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From platform nine and three-quarters to a galaxy far, far away, virtuoso conductor and Oscar-winning composer John Williams and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra captured the hearts and imaginations of a sell-out 8,500 crowd at Conte Forum at last Friday's Night's 15th Annual Pops on the Heights Scholarship Gala. This year's concert also featured stellar performances by Broadway star Maureen McGovern, opera baritone Robert Honeysucker, and Boston College's very own University Chorale.
Prior to the opening of the show, the excitement among students, parents, and alumni at Conte Forum was palpable. When asked how she felt about John Williams conducting the Pops this year, seventh-time Pops on the Heights concert-goer Kari O'Neil, A&S '11 replied, "It's unbelievable. His music is so good. I just love him."
The first half of Friday evening's two-and-half-hour program commenced with classic film scores such as the moving overtures to Gone with the Wind and Citizen Kane, as well as the solemn "Hymn to the Fallen" from Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, beautifully accompanied by BC's University Chorale. Afterwards, internationally-renown opera baritone Honeysucker accompanied by the Pops Orchestra and the University Chorale performed a tribute to America with Alan and Marilyn Bergman's patriotic melody "America, the Dream Goes On."
In a surprise appearance during intermission, Meet the Press anchor Tim Russert came on stage and rallied Conte's audience over BC's Saturday football match against UMass, while John Williams conducted the epic original score to the NBC news program. Russert also thanked Williams for coming to BC and for his incredible contributions to music and cinema. "Thank you John for all that you have done to lift the human spirit throughout the generations," he said.
The second half opened with a brilliant performance by McGovern featuring memorable hits from Hammerstein's and Berlin's Broadway songbook fused with McGovern's own jazzy, soulful style. Nothing short of phenomenal, McGovern's performance was perhaps one of the pinnacles of Friday night's gala and left the crowd singing along to familiar tunes from The Sound of Music and Annie Get Your Gun.
Yet, Williams certainly left the best for last. From the opening celesta solo in "Hedwig's Theme" from the Harry Potter film series to the grand finale of the score from Steven Spielberg's E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Williams kept the crowd riveted with his world-renown film tracks that have enriched cinema classics over the last 30 years. Above the stage, as the Pops performed the music, a screen showcased clips from the featured films, thereby demonstrating Williams' mastery for composing scores that enhance the overall cinema experience.
After performing excerpts from Harry Potter, Williams conducted a medley to film directors George Lucas and Steven Spielberg with the chilling, pulsing score from Jaws and the majestic themes from Stars Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and E.T, while the audience conducted along with miniature "lightsabers" in a sea of red and yellow illuminating Conte Forum. Closing the night, the Pops performed BC's fight song "For Boston" and classic Sousa medley "Stars and Stripes Forever" to thundering applause and a standing ovation.
After the performance, BC parent Mary Maher said, "It was spectacular! It was just unbelievable to see him in real life. He is just so talented, not to mention so handsome." Lindsey Hennawi, A&S '11, followed up with "Is he single?"
The concert organizers said that the evening was a phenomenal success. In a record-breaking year, the University raised $2 million for need-based scholarships for BC students, thereby making Pops on the Heights the largest fundraiser for the University. Concert organizer Renee LeBlanc said, "No other school can say that they have the Pops or the Boston Symphony Orchestra come to campus and put on this kind of performance." She also added "None of this would be possible without the leadership of Pops on the Heights chairman and BC trustees associate James F. Cleary. He's just one of a kind."
This year's Pops on the Heights definitely hit the high note and hopefully BC will continue to provide enriching opportunities like this one to the Heights community for years to come.
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