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Keith Lockhart’s 30th Boston Pops season stars Cynthia Erivo, Orville Peck and 'Jaws'
More than 2,250 concerts. Collaborations with more than 300 guest artists.
Conductor Keith Lockhart has led the Boston Pops with the endurance of the Energizer Bunny over his three decades at the podium. Now the orchestra is gearing up to celebrate its second-longest serving maestro’s milestone 30th anniversary. On Monday the orchestra announced details for its spring season which kicks off a yearlong fete for Lockhart.
Beginning May 8, he’ll lead 10 eclectic programs featuring everything from country to rock, Broadway show tunes and Hollywood musicals.
“One of the most exciting things is that we managed to snag Cyndia Erivo,” Lockhart said of the opening night’s celebrity guest. “When we started talking about this with her it was before the "Wicked" movie’s release — so we're thrilled that she's going to be with us.”
The Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning Erivo just earned a best actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Elphaba in the movie “Wicked.”
The BSO hired a notably young Lockhart to lead “America’s orchestra” in 1995. He knew then it would be a long term commitment. “But I don't think when you're 35 you have much perception of what you're going to be doing 30 years later,” Lockhart said. “So it is amazing to look back over my shoulder and say, ‘yikes, so much time has gone by.'”
Over the decades Lockhart’s expansive programming at Symphony Hall, Tanglewood and beyond has spanned show tunes, film scores, classical, jazz, country, folk, pop and holiday favorites. He’s taken the orchestra on dozens of national tours and five overseas. The musicians have played at the Super Bowl, the World Series and of course the annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on Boston’s Esplanade.
Among the highlights for 2025 are screenings of Stephen Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster movie “Jaws” at Symphony Hall on May 9-10 with live performances of Pops conductor laureate John William’s iconic score.
“We were the first orchestra to do that film in concert,” Lockhart said. "We're returning to it because it is its 50th anniversary — which is also hard to believe.” After the shows, conservation scientists from the New England Aquarium’s Center for Ocean Life will talk about the movie’s impact on shark research and awareness.
Williams’ works return on May 15 for a premiere program called “Star Wars: The Story in Music.” Lockhart wrote connective text that weaves together pieces from all nine movies. Boston actor Jeremiah Kissel will narrate. “It tells the entire story of the entire “Star Wars” nonology in slightly under two hours,” Lockhart said. Then, on May 29 and 31, a program titled “John Williams’ Playlist” will share music curated by the Oscar-winning composer himself.
For the “Let it Go” fanatics, two family-friendly “Frozen in Concert” Disney programs are scheduled for May 24 and 31.
On May 28, American Idol breakout star Cody Fry makes his Boston Pops debut. The vocalist, producer and arranger’s orchestral interpretations of the Beatles “Eleanor Rigby” and “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel have garnered millions of streams. Lockhart said the orchestra is working to embrace more artists like Fry, “who’ve made huge careers on the internet and bring them to people live.”
This season the Pops also continue the tradition of inviting astronauts to narrate on stage. For two performances on May 23-24 a new, multi-media collaboration with the Museum of Science called “Music of the Cosmos” will explore connections between science, science fiction and music.
Deadhead alert: June 3-4 brings a return of The Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration.
The Pops second annual Pride Night is on June 5 and stars country music crooner Orville Peck who just joined the cast for Broadway’s revival of “Cabaret.”
Lockhart’s actual 30th anniversary party caps off the Pops spring season with a star-studded concert on June 6, “which I'm very intrigued by,” he said, “because I don't know anything about it. It’s being planned like a surprise party. So looking at some of the artists who are going to be involved, that's news to me.” A few of the conductor’s frequent collaborators are on the bill, including Michael Feinstein and Mandy Gonzalez.
In the season announcement, BSO president and CEO Chad Smith reflected on the conductor’s tenure. “For 30 years Keith Lockhart has embodied the pioneering spirit of the Boston Pops, building on the groundbreaking work of his iconic predecessors John Williams and Arthur Fiedler, and continually innovating to redefine our programs for 21st century audiences.”
When asked how he’s been able to maintain his maestro mojo over the past three decades Lockhart replied, “Maybe my secret — if there is one — is not thinking about it in terms of accumulated years, but thinking about it in terms of the next challenge. I mean, there are always new audiences to be inspired, there’s always exciting new material coming down the pike, there are always things I haven't done.”
Tickets for the Boston Pops’ spring season at Symphony Hall go on sale Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at bostonpops.org or by calling 617-266-1200.
