In an effort to show the diversity of the orchestra and to create a summer festival feel at Heinz Hall, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in conjunction with BNY Mellon will be presenting Thursday Night Icons, a series of summer concerts that feature some of the music world’s greatest entertainers performing with the Pittsburgh Symphony.
“We wanted to create a series of major American artists who have made an indelible impact on popular music in this country, and worldwide,” said Declan McGovern, vice-president of Orchestra Operations and General Manager of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “Icons representing different music worlds—R& B, Pop, Jazz and film—all working in a symphonic setting for these special concerts at Heinz Hall.”
The artists chosen for the series are Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis, Diana Krall and Randy Newman. Robinson will kick off the series on July 9; Mathis will follow on July 16; Krall will perform on July 23; and Newman will close out the series on July 30. All concerts will be held at Heinz Hall and will begin at 7:30 p.m.
“Smokey Robinson is a ground breaker who made a major impact on a golden period in American popular music history,” McGovern said. “’Motown the Musical’ celebrated the life of Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy. It was a huge success in Heinz Hall last Christmas so we wanted to bring the man in person back to our stage to launch our first-ever icons series. He is a true legend as a songwriter and singer.”
Robinson is thrilled to be in such great company.
“I’m flattered to be considered an icon. They are all my friends and Pittsburgh is a wonderful city,” said Robinson who recently released the album, “Smokey and Friends.” “I’m glad to perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony. I do it in other cities.”
Robinson said his Pittsburgh performance will include some of his classic hits, some of his new music and everything in between.
“We perform an hour and a half show. We want to give the audience a good time,” Robinson said.
Mathis will be making his return to perform with the symphony after a three-year absence.
“Heinz Hall is one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world,” explained Mathis, who will be celebrating his 80th birthday this year and is Columbia Records’ longest running recording artist with 60 years of recording to his credit. “I love singing with big orchestras and this is one of the best orchestras in the country.”
The mutual love and respect between Mathis, the PSO and Heinz Hall is one reason why it was a no-brainer for Mathis to be considered for the Thursday Night Icons series.
“Johnny has been performing at Heinz Hall for many years,” McGovern said. “He has a huge following in Pittsburgh and we thought it was time to bring him back. He is a true icon, one of the truly great voices of popular music. His arrangements for orchestra are stylish and classy. With Mr. Mathis in the room there is a sense of being in the company of greatness.”
All four of the Thursday Night Icons artists are the centerpiece to a whole series of concerts and events known as “Summer with the Symphony.” The series puts popular, experimental, and classical spins on the musical summer in the Steel City. In addition to the four Thursday Night Icons, the series is set to include free concerts at some of Pittsburgh area parks including South Park on July 3 and Hartwood Acres in July 5 and
A Night of Symphonic Rock featuring John Elefante, former lead singer of the rock group, Kansas on July 25.
“An icon is someone who has not just excelled in terms of their innate talent but who has also broken new ground,” McGovern said. “An icon is also an instantly recognizable artist who has made an indelible impact on global audiences and who lives in the current consciousness as being an artist of great distinction and who possesses a voice to die for!”
“All of these artists have worked with orchestras, have produced beautiful symphonic arrangements of their music and are all heavyweights in their respective fields,” McGovern concluded.
For more information on Mathis’, Robinson’s or any other Thursday Night Icon performances or any other concerts in the Summer with the Symphony series, visit pittsburghsymphony.org.
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