PBS Announces America's Orchestra: Celebrating 125 Years Of The Boston Pops Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Features Conductors Arthur Fiedler, John Williams and Keith Lockhart

AMERICA'S ORCHESTRA: CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF THE BOSTON POPS presents a star-studded celebration of the Boston Pops, featuring some of the greatest moments from the Pops' 125-year history. The program, airing Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on PBS, tells the orchestra's story - from its beginnings as summertime entertainment for Bostonians to its impressive rise to the beloved institution of today. Craig Ferguson hosts.

"Celebrating its 125th anniversary this spring, the Boston Pops Orchestra performs the best music of the past and present," said Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, "appealing to the widest possible audience with a broad spectrum of styles, from jazz to pop, indie rock to big band, film music to the great American songbook and Broadway to classical, making it the perfect orchestra for people who don't know they like orchestras! We hope that the upcoming PBS special reflects this diversity and gives viewers a glimpse into the storied history of this distinctively Boston creation - one of our country's greatest cultural treasures, as vibrant today as it was when it was founded in 1885."

Affectionately know as "America's Orchestra," the Boston Pops is the most recorded and arguably the most beloved orchestra in the country, beginning with the establishment of the modern-era Pops by Arthur Fiedler and continuing through the innovations introduced by John Williams and the new millennium Pops, spearheaded by Keith Lockhart. AMERICA'S ORCHESTRA: CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF THE BOSTON POPS illustrates how these three maestros and the musicians of the Boston Pops Orchestra made their way into the hearts and minds of music lovers throughout New England and across the nation.

In a highlight of the documentary, Peter Fiedler, son of Arthur Fiedler, provides a rare personal glimpse into the man who brought the Pops to the national stage through hugely successful recordings and the highly acclaimed, award-winning series EVENING AT POPS on PBS. Through incredible charisma and a keen marketing sensibility, Arthur Fiedler brought virtually every major American performer of his era (1930-1979) to the Pops stage, including Ella Fitzgerald, the Carpenters, Benny Goodman and Roberta Flack, all of whom are featured in seldom-seen archival performance footage. In a rare interview, John Williams (Pops conductor, 1980-1993) speaks about the remarkable contribution of Arthur Fiedler, whose success made all future endeavors with the Pops possible. Williams also describes what the Boston Pops has meant to him over the course of his life, but especially in contrast to his extraordinary career as a film composer. In the documentary, Williams describes the Pops as "...the greatest musical mix-master of all time." The program shows Williams working with Bonnie Raitt and John Raitt in footage that features father and daughter singing together for the first time in a performance of Irving Berlin's "They Say It's Wonderful." Williams and the Pops are also joined by such titans of the music world as Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and Rosemary Clooney, all of whom perform hits for which they are best known. No reflection on Williams' contribution to the Pops would be complete without footage of some of the most memorable film moments he's brought to the Pops over the years.

Keith Lockhart (1995-present), who from the first time he stepped onto the podium was recognized for the energy and vitality he brought to the Pops, reflects on the importance of the Pops as entertainment and his commitment to programming that appeals to music lovers across all levels of experience and musical tastes. In a candid and insightful moment, Lockhart describes the giant sense of responsibility he felt in taking up the Pops mantle, wanting to respect the great accomplishments of his predecessors while carving his own path with the orchestra.

Showing his commitment to continuing the orchestra's collaboration with the great artists of our day, Lockhart is seen leading the Pops in performances with such musical stars as Audra MacDonald, k.d. lang, Michael Feinstein and Kristin Chenoweth, who sings "For Good," one of her signature songs from Wicked, for which she created the role of Glinda. AMERICA'S ORCHESTRA also features interviews and/or performances by Josh Groban, James Taylor, Vanessa Williams, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis and Roberta Flack. Rare footage of favorite artists past and present, including Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr. and Patti LaBelle, as well as Broadway stars Ethel Merman, Bernadette Peters, Nathan Lane and Jerry Herman, are also featured.