Philly POPS Pays Tribute To Leonard Bernstein

The Philly POPS will join in a city-and-nationwide tribute to composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein to mark 100 years after his birth. Lenny's Revolution runs February 2-4, 2018 at the Kimmel Center.

Bernstein, who studied at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music, revolutionized music forever by blurring the lines between classical and popular, most famously with his iconic hits West Side Story, Candide, and On the Town.

Newly-appointed Philly POPS Principal Guest Conductor David Charles Abell, Bernstein's protégé and Philly-native, will lead the show. Abell has a long history with Bernstein, from the time he was 12 years old in a boys choir to working together after college to when he made his professional conducting debut conducting Bernstein's Mass in Berlin. View this video of Abell discussing their decades-long relationship.

Lenny's Revolution is part of a citywide tribute to Bernstein, led by the National Museum of American Jewish History which will open its Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music exhibition on March 16.

The 65-piece Philly POPS orchestra will be joined on-stage by Broadway stars Lisa Vroman, Alli Mauzey and Ryan Silverman. Vroman returns the POPS stage after a successful run of 10 POPS Christmas shows in 2015 - she's known for her roles as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera and was the first to play both Fantine and Cosette in Les Misérables. Mauzey, who last appeared on Broadway as Glinda in Wicked, dazzled audiences in 2017's Blockbuster Broadway. Ryan Silverman's Broadway credits include Billy Flynn in Chicago and Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera - and his portrayal of Tony in the Olivier-nominated 2008 West End production of West Side Story received universal raves.

Adding to the rich sound of Bernstein's music will be the 150-voice Philly POPS Festival Chorus, which regularly performs with the POPS orchestra, under the direction of Jeff Kern.

Program

Candide: Overture, Glitter and Be Gay, The Ballad of Eldorado, I Am Easily Assimilated, Make Our Garden Grow
Divertimento for Orchestra: Waltz, Turkey Trot
1600 Pennsylvania: Take Care Of This House
Trouble in Tahiti: What a Movie!
Wonderful Town: Conga
On the Town: Times Square 1944, I'm So Lucky To Be Me, I Can Cook Too
Mass: Simple Song, Credo, Almighty Father
West Side Story: Something's Coming, Balcony Scene (Tonight), Somewhere, Mambo

Special events

On opening night, Friday, February 2, Miss Philadelphia 2017 Nia Andrews will perform a dance routine to accompany "Somewhere" from West Side Story during the show. Andrews is a professionally-trained dancer, versed in Modern, Tap, West African, Jazz, and Lyrical dance.

On February 4 at 1:30pm, Ivy Weingram, curator of the National Museum of American Jewish History's upcoming Leonard Bernstein exhibition, will speak about Bernstein's career and legacy on the Kimmel Center's Plaza Stage prior to the show.

All guests are welcome to arrive 90 minutes prior to each concert for free pre-concert entertainment, including a conversation led by CBS Radio Philadelphia's RJ McKay.

Tickets: $35-$145
http://phillypops.org/lenny

The Philly POPS Subscription Series is made possible thanks to Presenting Sponsor Parx Casino.

About The Philly POPS
The Philly POPS, the largest standalone pops orchestra in the United States, delights audiences with the inspired performance of American popular music. The POPS celebrates this distinctive musical heritage through an expanding repertoire of innovative concert presentations and a robust set of educational and engagement initiatives.

Now in its 39th season, the official POPS orchestra of Pennsylvania serves a consistently growing audience of over 150,000 annually. Music Director Michael Krajewski and the 65-piece Philly POPS orchestra keeps listeners tapping their toes to an impressive repertoire of songs from American traditions of music up through today's chart toppers. The Philly POPS BIG Band, an 18-20 piece ensemble performing a rock and rhythm and blues repertoire , premiered in 2017 to enthusiastic response at the July 4 Welcome America Concert on the Parkway.

Outside the concert hall, Salute Series performances - including POPS on Independence on July 3 and the I'll Be Home for Christmas: A Salute to the Military and First Responders concert - celebrate the American tradition of service around important national holidays; POPS in Schools enhances music education for Philadelphia School District students; and POPS Outside brings POPS music to local communities.

The Philly POPS performs as a founding resident company of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and at venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

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