The Golden State Pops Orchestra returns after quite a hiatus. Not only is there the usual suspects of ELF (John Debney), POLAR EXPRESS (Alan Silvestri) and HOME ALONE (John Williams) but William Ross (who has orchestrated THE FORCE AWAKENS and practically all of the notable Alan Silvestri and Michael Kamen scores, plus conducted the Oscars and scores like BEETLEJUICE) is conducting A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS and possibly another piece, plus composer George Clinton (AUSTIN POWERS) is coming to conduct excerpts from his SANTA CLAUSE scores. If you have been to previous XMAS shows you know how powerful their orchestra is combined with their own choral group. And this is just for starts.
Oh, yeah they are doing a few traditional pieces like “Twas The Night Before Christmas” but got Bill Rogers to come down and do the narration. Who is Bill Rogers? Well you MAY already know him:
I see Debney's CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS has been added to the list of Christmassy film themes!
C'mon where else on the planet earth will you find William's HOME ALONE played with George Clinton's THE SANTA CLAUSE? Alan Silvestri's POLAR EXPRESS and Debney's ELF on the same program? Vince Guaraldi's A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS combined with Bruce Broughton's MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET? All masterfully played by Steven Allen Fox's GSPO orchestra and sung by the GSPO Chorale, led by Maestra Marya Basaraba. If you want film music concerts to thrive, as opposed to the with-film concerts where it goes back to where it started, disappearing behind the movie, give this a shot. At least once before they go bye-bye.
Sorry I can't join everybody this time out, but I'm so happy it's happening, and I hope it'll soon lead to more concerts in '17. Have a Whale N' Ale of a great time!
