Wednesday, March 31, 1999
Pops moves into 2000 with diverse shows, stars
BY JANELLE GELFAND
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Pops will welcome the 21st century with a season of new stars, its fifth PBS television special — this one a Thanksgiving show — and a new Christmas album, the first in a decade.
“Diversity is the key word for the new century,” conductor Erich Kunzel said from his home in the Bahamas.
“We've got a night at the movies, two nights on Broadway, the American song with Michael Feinstein, jazz with John Pizzarelli, and the classics with a Viennese night.”
Five artists, including Broadway star Betty Buckley and Gospel artist Sandi Patty, will appear with the Pops in Music Hall for the first time.
The 1999-2000 season will open Sept. 10-12 with thirtysomething singer/guitarist John Pizzarelli, who's following in the footsteps of his father, jazz legend Bucky Pizzarelli.
The Pops' Thanksgiving show, to be taped by Phillip Byrd of Brandenburg Productions in October, will star five-time Grammy winning Gospel singer Ms. Patty. She'll be joined by John Schneider, who played Bo Duke in TV's The Dukes of Hazzard, and members of Cincinnati Ballet and May Festival Chorus.
Ms. Buckley, who won a Tony Award for Cats and sang Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, will hold center stage for an evening of Broadway classics in November. In June, crooner/pianist Michael Feinstein will journey through the music of Ira and George Gershwin.
Both the December holiday show with the Indiana University Singing Hoosiers and February's Viennese evening (“That's my forte,” Mr. Kunzel says) are destined for Telarc recordings.
The Pops will tap into local talent in April, when members of the Musical Theater Department at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music join the Pops for “A Century of Broadway.”
All Cincinnati Pops Orchestra concerts are at 8 p.m. in Music Hall. Renewals will be sent to subscribers this week.
The Pops' season:
Sept. 10-12 — “The John Pizzarelli Trio.” Erich Kunzel, conductor; John Pizzarelli, singer/guitarist. Standards such as “I Got Rhythm,” “Route 66” and “Here Comes the Sun.”
Oct. 29-31 — “Thanksgiving With the Pops.” Erich Kunzel, conductor; Sandi Patty, singer; John Schneider, singer; members of the Cincinnati Ballet and the May Festival Chorus. Gospel favorites, music of Aaron Copland and traditional Thanksgiving hymns.
Nov. 14 — “Betty Buckley on Broadway.” Betty Buckley, singer, will lead an evening of Broadway tunes, including Rodgers and Hammerstein, Bernstein and Sondheim.
Dec. 10-12 — “Erich Kunzel's Holiday Spectacular.” Erich Kunzel, conductor; Indiana University Singing Hoosiers.
Feb. 18-20 — “A Grand Viennese Ball.” Erich Kunzel, conductor; Blythe Walker, soprano; Tim and Barbara Haller, ballroom dancers.
March 5, 12 — “A Night at the Oscars.” John Morris Russell, conductor; John Goberman, narrator. Music and film segments from Ben Hur, Citizen Kane, Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz and more.
April 9, 16 — “A Century of Broadway.” John Morris Russell, conductor; members of the CCM Musical Theater Department. Musicals such as Show Boat, Anything Goes and Ragtime.
June 2-4 — Michael Feinstein, singer/pianist; Erich Kunzel, conductor. An evening of music by Ira and George Gershwin.
Subscriptions:
Eight-concert series: $96-$270
Seven-concert series: $84-$236.25
Five-concert series: $60-$168.75
Single tickets ($15-$42; $57 box seats) will go on sale to subscribers Aug. 11 and to the general public Aug. 18. Information: 381-3300.
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