Cal Phil, Pasadena Pops Summer Concert Tickets Now Available
The California Philharmonic Orchestra and the Pasadena Pops Orchestra ticket booths are now open for business with the expectation that their popular summer concerts will enjoy brisk sales for tables and individual seats. Cal Phil at The Arboretum in Arcadia and the Pops Orchestra at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge open at their special venues in mid-June. Over the years, both orchestras have presented similar programs, often using the same guest artists. The cross over is seen in many ways: guest artists, music programming and yes, even conductors. But still, there is enough new fresh material to entice both orchestras’ loyal fans—and some of the audience members are cross-overs, too, attending both organization’s concerts which, thankfully, do not conflict by dates this year.
Following a free concert at Pasadena City Hall on Sunday, June 7, Rachael Worby will conduct the Pasadena Pops Orchestra in its opening concert at Descanso Gardens, a Latin themed program, on Saturday, June 19 (with a repeat concert, also at Descanso Gardens, the following evening, Sunday, June 20). The music to be presented is more modern than most, but the composer’s works to be heard, Astor Piazzolla and Heiter Villa Lobos, rank right up there with rocking Latin motifs, and Louis Moreau Gottschalk lived in South America and in the Caribbean to earn his chops. We are less certain about the authenticity of Capriccio Espagñol, Rimsky-Korsakov’s take on Spain. But with the addition of Tango dancers Sandor and Parissa, young choreographers who have trained some “Dancing With Stars” participants, it will be irresistible.
This year, Victor Vener, conductor of the California Philharmonic Orchestra will open his summer season on Saturday, June 27 (with a repeat concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28) with the music of George Gershwin that will offer the gifted singing of baritone Cedric Berry and soprano Henrietta Davis in a program titled “By George!” Berry has been a guest artist with the Pasadena Pops Orchestra and a repeat artist with Cal Phil the last two years. Berry has used his operatic training in his performances at The Arboretum, but he is called on for “Porgy and Bess” renditions, which he does movingly, quite often in these summer venues. This Cal Phil program mirrors the Pasadena Pops 2001 program “By George—by Gershwin”, although Berry was not involved with that performance. Henrietta Davis, soprano, joins Berry presumably for “Summertime”, the song inserted into “Porgy and Bess” for a youngster named Anne Brown who starred in the original production. Because he is a “George”, the program will also include Music for the Royal Fireworks, George Frideric Handel’s famous-to the point being popular-music.
“Basically Beatles” is the Cal Phil offering on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12 with a group that imitates the Beatles, called The Fab Four. Their press says they are note perfect in their renditions of such Beatles favorites as “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “Yesterday” or “Hey Jude” which they have performed at the Hollywood Bowl and the Las Vegas Hilton. Phil Smith, Conservator of the Disney Hall organ, will repeat his performance of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue from last summer’s program. Roger Ward, a local composer of growing stature, will have his latest opus, Symphony No. 1, premiered, perhaps his fourth premiere with the Cal Phil orchestra.
“I Love Paris” is the theme of Pasadena Pops’ Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18 program. Karen Akers brings her interpretation of Parisian cabaret singer Edith Piaf to the stage. The Pops have been consistent in presenting cabaret singers through the years starting with Barbara Cook, then Anne Bergman in 2005,and Andrea Marcovicci in 2006, a unique popular music ingredient in the Pops programming. Given the remarkable talents of the Pasadena Symphony Association’s musicians, Saint-Saen’s “Carnival of the Animals” and Gershwin’s “American in Paris” should be thrilling.
California Philharmonic continues with two concerts of movie music, the first, “Swords and Chivalry” on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 and the second, “Movie Magic” on Saturday, Aug. 8 and Sunday, Aug. 9. The July 25-26 concert will include the popular and talented pianist Robert Edward Thies to perform a piece not yet announced. He is a favorite of the Pasadena Symphony, soloing with that orchestra in 2004, twice in 2005 and once in 2007. The music will be from action and musical films, plus a touch of the classics and a call-back asked by audiences, the Scottish pipe and drum band, Cabar Feidh. The latter concert is film scores with guest artist, violinist Armen Anassian. Anassian has performed many times with Cal Phil as guest and as orchestra member. He has also performed as guest artist and concertmaster of the Pasadena Pops.
Pasadena Pops Orchestra concerts of Saturday, Aug. 14 and Sunday, Aug. 15 will include an exciting young soprano, Angel Blue. Blue has performed with Cal Phil, memorably at its winter concert at the Ambassador Auditorium. The Pops theme for this August concert is “Star-Crossed Love” to convey its Romeo and Juliet music. The orchestra will be heard in Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet”, Nino Rota’s film score to the 1968 Franco Zefferelli fim, “Romeo and Juliet” and Leonard Bernstein’s version of the romantic tragedy, “West Side Story”. Blue will be heard in songs from Bernstein’s Broadway and film production.
California Philharmonic will conclude its Festival on the Green summer series at The Arboretum on Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug 23 with “Broadway’s Best” with Pasadena native, soprano, Khori Dastoor an alumna of both the Pops and Cal Phil. She will be joined by tenor Danny Gurwin in songs from a variety of musical stage hits and operetta selections.
Pasadena Pops ends its Descanso Gardens season on Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12 with a program titled “Genius Loves Company” a musical assortment that links performers and composers—such as Dave Brubeck loves Bach, Copland loves Bernstein and Bernstein loved Bob Dylan. Bach’s Double Violin Concerto, Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” and Bernstein’s overture to “Candide” make up the music numbers to be performed.
The history of both Cal Phil and Pasadena Pops is intertwined. Victor Vener was the first conductor of the Pasadena Pops when it was formed by Pasadena Rotarians in 1987. Vener held the post until 1997 when he was replaced by Lucas Richman. Richman served as conductor from 1997 to 1999. Rachael Worby joined the orchestra as conductor in 2000. At least one Pasadena Pops summer concert was conducted by Jorge Mester, the conductor of the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra, on July 1 of 1999. Those two orchestras are now under the same banner, the Pasadena Symphony Association.
Vener went on to form the CalPhil Foundation in 1995 with performances by the California Philharmonic Orchestra at The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in 1997.
Both orchestras draw thousands to their picnic concerts throughout the summer.
Program brochures and ticket information are available by calling, for the Pasadena Pops Orchestra, (626) 793-7172, ext. 16; and for California Philharmonic Orchestra, call (626) 300-8200.
By Bill Peters
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