The Virginia Symphony Orchestra revealed the five shows that will make up its 2017-18 POPS season.
The season, with each show offered in Norfolk and Newport News, runs from September through March. VSO’s resident conductor Benjamin Rous will take the lead in three of the five performances under the direction of VSO’s Grammy-winning music director, JoAnn Falletta.
September kicks the season off with a tribute to Nat King Cole, the iconic American jazz singer. Rous will conduct the concert, featuring Canadian jazz vocalist Denzal Sinclaire, on Sept. 28 and 30.
The next month’s concert honors Journey, the 80s rock band with hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Dubbed “Faithfully: The Music of Journey,” the concert is timely, coinciding with the band’s introduction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
With 25 gold and platinum albums and 19 top 40 singles, a news release from the VSO calls Journey “one of the world’s most revered rock bands of all time.”
Again, Rous takes the lead for the two shows, Oct. 27 and 28.
Conductor Robert Shoup will step in for the traditional Holiday POPS concerts in Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach Dec. 8-10.
The shows will be upbeat and feature familiar carols.
After a short break, the orchestra will be back Feb. 1 and 3 for a night of The King — Elvis Presley. Featuring the star’s classic tunes like “Hound Dog” and “All Shook Up,” Music Director of the Philly Pops Michael Krajewski will take over conducting.
Vocalists Allison Blackwell and Dave Bennet, The Dave Bennet Quartet, pianist Tad Weed, bassist Shelly Berger and Pete Siers on drums will join the symphony each night.
Rous returns to close out the 2017-18 season in March with the music from prolific composer John Williams. This show will only be March 24 at the Chrystler Hall in Norfolk.
“With a career spanning over six decades, John Williams has composed some of the most popular and recognizable film scores in the history of cinema,” the release said.
The show will include some of Williams’ famous films scores from Indiana Jones, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Parks and Star Wars.
Season tickets are available now in packages of four for the Ferguson Center in Newport News and five for the Chrystler Hall in Norfolk. Tickets for individual shows will be available in July.
For season tickets, call 757.892.6366 or go to virginiasymphony.org/subscriptions.
VSO POPS Season
Unforgettable: The Music of Nat King Cole
Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. at Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News
Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. at Chrysler Hall, Norfolk
Faithfully: The Music of Journey
Oct. 27, 2017 at 8 p.m. at Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News
Oct. 28, 2017 at 8 p.m. at Chrysler Hall, Norfolk
Holiday POPS
Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. at Ferguson Center for the Arts, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. at Chrysler Hall
Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach
Elvis: The King’s Songbook
Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. at Ferguson Center for the Arts, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. Chrysler Hall
The Music of John Williams
March 24, 2018 at 8 p.m. at Chrysler Hall
For season tickets, call 757.892.6366 or go to virginiasymphony.org/subscriptions.