From George Daugherty, conductor of BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY
George in LA working on the WORLD PREMIERE show!
For all of us on the BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY team, it is very exciting to be performing the world premiere of our new concert edition with The Erie Philharmonic at The Warner Theatre. For starters, the orchestra is simply wonderful -- a truly extraordinary jewel in the American music scene. Our last performances of this concert with the Erie Philharmonic were incredibly rewarding for all of us. And of course, performing IN the spectacular Warner Theatre -- one of the last remaining theaters built by The Warner "Bros." themselves -- Jack, Harry, Sam, and Albert -- is so fantastically appropriate for this concert especially. It is one of the most palatial "movie palaces" we have ever seen, and its transition into a performing arts center for Erie has been fantastic and inspiring to watch.
On a personal level as a conductor, both the Erie Philharmonic and The Warner Theatre are also very sentimentally special to me. When I was a young conductor, starting out my career in the early 1980's, one of my very first professional guest engagements was with the Erie Philharmonic at The Warner Theatre.
The Warner Theatre, home of the Erie Philharmonic
It was a glittering ballet gala with dancers from American Ballet Theatre, headlined by the legendary ballerina Gelsey Kirkland. And the Erie Philharmonic in the orchestra pit. It was a pivotal moment in my conducting career, and it all happened in Erie, at The Warner. So coming back to Erie always feels like coming home again!
Our new version of BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY has many fantastic new additions since we last appeared in Erie, and I know the audiences will love it.
Our "roll-out" for this new concert includes The Boston Pops, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Symphony, and many other world-class major international orchestras. We just sold out an entire run of our previous concert -- and for the second time -- a few months ago with The New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. So the Erie Philharmonic is in some very good company . . . right where it should be!!
- George Daugherty, Guest Conductor of BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY
Bugs Bunny in action
George Daugherty guest conductor
Created by George Daugherty & David Ka Lik Wong
LOONEY TUNES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s19)
Photos by Chris Lee, courtesy of New York Philharmonic