Four years after the Boston Symphony Orchestra was founded, Civil War veteran Henry Lee Higginson established the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1885. It is said that he wanted to appeal to a wider audience who could enjoy orchestra concerts that included popular music. The Pops also gave musicians employment opportunities year-round. What started as the Promenade Concerts later became known as the Popular Concerts. In 1900, the reference was shortened and became just Pops. In 1901, the orchestra started performing at the Symphony Hall in Boston. Adolf Neuendorff led the group from 1930-1979 and turned it into an icon.
The Boston Pops Orchestra's history is abundant with accomplishments, thanks to the men who have steered the ship. From Henry Lee Higginson to current Conductor Keith Lockhart, everyone has had a hand in turning the orchestra into an icon. When they moved into Symphony Hall, rows of seats for the symphony concerts could be removed and replaced with tables and chairs for the pops concerts so that audiences can enjoy drinks and food. John Williams continued the recording tradition of the group with best-selling recordings for the Philips and Sony Classical labels. He also added live orchestral accompaniment to film clips of memorable movie scenes.
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When the Boston Pops Orchestra is not on tour, their performances take place at the Symphony Hall in Boston.
Audiences who attend a Boston Pops Orchestra performance can expect to have a fun time. A pops show consists of popular culture music performed by an orchestra. The group will hold a
Bugs Bunny at the Symphony: 30th Anniversary Edition
event. As the cartoon is projected onto a screen, the orchestra will play the original Carl Stalling scores live. On New Year's Eve, audiences will have the opportunity to celebrate the incoming new year with the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra and The Hot Sardines. They will play jazz covers and originals that hark back to New York speakeasies, Parisian cabarets and New Orleans jazz halls.
The length of a Boston Pops Orchestra performance does vary. The Holiday Pops shows run just over two hours. The matinee concerts for kids are 70 minutes long while the sensory friendly concerts are 60 minutes long.
Keith Lockhart and John Williams are conductors for the Boston Pops Orchestra. Tamara Smirnova, Alexander Velinzon and Elita Kang are among the first violins. Elizabeth Ostling, Clint Foreman and Cynthia Meyers are members of the woodwinds while Timothy Genis, Daniel Bauch and J. William Hudgins are members of the percussion section.
For the 2019-20 season, there will be at least one Boston Pops Orchestra tour. In December, the Holiday Pops on Tour is headed to the
Providence Performing Arts Center
in Providence, RI,
Proctor’s Theatre
in Schenectady, NY, and Hanover Theater in Worcester, Mass. as well as the
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
at the University of Connecticut, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH.
In Boston, there are several other performing arts outlets to take in, like those performed by the
Boston Ballet
at the
Citizens Bank Opera House
and Broadway musicals at the
Boch Center at Wang Theatre
.