Latest news with #BostonPops
Boston Globe
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Keith Lockhart marks Pops journey in 30th anniversary concert — with the help of friends
Funny thing about Keith Lockhart's 30th anniversary concert: It was wrong. Lockhart's debut conducting the Boston Pops was indeed June 5-6 … in 1993, 32 years ago. He did open his first season as the official successor to Not that Lockhart could be bothered with the former. From the stage, the conductor mentioned, not for the first time, his general disinterest in birthdays, anniversaries, and the like, preferring instead to look forward, and while he took the stage to a standing ovation, two pieces had passed — the overture to Bernstein's 'Candide' (prancing, tiptoeing, and wafting in equal measure) and a galloping and brassy 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' — before he even addressed the audience to welcome them to the 2025 season as usual. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Related : Advertisement But Lockhart soon settled into the theme of the concert, if somewhat abashedly, by focusing on his role as only one link in an ongoing chain. A video essay on his appointment showed Williams literally passing the baton to him all those years ago, while Peter Fiedler, a nearly spitting image of his father, Arthur, showed up in person to offer congratulations. And Lockhart pointed out that bass player Larry Wolfe had him beat by 25 years, while others on stage hadn't been born by the time he arrived. Advertisement Percussionists Samuel Solomon and Toby Grace with conductor Michael Feinstein and Keith Lockhart in Leroy Anderson's "The Typewriter" on June 6 at Symphony Hall. Robert Torres He also argued for the purpose of the Pops and the various roles the orchestra serves for Boston and the wider world. One was championing American music, and there were entries from the Great American Songbook (including a scampering 'I Got Rhythm' aided by guitarist John Pizzarelli's high-speed scatting, the tropical rhythms of 'All The Things You Are'), a dip into the rock and disco eras (with Rockapella bringing out the calypso undertones of 'Rock the Boat' and Melinda Doolittle attacking the bluesy swing of 'I'm a Woman' with fire) and light-classical curios (Leroy Anderson's percussive 'The Typewriter,' with Lockhart performing the title instrument). And the Pops is surely unique in offering an extended video-essay salute to 'America the Beautiful' poet Katharine Lee Bates alongside Tom Lehrer's 'sick humor' exemplar 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park.' Related : Lockhart also stressed the Pops' role in seeing audiences through difficult times, listing the crises the orchestra has weathered during his tenure: 9/11, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boston Marathon bombing, financial crises, and a Snowmageddon that saw one concert beginning with only 25 musicians on stage, playing to a crowd of 15. The unspoken message was that the way to make it is together, and Lockhart was joined by a handful of friends, from Pizzarelli, Rockapella, and Doolittle to Michael Feinstein, Jason Danieley, and, in a rare out-of-season appearance, Santa Claus. Conductor Keith Lockhart and members of Rockapella with a cake for his 30th anniversary celebration and concert at Symphony Hall on June 6. Robert Torres Those were just the ones onstage. Liza Minnelli saluted Lockhart via audio, while Williams's congratulatory message was read onstage by Feinstein. And two songs from the end, and before the giant cake arrived, a parade of well-wishers that included Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Branford Marsalis, Ana Gasteyer, James Taylor, Kristin Chenoweth, David Ortiz, and Mayor Michelle Wu appeared by video to sing Sondheim's 'I'm Still Here' with new, Lockhart-specific lyrics. And then the visibly-moved conductor worked his way back to his podium, and he got back to work. Advertisement THE BOSTON POPS: The Keith Lockhart 30th anniversary concert At Symphony Hall, Friday Marc Hirsh can be reached at or on Bluesky @ Marc Hirsh can be reached at
CBS News
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Winners of Young Artists Competition take the stage with the Boston Pops
The winners of this year's Fidelity Investments Young Artists Competition stepped into the spotlight at Symphony Hall Wednesday to perform with the Boston Pops. WBZ is the proud sponsor of this competition event, which has been supporting and showcasing young local artists for 17 years now. "I have so many memories of coming to this stage and seeing my favorite cellists perform amazing concertos. I'm sort of in disbelief still that I got to do the same thing," said Noah Ferris from Amherst Regional High School. More than 70 high schoolers from across the state applied for the incredible opportunity. And like many winners before them, these four have been practicing and preparing since they fell in love with music as toddlers. "When I play, I feel like I'm really free. I express through the piano more than I could ever do with words. It's just something I really connect with. It's almost like my best friend in a way," explained Max Fan from the Groton School. Ending high school on high note This year, all four winners are graduating seniors - closing their high school chapters on the perfect note. "I like felt like I was flying when I was performing; After such overwhelming relief because I was so nervous. I wouldn't know what I was doing with my life if I wasn't doing music," said Margaret King from Wachusett Regional High School. And as they took their bows in front of the dazzled crowd, these young musicians looked for the faces who have always been cheering for them. My school sent us a bus here actually. My headmaster came, his wife came. My college counselor, my music advisor came, my Latin teacher came, my Arabic teacher came. Really appreciative," Fan said humbly. "I'm really grateful for all my teachers and family and everyone who supported me because that's really what has built me up, as a violinist but also as a person as well," said Iris Tian from Boston Latin. Applicants must be full-time students who attend any public, private or parochial school, or are home school registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Entrants must be legal U.S. residents or in the process of obtaining citizenship and must be between 13 and 19 years of age. Applications for the 2026 competition will open in December 2025.
San Francisco Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Trump canceled his Pride concert, but Michael Feinstein found his spotlight in San Francisco
The Great American Songbook has a unique way of bridging gaps between musicians and listeners from all different backgrounds. Singer, pianist and standards ambassador Michael Feinstein and acclaimed classical soloist Jean-Yves Thibaudet serve as a perfect example. As a duo, they've found common ground in this popular repertoire by the likes of Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin and especially the Gershwin brothers. An enthusiastic audience at Davies Symphony Hall on Tuesday, May 20, discovered just how well these two superstars in their respective genres can mesh. Feinstein and Thibaudet co-headlined a special one-night-only concert with the San Francisco Symphony under the baton of longtime Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, and the performance was by turns entertaining, educational and moving. Feinstein has recently made headlines for decidedly non-celebratory reasons. His Kennedy Center engagement with the National Symphony Orchestra, 'A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,' scheduled for this week, was canceled by the Trump administration. So Tuesday's program was triumphant in contrast, commencing with an energetic orchestral overture before Feinstein and Thibaudet walked onto the stage flashing winning smiles and sporting matching sparkly tuxedo jackets with satin shawl collars. Seated at interlocking Steinway grand pianos, the pair faced one another as they started into a rendition of Berlin's 'I Love a Piano,' featuring Feinstein's impassioned singing. Given Feinstein's impeccable credentials, including as host of the onetime public radio series 'Song Travels,' it seemed safe to assume that he'd do all of the talking. But both musicians spoke with welcoming rapport for a show that felt like a natural extension of their 'Gershwin Rhapsody' album, released last year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of 'Rhapsody in Blue.' As founder of the Great American Songbook Foundation, Feinstein shared stories of his musical acquaintances going back decades, from conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein to lyricist Irving Caesar, whose popular song 'Tea for Two' concluded the first set of the evening. Feinstein also spoke about his six years as personal assistant to lyricist Ira Gershwin, older brother and primary songwriting partner of composer George. Thibaudet reflected on his upbringing as a French conservatory student. Sharing an anecdote about George Gershwin and Maurice Ravel, the pianist served as something of an audience surrogate — someone with an appreciation of American Songbook standards if not Feinstein's comprehensive knowledge. In a way, it was not unlike an evening at Feinstein's San Francisco nightclub at Hotel Nikko. But the orchestra, with Lockhart at the helm, really made it an event. Thibaudet performed the third movement from Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F with proper symphonic accompaniment. (He mentioned that he first played the piece at age 14.) And the second-half 'Gershwin Fantasy' was a tour de force, stuffed with favorites like 'Someone to Watch Over Me,' 'I Got Rhythm' and 'Embraceable You' and bookended by the original two-piano arrangement of 'Rhapsody.' An encore of the Gershwins' 'Love Is Here to Stay' ended the program on a poignant note. It was George's last composition, and Ira completed the lyrics posthumously, Feinstein pointed out. He posited that the song is about the brothers' relationship. But when he crooned the opening lines — 'It's very clear / Our love is here to stay / Not for a year / But ever and a day' — it was hard not to think about the power of timeless standards too.
Time Out
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Music of the Cosmos
Courtesy Conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops bring audiences among the stars for a multimedia program on May 23 and 24 at 7:30pm that explores the intersection of music, space, and science fiction. Featuring the incomparable George Takei as your cosmic storyteller and developed in partnership with the Museum of Science, Boston and its Center for Space Sciences, the Music of the Cosmos concert will boldly go where no man (or woman) has gone before. Stay after the concert for a meet and greet with Takei and special guest Astronaut Sunita Williams. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. 🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed! Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Discover Time Out original video
Time Out
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Star Wars: The Story in Music
Save yourself the 20 hours it would take to watch the entire series and instead listen to its majesty in one night. On May 15, take an intergalactic musical journey with conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops, as you re-live the entire Star Wars saga in just two hours, during Star Wars: The Story in Music. Live narration by Jeremiah Kissel backed by America's Orchestra bring this epic story and iconic music to life. This interstellar concert experience will transport you to a galaxy far, far away. The performance begins at 7:30pm at the Pops' homebase, Boston Symphony Hall.
