Marvin Hamlisch at Symphony Summer Pops. (Courtesy photo)
When trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos performed the national anthem Friday night at the San Diego Symphony Summer Pops, his classy, jazzy solo set the tone for the enjoyably eclectic Fourth of July-style concert.
This wasn’t your standard musical salute to patriotism.
By accenting variety, “Star-Spangled Pops with Marvin Hamlisch” made us proud of everything from Broadway to bluegrass, from George M. Cohan’s rousing “You’re a Grand Old Flag” to Hamlisch’s hymn-like “Freedom Is,” sonorously sung by members of the San Diego Master Chorale.
Yet the program wasn’t overly reverent. Hamlisch, the orchestra’s celebrated principal pops conductor, was often funny during the first of three holiday weekend performances, slated for 7:30 p.m. at downtown’s gloriously scenic Embarcadero Marina Park South. (Saturday’s program is sold out; as of Friday, some tickets remained for Sunday’s concert. Tickets/information: www.sandiegosymphony.com)
Doubling as host, conductor Hamlisch was in fine form, introducing the music, interviewing musicians and even making cracks about jailed financier Bernard Madoff (”I was thrilled he got 150 years - but with good behavior, it’s only 135!”). Though Hamlisch sometimes milked the jokes until they ran dry, his fast-paced, satirical sense of humor gave the Pops a clubby feeling.
During the first half of Friday’s concert, I sat at one of the nifty cabaret tables, with an excellent view of the stage. After intermission, I tried out lawn seating for the first time, using a short-legged beach chair I brought from home.
Lawn seating is only $15 and, as I discovered, it’s a good deal for bargain-minded patrons. Though the stage was pretty far away, the video screens made it easy to see what was happening. The sound was decent despite the electronic amplification that tended to make the violins a bit tinny. And the setting was definitely family friendly, with children playing quietly nearby on beach blankets.
The orchestra performed consistently well under Hamlisch’s guidance and the guests made valuable contributions. Among the highlights were vocalist Anne Runolffson’s Broadway-style renditions of “Over the Rainbow” and “The Wizard and I”; the 7th Day Buskers’ banjo-strumming, fiddle-playing celebration of bluegrass music, which was great fun; and the unusual, a cappella version of “God Bless the USA,” ably performed by six members of the Master Chorale. And let’s not forget that old Pops’ favorite, “Bugler’s Holiday,” played with snappy vitality by trumpeters Calvin Price, John Wilds and Castellanos.
How did the program end?
With a Sousa march and fireworks, of course. As Hamlisch and the orchestra performed “Stars and Stripes Forever,” accompanied by a colorful overhead display, they showed why this sparkling Pops tradition is well worth keeping.
Valerie Scher is the SDNN Arts & Entertainment editor.
Tags: 7th Day Buskers, Anne Runolfsson, Gilbert Castellanos, Marvin Hamlisch, review Star-Spangled Pops, review Symphony Summer Pops, San Diego Master Chorale, San Diego Symphony Summer Pops, San Diego Symphony Summer Pops review, SDNN
