The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will perform its third fun and entertaining one-hour Stella Artois Happy Hour at the Symphony concert of the season when composer, arranger and conductor Steve Hackman takes the podium to conduct symphonic renditions of contemporary hits by John Mayer and Coldplay, plus excerpts from popular classical favorites by Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy and Edvard Grieg Thursday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. Stella Artois is the Title Sponsor for the Stella Artois Happy Hour at the Symphony Series. Indianapolis Power and Light Company is the Premiere Sponsor, with NUVO as the Associate Sponsor. Additional support is provided by SmokeFree Indy and by FORTE, the ISO’s young professional group.
This diverse program will showcase familiar and popular classical works as well as symphonic arrangements of contemporary hits by pop and blues artist John Mayer and alternative British rock band Coldplay. The concert will include Hackman’s own orchestral arrangements of John Mayer’s “Heart of Life,” “Heartbreak Warfare,” “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” and “Stop This Train,” plus Coldplay’s “Fix You” to complement excerpts from popular classical works such as Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Major, Debussy’sPrelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Brahms’ Second and Fourth Symphonies and Beethoven’s Third Symphony to round out the program.
“The concept for this Happy Hour program was born out of the idea that Mayer’s ‘Heart of Life’ makes a great arrangement for orchestra,” said Steve Hackman. “From that point, the creative team and I built an entire concert around a variety of Mayer’s tunes paired with romantic classical selections. This concert was a joy to arrange, and I’m looking forward to hearing audience reaction.”
Tickets are $20 each with general admission seating. The Theatre opens at 5 p.m. with complimentary food and drinks available from Starbucks Coffee Company, Adobo Grill, Shula’s Steakhouse, White Castle, The Chef’s Academy, Maggiano’s, New Amsterdam Gin and Stella Artois. Following the concert, FORTE will host a party at Harry & Izzy’s featuring drink specials and opportunities to mingle and meet with professional peers and ISO musicians.
This is the third of four Stella Artois Happy Hour at the Symphony programs scheduled for this season which are meant to introduce new audiences to orchestral music and for young professionals to gather, network, and enjoy an entertaining program. The final Happy Hour at the Symphony concert of the 2010 season will feature the ISO’s ensemble-in-residence, Time for Three, on Thursday, May 6 with Steve Hackman on the podium. Repertoire will be announced in the near future.
