Pops culture runs deep

Paul Saitowitz

An American institution nestled in the same town that recently shot

down an 86-year-old curse on the baseball diamond will make its way

to Costa Mesa later this month for its annual Christmas concert.

There must be something to be said for tradition in that part of

the country.

The Boston Pops, the famed 119-year-old American orchestra, will

be at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on Saturday for a

concert of traditional Christmas music -- but expect a few surprises

along the way.

“People have their favorites that they expect to hear, but we like

to play some new pieces and throw in some nontraditional

arrangement,� Pops conductor Keith Lockhart said.

Maybe the break in the norm has something to do with Lockhart

himself. When he was named conductor a decade ago, he was the

youngest person ever to take over the job.

He had some pretty big shoes to fill. Arthur Fiedler held the

position for 50 years and was a tradition himself. John Williams --

who scored such films as “Star Wars� and “Indiana Jones� -- served

from 1980 until Lockhart took over in 1994.

“The most intimidating thing for me when I took over was not that

I was afraid to follow those guys up ... it was being a part of

something that has been around for more than a century,� Lockhart

said.

Lockhart, who grew up in New York, began studying music when he

was 7. In a time when most people his age were tangled up in rock ‘n’

roll, he found his path in classical music as a pianist and a

clarinet player.

“Neither of my parents were musicians, but my dad played a lot of

classical records, and I was just drawn in,� he said. “The

communicativeness of music just struck me. It can be in any language,

and people can still be moved by it.�

Lockhart played the clarinet in several orchestras, though he was

never a member of the Boston Pops.

“I chose to go the conductor route because I like being a part of

everything, from the arrangements to what pieces the orchestra

actually plays,� he said. “I miss playing from time to time, but

conducting is more my thing.�

The Boston Pops plays 125 concerts each year, with Lockhart

helming the conductor’s seat for roughly 85 of them. The concerts

vary from symphonic pieces to backing rockers like David Lee Roth.

“I think something that makes the Boston Pops special is that we

don’t only do classical music,� he said. “We’re open to all different

types.�

The show at the Orange County Performing Arts Center will feature

young New Zealand singer Hayley Westenra, 17, who has been compared

to opera star Charlotte Church. There will also be a large choral

section made up of singers from Cal State Fullerton and the Pacific

Chorale.

“Hayley is amazing,� Lockhart said. “I think she’s even better

than Charlotte Church, and the choral groups are some of the best

around. They are from this area, but they will be touring the entire

country with us.�