Review: PATRIOTIC POPS at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall

Performing arts organizations traditionally close up shop in these parts during the summer. Not so this year. Andrew Kurtz conducted a successful experiment as well as his Gulf Coast Symphony on July 14, 2018, at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.

The concert was billed as Patriotic Pops, and pre-performance sliders and hotdogs got the audience in a picnic mood. To me, that title was a misnomer. I would have called it Americana. The program included "America the Beautiful," "God Bless America," and the requisite "Salute to the Armed Forces" to allow veterans in the audience to take a bow, but also included much more.

Kurtz is clearly a movie buff. The man knows a good score when he hears one, and he sprinkled them liberally among some rousing Sousa marches. Highlights were excerpts from the scores of 1941 and Apollo 13, both featuring moving solo trumpet by Dave Harler. We also heard a little Copland and, yes, a Beach Boys medley.

I hope Dave will forgive me if I got his name wrong. The symphony didn't print programs for the concert, allowing Kurtz to educate and amuse us with introductions of each piece.

Because of the annual exodus to the north, both the orchestra and the audience were on the smallish side. That didn't lessen the finesse of the musicians or the enthusiasm of the crowd.

If you missed this highly entertaining evening, don't despair. The good news is another concert is planned for August 4. That one will be the Best of Broadway with local favorite Mark Sanders. Tickets are available through www.bbmannpah.com.

Season tickets for 2018-2019 are on sale too. Call 239.277.1700 for those.

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