Classic Pops - why we love it

Thursday, June 4 was Tech Night at Pops - all of Symphony Hall was filled with MIT alumni back for reunion. The program was varied and lovely. After a lively Festive Overture by Shostakovich we had the haunting Ayesh's Dance and Lezghinka by Aram Khachaturian. This was followed by Stokowski's transcription for orchestra of Bach's Toccata and Fugue; this was BSO playing at its finest - you could actually "hear" the organ. The final selection before intermission was a fascinating diversion: the ensemble Gamelan Galak Tika, a nine-member group playing the traditional Balinese gamelan - a sort of ancient xylophone struck by hammers - played a selection from a concerto for gamelan and string orchestra. The audience was mesmerized. Starting the second half was the MIT school song and then an MIT senior, John Bowler, soloed in the first movement of Grieg's wonderful Piano Concerto in A minor. Having been subjected to various "talents" from sponsoring organizations, I was skeptical, but was wowed by the virtuoso performance. Mr Bowler could probably give up engineering and make his way on the concert stage if he desired. The finale of the concert was three Pops renditions of popular music from the past - with a twist, that Keith Lockhart gave us each time three selections from which to choose and used audience voting to make the choice. There are not many venues in which one could hear the Toccata and Fugue and Dancing Queen on the same program! All in all, one of the best Pops concerts we have heard.