astonishingly successful career, he has performed powerful songs from great Broadway musicals such as Man of La Mancha, Kismet, Ragtime, and Kiss Me, Kate, for which he won a Tony Award. His appearance with the Boston Pops will feature an impressive repertoire of classics and new songs from his recently released self-titled album (June 17-18).
JUDY GARLAND...A LIFE ON STAGE
In its American premiere, “Judy Garland…A Life On Stage,” brings together the legendary Judy Garland and symphonic sound of the Boston Pops through modern technology. The evening features a seamless blend of historic footage, combining Garland’s spoken voice and vocals, accompanied by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra playing classic arrangements of her iconic songs (June 28-29).
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME
America's Favorite Orchestra combines music, images, stories, and video to create a unique multi-media experience paying a spectacular tribute to America’s favorite pastime. Celebrating the 100 anniversary of the American classic “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” the Boston Pops brings the euphoric sights and sounds of America’s great ball parks to the stage of Symphony Hall in a program featuring classic baseball-inspired music such as John Philip Sousa’s “The National Game” and selections from Field of Dreams and The Natural. Included will be a surprise special guest reading the classic “Casey at the Bat” (July 1 and 2).
BOSTON POPS HIGH SCHOOL SING-OFF
Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops are proud to announce their first-ever musical theater competition for Massachusetts High School students. The first round of the competition will take place on June 2 at Symphony Hall, from which six semi-finalists will be chosen. The six semifinalists will compete, accompanied by the Boston Pops, during the June 17 and 18 concerts. The resulting three finalists will compete during the July 1 Boston Pops concert. The winning high school student(s) will perform with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on July 3 and at the 2008 Fireworks Spectacular on July 4. For more information, visit www.bostonpops.org.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for the 2008 Boston Pops season at Symphony Hall go on sale at 10 a.m. on March 3. Performances will take place nightly, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., May 7 through July 2, and Sunday June 22 and 29. Tickets for Opening Night at Pops on May 7 are priced at from $117 to $29. All other tickets for the 2008 Boston Pops are priced from $100 to $19. All programs and artists are subject to change.
Tickets may be purchased by phone through SymphonyCharge, in person at the Symphony Hall box office, or online at www.bostonpops.org (with a $5.50 handling fee for each ticket ordered online or by phone). The box office is 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, personal checks (in person or by mail), and cash (in person only) are all accepted at the box office. To charge tickets to a major credit card, call the Boston Pops’ SymphonyCharge at 617-266-1200 or 888-266-1200 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For Group Sales of 25 or more, please call 617-638-9345 or 800-933-4255.
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 TTD/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.
KEITH LOCKHART VIP PACKAGES
Patrons can also take advantage of the special Keith Lockhart VIP Ticket Packages through Mr. Lockhart’s website, KeithLockhart.com. These packages offer a wonderful evening at Symphony Hall to enjoy the music of the Boston Pops and spend time with Keith Lockhart after the concert. Each VIP Ticket Package includes a ticket to selected Pops concerts, a visit with Mr. Lockhart after the performance, an exclusive tour of Symphony Hall and a gift card to the KeithLockhart.com store. For more detailed information on these unique VIP experiences, dates they are available and to order yours, visit KeithLockhart.com.
SPONSORSHIP
Opening Night at Pops and the entire 2008 Boston Pops season is sponsored by Fidelity Investments. The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel is the official hotel of the Boston Pops and
Boston Symphony. Commonwealth Worldwide is the official chauffeured transportation provider of the Boston Pops and Boston Symphony. American Airlines is the airline partner of the Boston Pops.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
For current Boston Pops program information, dial 617-CONCERT (266-2378). For further information, please call the Boston Symphony Orchestra at 617-266-1492. The Boston Pops is on the Internet at www.bostonpops.org.
BOSTON POPS 2008 SEASON LISTING, MAY 7 - JULY 4
OPENING NIGHT AT POPS
Tuesday, May 7, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
KEITH LOCKHART, conductor
NATALIE COLE, featured vocalist
BERNSTEIN TRIBUTE
Friday, May 9, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 10, 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 10, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, June 3, 8 p.m.
Friday, June 6, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
KEITH LOCKHART, conductor
STUDENTS of THE BOSTON
CONSERVATORY, featured vocalists
GARRISON KEILLOR
Tuesday, May 13, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 14, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
PHILIP BRUNELLE, conductor
GARRISON KEILLOR, host
FILM NIGHT
Tuesday, May 20, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 22, 8 p.m.
Friday, May 23, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 24, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
JOHN WILLIAMS, conductor
LYNN REDGRAVE, narrator
EDGEFEST
Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 28, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
KEITH LOCKHART, conductor
NATALIE MERCHANT, featured vocalist
RIDERS IN THE SKY
Friday, May 30, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
ROBERT BERNHARDT, conductor
RIDERS IN THE SKY, featured vocalists
GOSPEL NIGHT
Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
CHARLES FLOYD, conductor
THE BOSTON POPS GOSPEL CHOIR
OLETA ADAMS, featured vocalist
BOSTON POPS HIGH SCHOOL SING-OFF
A BEST OF BROADWAY CHALLENGE
Monday, June 2, at 8 p.m.
Keith Lockhart
First Round
JAZZFEST
Tuesday, June 10, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 11, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
JEFF TYZIK, conductor
ARTURO SANDOVAL, featured soloist
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Thursday, June 12, 8 p.m.
Friday, June 13, 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 14, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
KEITH LOCKHART, conductor
CHRISTINE EBERSOLE, featured vocalist
RON RAINES, featured vocalist
MARY LOUISE WILSON, featured vocalist
VOCAL FELLOWS OF THE TANGLEWOOD
MUSIC CENTER
BROADWAY’S LEADING MAN
Tuesday, June 17, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 18, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ESPLANADE ORCHESTRA
KEITH LOCKHART, conductor
BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL, featured vocalist
Semi-final round BOSTON POPS HIGH
SCHOOL SING-OFF, A BEST OF
BROADWAY CHALLENGE
EDGEFEST
Thursday, June 19, 8 p.m.
Friday, June 20, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ESPLANADE ORCHESTRA
KEITH LOCKHART, conductor
AMANDA PALMER, featured vocalist
JAZZFEST
Saturday, June 21, 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 22, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ESPLANADA ORCHESTRA
KEITH LOCKHART, conductor
DIZZY GILLESPIE ALL STARS, featured performers
JUDY GARLAND…A LIFE ON STAGE
Saturday, June 28, 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 29, 7:30 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ESPLANADE ORCHESTRA
DOUG KATSAROS, conductor
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME
Tuesday, July 1, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 2, 8 p.m.
BOSTON POPS ESPLANADE ORCHESTRA
KEITH LOCKHART, conductor
Final round BOSTON POPS HIGH
SCHOOL SING-OFF, A BEST OF
BROADWAY CHALLENGE
Artists making their Boston Pops debut this season:
Oleta Adams
Dizzy Gillespie All Stars
Doug Katsaros
Garrison Keillor
Natalie Merchant
Amanda Palmer
Riders in the Sky
Mary Louis Wilson
# # #
PRESS CONTACTS:
Bernadette Horgan, Director of Media Relations
bhorgan@bso.org
617-638-9285
Kathleen Drohan, Associate Director of Media Relations
kdrohan@bso.org
617-638-9286
Download this press release:
POPS Press Release, February 15, 2008
