Moshing At Symphony Hall? Dropkick Murphys Part Of Boston Pops' 2012 Season

Wednesday night is the opening night for the Boston Pops. Broadway star Bernadette Peters will perform, and was rehearsing with the orchestra at Symphony Hall Wednesday afternoon.

Conductor Keith Lockhart, a self-proclaimed "musical theater geek," admitted he's long-admired the performer, but also took time to speak about the rest of the Pops' 2012 season.

The 2012 season includes a "photo symphony" of images by historian Joseph Sohms, along with an online photo contest. There's also a night of bluegrass and comedy with Renaissance man Steve Martin. Lockhart called him a brilliant performer and serious bluegrass musician, adding it might be a difficult concept to grasp for those "who only remember him playing banjo with an arrow through his head."

Another highlight for the Pops is a concert series called "City of Champions."

Lockhart described the three-day event, which will celebrate Boston's four major sports teams and their seven championships over the past decade... "Which is a record that all other cities can look at and feel depressed by," he said.

Lockhart also made an announcement that got me wondering if Symphony Hall might be transformed into the world's most historic and acoustically pristine mosh pit. On May 24, the Boston-based, Celtic-American punk rock band Dropkick Murphys will make its Pops debut for "Red Sox Night."

"It should be unlike anything you've ever heard in Symphony Hall, and we're looking forward to it," Lockhart said.

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