Is there any better way to experience "Star Wars" than after excerpts from Pucchini's "LaBoheme?" Tomorrow night's Michigan Pops Orchestra concert, "An Opera Gala and A Salute to John Williams," proves that film music and opera aren't such a far-fetched combination.
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Michigan Pops Orchestra At Power Center, Tickets $7, $5 students Saturday at 8 p.m. |
"We are looking to familiarize people who are uncomfortable with opera and show them that it can be very entertaining and beautiful. At the same time, we are showing that the music of John Williams is just as valid. Only a pops orchestra could juxtapose the two," School of Music junior and conductor of the Michigan Pops Orchestra Steve Bizub said.
The Michigan Pops Orchestra debuted last March at the Michigan Theater, drawing in a crowd of more than 900, despite the competition of UMS and Musket events.
"The University community has all sorts of music but until last year, there was no pops orchestra. It's a neglected area of music," Bizub said.
"We did a really good job last year as far as putting together an orchestra from scratch and we were really surprised at the acceptance," he added. "This year, we are working to get more people excited about pops. We're trying to broaden our audience base and advance the musical quality."
This year's orchestra is made up of 66 student members. Auditions were held at the end of the fall term. The group spends 2 1/2 hours rehearsing on Sunday nights. Although the orchestra is primarily non-music majors, Saturday's concert features seven School of Music soloists on both halves of the program.
"We pride ourselves on showcasing talent from within the student body. The majority of the orchestra is doing this because they love performing in an orchestral ensemble," Bizub said.
Bizub stressed that one of the main goals of the organization is to try to erase the boundaries between the performers and the audience. The performance rituals of an orchestral concert have the potential to cut the audience off from the musicians because of the formality. But pops has the ability to make orchestral music more accessible to the audience because of the emphasis on the entertaining nature of the music.
"Pops is unique because you can draw from enormous areas of music," Bizub said. "There are really no boundaries as long as it is done in good taste."
Bizub hoped that the Michigan Pops Orchestra will pave the way to encourage the community to embrace orchestral music.
"There's a tremendous spirit in doing something unique at this university when we can get people to have a newfound understanding, respect and love for orchestral music," he said.
"People want to be entertained. The modern orchestra is a wonderful way to provide that entertainment."