By Susan Shinn
sshinn@salisburypost.com
Leave it to Maestro David Hagy to create a theme that’s just right for this year’s Pops at the Post concert.
“Fantasy and Finance” is the theme for the concert’s 2009 edition featuring the Salisbury Symphony.
Huh?
Let Hagy explain.
“I decided last year that a good theme we had not approached is fantasy,” Hagy says. “There are an abundance of music and varied styles relating to fantasy.”
The 2008 theme was about honoring heroes ó and rightly so.
“It brought to mind serious thoughts,” Hagy says. “We need a season when we needed to have fun.”
So “Fantasy” it was.
Check.
“Then two things happened,” Hagy says. “The country had a financial challenge, and the Fishers wanted the concert to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of F&M Bank.”
That’s where the “Finance” component came in.
“Plus I love alliteration,” Hagy admits. “I think I have some ideas that will make this concert really fun.”
To begin, the symphony will perform the concert version of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” perfect for waving the small flags which will be distributed that evening by F&M employees.
On the “Fantasy” side, the Salisbury Symphony will perform “Scheherazade” from its concert season.
“It’s one of classical music’s best fantasies,” Hagy says. “We try to start with a classical work from the same season. It’s probably the hardest things we’ve done at Pops. It’s a real tour-de-force.””Twentiana” is a medley of favorite songs from the 1920s ó before the stock market crash of 1929.
The medley will bring back a singalong, which Hagy loves to have in an outdoor concert such as this.”Brother, Can You Spare a Dime” became an “anthem” during the hard times of the ’30s. It’s been recorded by nearly two dozen artists, including Bing Crosby.
Coming out of the Depression years was the idea for “Annie,” a comic strip which later became a Broadway hit.
“How do you solve problems?” Hagy says. “You have fantasies, and ‘Annie’ came out of that time. She managed as an orphan to find a patron.”
The most well-known of the songs from the Broadway musical is “Tomorrow.”
“It seems like the perfect song to reflect both themes,” Hagy says.
Hagy chose the “Hook” main theme because it fits so well with the “Fantasy” portion of the program.
“When I was thinking fantasy, I was of course looking for a John Williams song to fit the theme.”
The Symphony will also perform selections from “Star Trek,” which should end up as one of this summer’s blockbuster films.
Hagy is a sci-fi lover and longtime “Star Trek” fan.
“It presents a very humane future for humanity,” he says.
The second half of the program will feature classical selections, including “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from “Peer Gynt.”
Closing out the second half are three Pops standards, The “1812” Overture, “Salisbury Post” march and the “Stars and Stripes Forever” march.
Hagy has planned two encores, so be sure to stick around if you can.
Hagy is especially excited about using local musicians as soloists.
“I think we have a lot of strength in this county and I think it’s important to show off,” Hagy says. “We have quality people and they have a following here.”
Soloists include Virginia Rush, who will perform “God Bless the Child” and Dean Orbison with “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime.” John Brincefield and Becky Lippard will join forces for “The Money Song” from “Cabaret.”
While the financial crisis continues to concern the country, Hagy hope that the concert will provide “an evening away from negative realities.”
“We are all in this together,” he continues. “That’s the point of the evening. I just look so forward to Pops at the Post. It’s such a positive statement about the orchestra, the community and the spirit of the community.
“It’s a tribute to our community to have donors to give this free gift of the concert and to have people who want to come and listen.
“I’m just excited to be a part of it.”