Keith Lockhart marks Pops journey in 30th anniversary concert — with the help of friends
Funny thing about Keith Lockhart's 30th anniversary concert: It was wrong. Lockhart's debut conducting the Boston Pops was indeed June 5-6 … in 1993, 32 years ago. He did open his first season as the official successor to
Not that Lockhart could be bothered with the former. From the stage, the conductor mentioned, not for the first time, his general disinterest in birthdays, anniversaries, and the like, preferring instead to look forward, and while he took the stage to a standing ovation, two pieces had passed — the overture to Bernstein's 'Candide' (prancing, tiptoeing, and wafting in equal measure) and a galloping and brassy 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' — before he even addressed the audience to welcome them to the 2025 season as usual.
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But Lockhart soon settled into the theme of the concert, if somewhat abashedly, by focusing on his role as only one link in an ongoing chain. A video essay on his appointment showed Williams literally passing the baton to him all those years ago, while Peter Fiedler, a nearly spitting image of his father, Arthur, showed up in person to offer congratulations. And Lockhart pointed out that bass player Larry Wolfe had him beat by 25 years, while others on stage hadn't been born by the time he arrived.
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Percussionists Samuel Solomon and Toby Grace with conductor Michael Feinstein and Keith Lockhart in Leroy Anderson's "The Typewriter" on June 6 at Symphony Hall.
Robert Torres
He also argued for the purpose of the Pops and the various roles the orchestra serves for Boston and the wider world. One was championing American music, and there were entries from the Great American Songbook (including a scampering 'I Got Rhythm' aided by guitarist John Pizzarelli's high-speed scatting, the tropical rhythms of 'All The Things You Are'), a dip into the rock and disco eras (with Rockapella bringing out the calypso undertones of 'Rock the Boat' and Melinda Doolittle attacking the bluesy swing of 'I'm a Woman' with fire) and light-classical curios (Leroy Anderson's percussive 'The Typewriter,' with Lockhart performing the title instrument). And the Pops is surely unique in offering an extended video-essay salute to 'America the Beautiful' poet Katharine Lee Bates alongside Tom Lehrer's 'sick humor' exemplar 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park.'
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Lockhart also stressed the Pops' role in seeing audiences through difficult times, listing the crises the orchestra has weathered during his tenure: 9/11, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boston Marathon bombing, financial crises, and a Snowmageddon that saw one concert beginning with only 25 musicians on stage, playing to a crowd of 15. The unspoken message was that the way to make it is together, and Lockhart was joined by a handful of friends, from Pizzarelli, Rockapella, and Doolittle to Michael Feinstein, Jason Danieley, and, in a rare out-of-season appearance, Santa Claus.
Conductor Keith Lockhart and members of Rockapella with a cake for his 30th anniversary celebration and concert at Symphony Hall on June 6.
Robert Torres
Those were just the ones onstage. Liza Minnelli saluted Lockhart via audio, while Williams's congratulatory message was read onstage by Feinstein. And two songs from the end, and before the giant cake arrived, a parade of well-wishers that included Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Branford Marsalis, Ana Gasteyer, James Taylor, Kristin Chenoweth, David Ortiz, and Mayor Michelle Wu appeared by video to sing Sondheim's 'I'm Still Here' with new, Lockhart-specific lyrics. And then the visibly-moved conductor worked his way back to his podium, and he got back to work.
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THE BOSTON POPS: The Keith Lockhart 30th anniversary concert
At Symphony Hall, Friday
Marc Hirsh can be reached at
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