Article by Alejandra Enciso Guzmán
The Summer Pops concerts are here!
I had never been to the ‘Summer pops concert series’ before. It was a very pleasant surprise…
The outdoor summer concert series by the San Diego Symphony are performed at Embarcadero Marina Park South, on San Diego Bay behind the San Diego Convention Center. Ten weeks of concerts from just before 4th of July through Labor Day, all featuring the San Diego Symphony and some very cool combos. ‘Classical Mystery Tour, Beatles Tribute’ was this past Sunday. An amazing program that started with the symphony’s conductor Matthew Garbutt and his very creative sense of humor as he announced ‘The Beatles’ in his best Ed Sullivan voice, commemorating 50 years of this ‘four headed monster’ (as Mick Jagger calls them) coming to the United States for the first time in 1964.
An array of hits musicalized the marina: ‘Michelle’, ‘Lucy in the sky with diamonds’, ‘Got to get you into my life’, ‘Yesterday’; with the symphony’s violin cords in the background, was simply magical and spectacular. The members of the ‘Classical Mystery Tour’ are Jim Owen as John Lennon, who at times made you feel that you were actually listening to the ‘Imagine’ star. Tony Kishman is Paul McCartney, David John channels George Harrison and Chris Camilleri as the corky Ringo Starr. Audiences sang, danced and cheered as the songs flowed: ‘Penny Lane’, ‘Here comes the Sun’, ‘Hello Goddbye’, ‘I am the Walrus’ and many, many more.
Summer pops entails a very different activity that can be enjoyed with family, a significant other or a bunch of friends. It is simply for everybody and has a variety of musical and seating options for all the different musical tastes. There are cabaret tables for four people, grandstand seating (fold-down chairs) and general admission lawn seating. You can bring your cooler and have a picnic or just buy the goodies they have at concession. Warm and layered clothing is recommended. You can even bring a blanket!
The ABBA and Ray Charles tributes are next, as well as a new concert/screening of Disney’s classic Fantasia. Other performers included in this year’s layout are: Boz Scaggs, Nathan Pacheco, Ozomatli, Burt Bacharach, Vanessa Williams (Hello) and more! There will also be a program for the Comic Con weekend called ‘Get your Geek on’ with video games live, Dany Elfman’s music from the films of Tim Burton and Star Trek (2009) The Movie. Ashford University SUMMER POPS concerts begin, unless otherwise noted, at 7:30pm, with gates opening at 6pm. Subscription concerts are on Friday and Saturday nights, with some occasional Sunday nights, and Special concerts are on Thursdays and Sundays.
Parking is $15.00 behind the convention center and if you want to park near the venue it is $20.00.
For more information on concert dates and pricing, please go to: http://www.sandiegosymphony.org/concertcalendar/summerpops.aspx