Interview: Conductor Larry Blank On MUSIC OF THE NIGHT: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER AND FRIENDS at the Pasadena POPS

The Pasadena POPS closes its 2026 season with MUSIC OF THE NIGHT: Andrew Lloyd Webber AND FRIENDS on Saturday, August 29 at the LA County Arboretum. The evening celebrates iconic melodies from Andrew Lloyd Webber's most popular shows, including PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CATS, EVITA, and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, with a song list featuring 'Music of the Night,' 'Memory,' 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina,' 'Gethsemane,' and more, alongside works by Webber's contemporaries Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Schwartz.

Conducting the finale is Larry Blank, one of the most prolific and sought-after composers, conductors, and orchestrators in the entertainment business. A three-time Tony Award and Drama Desk nominee for his orchestrations on THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, Irving Berlin'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, Blank has conducted Broadway orchestras and the national tours of both EVITA and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and served as personal conductor to Michael Crawford. At this concert, Blank will receive the President's Award from The American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers, an honor whose past recipients include Mel Tormé, Natalie Cole, and Diane Warren.

The concert features guest vocalists Valerie Perri, Hugh Panaro, who played the Phantom on Broadway over 2,000 times, and Scarlett Strallen. BroadwayWorld spoke with Blank about drawing on a career spent intimately connected to Webber's music, reuniting with a dream team of vocalists, and what it means to close out his first season as the POPS' full-time conductor.

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What made this the right moment to build a full season finale around Andrew Lloyd Webber's music with the Pasadena POPS?

For the end of my first season as full time conductor for the Pasadena POPS, it seemed appropriate to put my Broadway background forward. I conducted EVITA at the Shubert in 1980 as well as PHANTOM at the Ahmanson in 1989 as well as being Michael Crawford's full time conductor. The music of ALW was a great part of my professional existence. We are including some Sondheim, some Jerry Herman and a few other iconic selections from the same time period in Broadway history.

Your own career includes conducting national tours of both EVITA and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. How does that firsthand experience shape the way you approach programming and conducting this concert?

I have conducted this music so frequently it's second nature to me. I also conducted under auspices of the original creators so it's part of my DNA. Plus, the singers on the program have similar background.

How did you go about selecting which Andrew Lloyd Webber songs to feature alongside works from his contemporaries like Sondheim, Bernstein and Schwartz?

There is so much ALW music to choose from. So many iconic songs. With a catalog that large and that familiar to the public it's very easy to put together a satisfying program.

What connections or contrasts were you hoping to highlight by pairing Webber's music with pieces like 'Something's Coming' and 'For Good'?

'Something's Coming' is obviously the most anticipatory song of all time with a Sondheim lyric and Bernstein music, it's an easy pick. 'For Good' is a perfect blend and duet for two leading ladies. And I have two leading ladies on the stage with me, easy to do.

You've worked extensively with all three guest vocalists, Valerie Perri, Hugh Panaro and Scarlett Strallen, in other productions. How does that history influence your collaboration with them for this concert?

I have a sympatico with all three. I first worked with Val Perri in 1979-80. Since that time we've done literally dozens of performances together. Always a great musical and personal pleasure. I have known Scarlett Strallen from many concerts for the BBC in her native UK. She can sing anything from ALW to Jerry Herman with the greatest of ease. Hugh Panaro is one of the greatest baritones that has ever appeared on Broadway and the concert stage. In fact, he was one of the four boys that introduced Barbra Streisand's first farewell tour and sang 'Something's Coming' with my arrangement. I've done many concerts with him as well as SWEENEY TODD where he played Young Anthony under the supervision of Steve Sondheim. We've done many concerts and recordings together. This is a dream team for me.

Hugh Panaro performed PHANTOM over 2,000 times on Broadway. What is it like conducting him on this material given his deep history with the role?

Even though he's done it 2,000 times, I've done it almost as many times. Between the two of us we know how it goes. The audience will be seeing authentic performances by performers who have performed many times at the behest of the composer himself, Lord Webber. It couldn't be better.

How do you balance staying true to the original orchestrations of these iconic songs while making them feel fresh for a POPS audience?

Many of the orchestrations are the original iconic orchestrations. The ALW estate is insistent on preserving the original orchestrations, as they well should be. My familiarity with it along with the performers brings a freshness in performance which can only come with familiarity. The performers, orchestrations, conductor, singers and orchestra are a perfect fit.

You'll be receiving the President's Award from The American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers at this concert. What does that recognition mean to you at this point in your career?

I was President of ASMAC for three terms in the late 90's after the passing of my mentor Irwin Kostal. Irwin was the orchestrator for MARY POPPINS, THE SOUND OF MUSIC and WEST SIDE STORY. He brought me to the organization and on his passing they made me president, at a very young age. To be surrounded by the great arrangers of then and now is an honor in itself. To be celebrated by them is the culmination of everything I wanted to be in the music business. It's a great honor.

What do you think it is about Webber's melodies that continues to resonate with audiences decades after these shows first premiered?

Webber's melodies, like all great composers, are EARWORMS. They have melodic information that makes them memorable. To hear these familiar melodies is both exciting and satisfying at the same time. It's like being cuddled up with an old friend.

As you close out the Pasadena POPS season with this concert, what do you hope audiences take away from this particular evening of music?

I hope that audiences realize the honor to have a live orchestra and live musicians in the community playing music the way it was meant to be heard. With live players and live instruments in a beautiful environment. The setting of the LA Arboretum (a beautiful luxurious park) with beautiful plants and greenery, surrounded by live peacocks and other friendly "critters" with a symphony orchestra playing theatre music with great singers. What's not to like? It's a more convenient setting with easy access. I hope the public realizes what a blessing it is to have the Pasadena POPS and all that goes with it at the Arboretum. The best!!!

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