Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to Present SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, 3/26-29

Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly leads the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in performances of Singin' in the Rain, Thursday, March 26, at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore and Friday, March 27, at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 28, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 29, at 3 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Ranked by the American Film Institute (AFI) as the No. 1 movie musical of all time, Singin' in the Rain stars Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds, and features a lighthearted portrayal of iconic dance and memorable songs, including "Make 'em Laugh," "Fit as a Fiddle" and more. The film will be projected on a large screen above the Orchestra while Maestro Everly leads the BSO in the moving classic score. Please see below for complete program details.

MGM's movie musical Singin' in the Rain debuted in 1952 to tepid critical and audience response. However, its artistry has gradually gained the recognition it deserves and today it tops the list as AFI's pick for the best movie musical of all time. Its story is set in 1927, as Hollywood was in the midst of transitioning from silent films to "talkies." The dashing silent screen star Don Lockwood, played by Gene Kelly, falls for the silvery-voiced chorus girl Kathy Seldon, played by 19-year-old Debbie Reynolds. The film boasts numerous song-and-dance scenes that dazzle with virtuoso dancing, done without the aid of stunt doubles or special effects. The highlight, of course, is the title number, which features Gene Kelly sashaying down the wet streets of Hollywood, making inventive use of props like umbrellas and light poles, as he proclaims his love for Reynold's character.

Jack Everly is the principal pops conductor of the Baltimore and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa), and the music director of the National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth on PBS. He has been on stage with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall and appears regularly with The Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center. His frequent guest conducting engagements include the orchestras of Pittsburgh, Edmonton, Oklahoma City and this season with The Philadelphia Orchestra at The Mann Center.

Everly is the music director of Yuletide Celebration, now a 26-year tradition. These theatrical symphonic holiday concerts are presented annually in December in Indianapolis and are seen by more than 40,000 concert-goers. He led the ISO in its first Pops recording, Yuletide Celebration, Volume One,that included three of his own arrangements.

Originally appointed by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Everly was conductor of the American Ballet Theatre for 14 years, where he served as music director. In addition to his ABT tenure, he teamed with Marvin Hamlisch in Broadway shows that Mr. Hamlisch scored including, The Goodbye Girl, They're Playing Our Song and A Chorus Line. He conducted Carol Channing hundreds of times in Hello, Dolly! in two separate Broadway productions.

Everly has conducted the songs for Disney's animated classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame and led the Czech Philharmonic on the recordings In the Presence, featuring tenor Daniel Rodriguez and Sandi Patty's 2011 release Broadway Stories. He also conducted the critically-praised Everything's Coming Up Roses: The Complete Overtures of Broadway's Jule Styne, and was music director for numerous Broadway cast recordings.

In 1998, Everly created the Symphonic Pops Consortium, serving as music director. The Consortium, based in Indianapolis, produces new theatrical pops programs, and in the past 13 years, more than 250 performances of SPC programs have taken place across the U.S. and Canada.

Maestro Everly holds an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Franklin College in his home state of Indiana. When not on the podium or arranging, Maestro Everly indulges in his love for films, Häagen-Dazs and a pooch named Max.

To post a comment, you must register and login.