Arts Briefs: Pasadena Symphony and POPS take on Cole Porter
The so-called “Great American Songbook” would be much different without Cole Porter, creator of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “I Love Paris,” “Night and Day” and many other standards. His work will be brought to vivid life by the Pasadena Symphony and POPS on Aug. 20 at the Los Angeles County Arboretum.
“Cole Porter Night” will be led by Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein, who this year signed on to remain through the ensemble’s 2019 season. He will be joined for the Porter show by two vocalists: Catherine Russell and Nick Ziobro.
Many of the songs became huge hits in the hands of Frank Sinatra and other vocalists, and Feinstein has performed the music of Porter many times throughout his career. But leading the POPS makes this experience different, he said. “This will be the first time that I have put together a Porter program that I conduct with an orchestra and so it gave me the opportunity to pull out some instrumental arrangements that I have been saving for this occasion,” Feinstein said in a statement. The concert will include rarely performed Porter works.
After the Porter show, Feinstein will close his season with “A Salute to Warner Bros.” on Sept. 10.
Concerts are held at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, at 301 North Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia. Grounds open for picnicking at 5:30 p.m. ahead of the performances at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25. More info at (626)-793-7172 or PasadenaSymphony-Pops.org.
Night music
The live music “Roaring Nights” series at the Los Angeles Zoo continues Aug. 26 with an evening of indie rock performed by Black Crystal Wolf Kids, Well Hung Heart, FifthLaw and DJ Steve Prior.
The gathering is for music and zoo fans age 18 and above, with a full-service bar, various food trucks, games, animal feedings and more. Zookeeper talks on-site will introduce visitors to the zoo’s permanent residents. It series will continue with tributes to David Bowie and Prince on Sept. 16.
Tickets are $25 ($22 for GLAZA members). The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is at 5333 Zoo Drive, in Griffith Park. More info at (323) 644-6001 and www.lazoo.org/roaringnights.
Going public
The Autry Museum of the American West’s second annual public art contest is currently underway, with the local art and history institution inviting the public to cast votes through Sept. 9 for the final piece of art. The “High Five Art” contest considers original works, and the winning piece will to be printed on a large banner to be hung on the outside of the museum and fully visible to traffic on the 5 Freeway.
The contest is connected to the Autry’s upcoming “California Continued” exhibition, opening in October. The seven finalists being considered in the contest are artists Caitlin Anne, Jackie Baxton, Sylvie van Helden, Arturo Martinez, Robert Minervini, Daria Nakelska and Susanna Negrete.
A winner will be announced in October. The winning artist will also receive a prize of $2,500. Two runner-ups will each receive $500. The public can see the designs currently inside the Autry and online at TheAutry.org/HighFiveArt.
Reading ‘Pie’
A reading of Lawrence Thelen’s play “Pie in the Sky” is being performed Aug. 7 at the Victory Theatre in Burbank, with actors Gail Bryson and Barbara Tarbuck. The 7:30 p.m. reading is being directed by Laurie O’Brien. Admission is free.
The Victory Theatre is at 3326 W. Victory Blvd. More info at (818) 841-4404.