“POPS”CULTURE by ken knox
ASK A GAY MAN ON THE STREET TO NAME A POP STAR and
With their upcoming evening of classical pops selections, the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra hopes to lure lovers of hits from the past—and introduce others to some of the original pop songs.
you’re likely to hear names like Katy Perry, Rihanna, Meghan Trainor, Britney Spears or Madonna. Of course, pop music as it is known today, initially came into vogue in the ‘50s and ‘60s, with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones taking the airwaves by storm—and our ears, hostage. If one were to look at lifestyle magazines from as far back as the 1920s, however, they would likely find mentions of the “pop song” term, used to refer to the compositions of some of the earliest “pop stars.” If names like Ravel, Respighi and Shostakovich don’t ring your “pop star” bell, don’t worry; The Long Beach Symphony Orchestra has got you covered. OnSaturday, May 9, the Symphony will presentA Classic POPS! Hit Parade, an evening dedicated to celebrating the music of some of the earliest pop maestros. Conducted by the Symphony’s former Principal POPS! Conductor, Ste-
ven Reineke, the program features several well-known classical pop songs delivered in the “hit parade” fashion, typical of their times. “The audience will surely know and love these popular selections,” predicts the Sympho- ny’s executive director, Kelly Ruggirello, who adds that, in addition to three composers mentioned above, other popular “music men” of the period will also be represented in the program. From the surprisingly successful “Bohemian Czech composer” Antonín Dvořák and his European comrades Ottorino Respighi (Italy), Maurice Ravel (France) and Georges Bizet (France)—whose compositions make up the first half of the program. The 20th century American composers are featured in the second half, during which three popular pieces by Aaron Copland will join George Gershwin’s An American in Paris and Leonard Bernstein’s Times Square 1944. “This concert’s programming is a bit unique compared to other POPS! concerts, in that it features some of the lighter classical fare,” Ruggirello notes, saying “It’s not as ‘serious’ as some of the highly dramatic and epic compositions that people may conjure up when the term ‘classical’ applies to music.” Composer Reineke, who married his partner, Eric Gabbard in 2014,
marks his return to the Symphony with these performances and this is a bit of a big deal to those who frequent it. “Our POPS! audience cherishes Ste- ven and the years he served as our principal POPS! conductor,” Ruggirello enthuses. The composer’s extensive resume—which currently includes appointments as music director at the New York Pops of Carnegie Hall, Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Principal Pops Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Principal Pops Conductor Designate of the Houston Symphony, as well as his many past accomplishments—has only increased his star wattage since he last conducted at the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. “Steven’s enthusiasm for the repertoire, his artistry and the way he connects with the audience makes him an ideal POPS! conductor,” she says, “and we are so excited to welcome him home.” With Reineke having chosen the songs for the program specifically be-
cause of their “lighter touch,” the hope, Ruggirello says, is that the evening will produce a new batch of classical music fans. “For some, this might be their introduction to this kind of music,” she explains. “This is, of course, very exciting to us and our musicians, because we get to help pass this timeless music on to a new generation of listeners. Our mission for the POPS! concerts is to provide a fun, casual night of great music and we would be overjoyed if fans of [the music of Britney Spears and Katy Perry] gave these pop songs a chance too.”
Steven Reineke will conductA Classic Pops Hit Parade onSaturday, May 9 at the Long Beach Arena at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. for picnickers. For tickets and more information, call 562.436.3203 or go
tolbso.org.
14 RAGE monthly | APRIL 2015 RAGE monthly
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