There’s something about Cole Porter out in the air these days. Harry Connick, Jr., just announced that his new album, True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter is dedicated to his songs. He’s also going to perform Porter’s material on Broadway later this year. But why wait that long if you don’t have to? Michael Feinstein is dedicating this Saturday’s Pasadena Pops Concert to the work of the celebrated songwriter. The concert begins at 7:30 PM at the LA County Arboretum.
Feinstein is one of our finest musicologists. His depth of knowledge of the Great American Songbook is unparalleled. So when he steps off the podium (where he usually conducts the Pasadena Pops concerts) and hands the baton over to Larry Blank, you know he’s going to approach Porter’s amazing songs with classic arrangements. In fact, he’ll probably have some surprises along the way…he usually does.
Cole Porter is the man who wrote such great songs as Anything Goes, You’re the Top, So In Love, In the Still of the Night, Let’s Misbehave, Just One of Those Things and dozens more.
Joining Feinstein for this concert is Mitzi Gaynor. She is best known for playing Nellie Forbush in the film version of South Pacific. Amongst her film credits is the 1956 film Anything Goes. While the film shares the title with the Cole Porter musical of the same name, and it does use several of Porter’s songs, it is not a film adaptation of Porter’s musical.
Fans of Porter’s know that he was every bit the wordsmith Sondheim is today. Sondheim included three songs by Porter in a list of songs he’d wished he written (in part) for the New York Times upon the occasion of his 70th birthday nearly 20 years ago. Those songs are Every Time We Say Goodbye, Let’s Be Buddies and Let’s Not Talk About Love.
As with other Pasadena Pops concerts at the LA Arboretum, the doors open two hours prior for picnicking, drinks and conversation.
For tickets go here.
Photo of Michael Feinstein (by Gilles Toucas) courtesy of MichaelFenstein.com
Photo of Mitzi Gaynor courtesy of the Pasadena Pops.