Time To Kick Off Christmas ‘Holiday Pops’ Has Great Music, Surprises

Thu., Dec. 11, 1997

By Jim Kershner jimkershner@comcast.net

As a local Christmas institution, the Spokane Symphony’s “Holiday Pops” concert stands almost as tall the Riverfront Park Christmas tree.

This annual event combines the elegance of Bach with the sheer exuberance of Irving Berlin. It also features Santa Claus himself, who can usually be counted on to show up and conduct a number.

The appeal is partly traditional. This year, as in every year, you can count on hearing the “Hallelujah Chorus,” a Christmas carol sing-along and a galloping rendition of Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.”

Yet it is usually the Christmas surprises that make this concert one of the best ways to kick-start your Christmas spirit.

One of the big challenges is figuring out how to cram everybody on the stage. When you add up the members of Spokane Symphony, the Spokane Symphony Chorale and the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus, the performers approach the 400 mark. Actually, the performers number into the thousands, since the audience gets to join the fun during the sing-along finale.

Presiding over it all will be symphony associate conductor Jung-Ho Pak, chorale director Carrie Druffel and children’s chorus director Tamara Schupman.

This year’s program is divided into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day segments. The Christmas Eve segment will include a number of familiar pop pieces, including “Winter Wonderland,” “We Need a Little Christmas,” Mel Torme’s “Christmas Song” and “White Christmas.” It will also include some excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” and Victor Herbert’s “Hail to Christmas.”

The Christmas Day segment will have a more pensive mood. It will include arrangements of such traditional carols as “Here We Come A’Caroling,” “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel” and “Away in a Manger.” It will also include Bach’s “While By My Sheep.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Staff illustration

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Concert The Spokane Symphony, Spokane Symphony Chorale and the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus will present “Holiday Pops” on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $14 to $29 for Saturday’s show and $13.50 to $19.50 on Sunday, with children under 13 $9.50. Tickets available through the symphony box office (624-1200) and G&B Select-a-Seat (800-325-SEAT).

This sidebar appeared with the story: Concert The Spokane Symphony, Spokane Symphony Chorale and the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus will present “Holiday Pops” on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $14 to $29 for Saturday’s show and $13.50 to $19.50 on Sunday, with children under 13 $9.50. Tickets available through the symphony box office (624-1200) and G&B; Select-a-Seat (800-325-SEAT).

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