The Pacific Symphony Announces Their 2014-15 Pops Series, Which Includes FLY ME TO THE MOON, VERTIGO and More

Mega-watt stars light up the stage for Pacific Symphony's highly anticipated 2014-15 Pops series featuring seven not-to-be-missed concerts that include a bit of nostalgia, romance, celebration and a plethora of memorable music-all enhanced by the "Hollywood" sound of the orchestra. Led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the season blasts off with a tribute to the iconic Frank Sinatra, with such jazz standards as "Fly Me to the Moon." Add to that legendary stars Paul Anka, Herb Alpert and Lani Hall and, just in time for Christmas-

five-time Grammy Award-winner Sandi Patty. Plus, The Chieftains bring their old-country charm for an authentic St. Patrick's Day celebration, and The Tenors fill the concert hall with romance over Valentine's Day weekend. The season also includes the Symphony musicians recreating the haunting score to "Vertigo," Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 thriller, as the classic is shown on the big screen

All Pops concerts take place in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Seven-concert subscriptions for Pops range from $235-$1,050; single tickets are $35-$105 (on sale Aug. 17). For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

"Our upcoming Pops season promises to be another exciting year for our audiences as world-class performers join one of the world's great orchestras in concert," says Maestro Kaufman. "Once again, several of these artists will be making their Pacific Symphony Pops debut, which always makes the series extra special. And these great performers bring a wide variety of musical styles and genres that are sure to make each Pops weekend a special event."

Pacific Symphony Pops takes flight with "Fly Me to the Moon" on Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 6-8, at 8 p.m., when Michael Andrew and his classic voice reinvigorate the music of the eternally-hip Rat Pack crooners: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and Sammy Davis, Jr. Critics praise Andrew's interpretations, raving, "Andrew has Sinatra's style down pat, from his husky, off-hand delivery to heady shout choruses always anchored by tough-but-tender can't-touch-this cool."

"Everyone loves the sound of Sinatra, and what better way to begin our season than with music from the 'Great American Songbook' made famous by Sinatra himself!?" says Kaufman.

Andrew was the headline singer and bandleader at the world-famous Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center in New York where he entertained audiences nightly and hosted a live radio broadcast, "Live from the Rainbow Room." He was the singer and bandleader at Merv Griffin's "Coconut Club" in The Beverly Hilton, where Griffin called Andrew "one of the great singers of all time."

A spirited holiday concert awaits as American-music icon and multiple-award winner Sandi Patty makes her Symphony Pops debut in "Christmas with Sandi Patty." Patty's angelic voice captivates audiences for an evening of inspirational and joyful music perfect for the family. Led by Kaufman, this Christmas celebration takes place Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 18-20, at 8 p.m.

"With the wonderful spirit and amazing voice of Sandi Patty, our Christmas Pops celebration will, without a doubt, bring the true meaning as well as the fun and excitement of the most wonderful time of the year," says Kaufman. "Andy Williams, who graced our Christmas Pops a couple of years ago, once told me that Sandi Patty had 'the best female voice' he had ever heard. High praise indeed from one of history's most respected and beloved singers."

As one of the most highly acclaimed performers of our time with four Billboard Music Awards, three platinum records, five gold records and 11 million records sold, Patty is simply known as "The Voice." She is the most-awarded female vocalist in contemporary Christian music history, receiving 40 Dove Awards. She was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and recognized as an Indiana Living Legend in 2007. She has released over 30 albums, including her latest, "Everlasting," which features notable hymns and songs of worship in an intimate and acoustic setting.

Love is in the air when the Symphony couples with The Tenors for an exhilarating Valentine's Day weekend on Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14, 2015, at 8 p.m. Maestro Kaufman leads this romantic evening of memorable, reverberating sounds. "Valentine's Day with The Tenors" features four handsome male singers known for their refreshing musicianship and magnificent voices. The Tenors set the mood with songs from their 2012 Platinum album "Lead With Your Heart" and other favorites. A greatly admired group, The Tenors were featured performers on the 2011 Emmy Awards broadcast. The four young men have performed on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (with Celine Dion), for Her Majesty the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee at Windsor Castle and at the opening ceremonies of Vancouver's 2010 Olympics. They have been hailed as musical ambassadors and Canada's national treasure.

Audiences are in for some four-leaf clover luck when the iconic Irish band, "The Chieftains," extend the celebration of St. Patrick's Day from Thursday-Saturday, March 19-21, 2015, at 8 p.m. This concert features mesmerizing traditional Irish music, energized with spontaneity and infused with a rich cultural history.

"To me, the music of Ireland is some of the most soulful and spirit-filled music anywhere," says Kaufman. "And when it comes to presenting this exciting music, no group compares with the legendary Chieftains. They combine the beauty of the music with their sparkling personalities, and the audience can't help but feel that they're in the

next best thing to an Irish pub!"

Six-time Grammy award winners, The Chieftains are recognized for bringing traditional Irish music to the world's attention. They were officially named Ireland's musical ambassadors, performing during the Pope's visit to Ireland in 1979 in front of an audience of millions, and were the subject of a "Late Late Show" tribute in 1987, their 25th anniversary. In 2010, two of the band members' instruments (Paddy's whistle and Matt's flute travelled to the International Space Station with a NASA astronaut, Catherine Coleman.

The Pops series continues with a dynamic, high-energy performance by the legendary singer and songwriter Paul Anka, who joins the Symphony on Thursday-Saturday, April 9-11, 2015, at 8 p.m. Led by Kaufman and accompanied by the orchestra, Anka-who has recorded nearly 40 albums featuring his soulful voice, scoring chart toppers in pop, R&B and adult contemporary music-sings a number of his signature hits such as, "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "Puppy Love" "I Love You Baby" and "Time of Your Life."

"Paul Anka has been entertaining audiences and writing classic songs for decades. It's always great to welcome back to our series an artist whose voice, personality and song-writing has so successfully stood the test of time," comments Kaufman.

Anka first achieved success in the 1950s as a teenage singing sensation with the hit, "Diana," and has since appeared in several films. Anka is known as one of the great songwriters in pop-music history with a breathtaking 125 records, 900 songs and 60 million albums sold.

To showcase Maestro Kaufman's unique talent and passion for conducting movie scores, the Symphony performs the music to Alfred Hitchcock's classic film, "Vertigo," for a symphonic night at the movies! A newly restored print fills the big screen while the musicians of Pacific Symphony recreate the score live in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on Thursday-Saturday, April 30-May 2, 2015, at 8 p.m. The 1958 thriller is widely recognized as one of the greatest films of all time and its score is known for its haunting thematic sounds.

"Our audience is in for an amazing event this coming season when we perform Bernard Herrmann's extraordinary score live to the film 'Vertigo,'" says Kaufman. "The original dialogue and sound effects remain, but the orchestra track has been removed so that the audience can hear the music live. It's a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience...just like being on a Hollywood scoring stage when the music was recorded for the film itself."

An explosion of talent rounds up the Pops season when "Herb Alpert and Lani Hall" join the Symphony on Thursday-Saturday, June 4-6, 2015, at 8 p.m. Performing songs from their newly released album "Steppin' Out," including versions of such classics as "Puttin' on the Ritz," "I Only Have Eyes For You," "What'll I Do" and "La Vie En Rose," the dynamic duo concludes the Pops series with an electrifying bang!

Trumpeter Alpert and vocalist Hall infuse an eclectic blend of jazz, world and American pop standards with their unique sound. Performing together since 2006, each half of this husband-and-wife team brings an impressive musical background to the table: Alpert's accomplishments include five number-one hits, 28 albums on the Billboard charts and eight Grammys; while Hall is a Grammy-winning vocalist who was the original lead singer for Sergio Mendes' Brasil '66.

"In the music business, the word 'legendary' is applied to very few individuals. I think that when it comes to Herb Alpert, that word is more than appropriate," says Kaufman. "Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass were a musical mainstay throughout the world for many years, and now Herb Alpert has decided to combine his many talents with his wife, Lani Hall, and Pacific Symphony in their very first symphony performance. It will be an exciting way to close what promises to be another memorable Pops season.