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| July 14, 2009 | Broadway World | Pittsburgh CLO Presents Barry Manilow's Copacabana 7/21-8/2 At Benedum Center |
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| "Her name was Lola..." and she's here in Pittsburgh CLO's production of Barry Manilow's Copacabana July 21 through August 2 at the Benedum Center in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District. Travel back in time with Lola, Tony and Rico when "music and passion were always in fashion." Inspired by Barry Manilow's Grammy® Award-winning hit song "Copacabana," this old-fashioned musical weaves a seductive story of love, jealousy and murder as told through the eyes of an aspiring songwriter. Complete with splashy production numbers and an original Latin-inspired score, Barry Manilow's Copacabana features more than a few surprises for even the biggest Barry Manilow fan... "Copacabana," the song, was written in 1978 for Barry Manilow's "Even Now" album. It soared up the charts, and Barry Manilow entered the "Guinness Book of World Records" for having four songs in the Top 40 simultaneously. The single quickly went gold, and contributed to the album going triple platinum. The song earned Mr. Manilow his first Grammy® Award. Several years later, Dick Clark approached "Copacabana's" writers, Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, about adapting the tune into a musical film for television. It was the first time such a project was attempted since Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella." Starring Annette O'Toole, Barry Manilow, Estelle Getty and Joseph Bologna, the movie garnered great ratings and wonderful reviews and won an Emmy® Award. Shortly thereafter, Caesar's Resorts in Atlantic City contacted the creative team about adapting the film for its show room - the caveat being it had to be less than 75 minutes long. Mr. Manilow, Mr. Sussman and Mr. Feldman proceeded to invent a new form: Vegas review meets Broadway show. It was wildly successful and received glowing reviews. This prompted British producers to inquire about the possibility of expanding the show to a full-length, two-act, West End musical. Discarding much of the Atlantic City production, the creators added several more characters and sub-plots and doubled the size of the score. This production enjoyed a 4-month, pre-London tour, ran two seasons on London's West End and toured for more than a year thereafter. This dynamic new musical kicked off a 40-week national tour June 15th, 2000, with its American premiere at the Pittsburgh CLO, followed by a run as part of the Dallas Summer Musical season. It then embarked on a tour that left a trail of yellow feathers and sequins through thirty North American cities including Boston, Philadelphia, New Haven, San Jose, Sacramento, Seattle and Denver among others. The American premiere of Barry Manilow's Copacabana was produced by Pittsburgh CLO, Roger Shiffman, Anita Drobny & The Paradigm Group, Dallas Summer Musicals and American Musical Theatre of San Jose in association with Garry Kief, John Ashby and Stiletto Entertainment. Since then, there have been more than 100 productions of Barry Manilow's Copacabana on stage throughout the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Europe and India. Barry Manilow (Co-author Book and Music) is the undisputed #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of All Time and has triumphed in every facet of music, including performing, composing, arranging and producing. This Grammy®, Emmy® and Tony® Award winner's discography has yielded an unprecedented 38 Top 40 hits including classics such as "Copacabana," "I Write the Songs," "This One's For You," and "Weekend in New England" and his record sales exceed 58 million. Mr. Manilow's successful theatrical career ranges from his Tony® Award-winning Broadway debut in 1977 to an standing room only eight-week run on Broadway in 1989. The world premiere of his musical, Harmony (book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman), enjoyed a successful run at the La Jolla Playhouse. Since 2005, Mr. Manilow has called Las Vegas his home away from home where he performs to sell-out crowds. Following the huge success of Manilow: Music and Passion, Ultimate Manilow: The Hits opened in September 2008 at the Las Vegas Hilton to rave reviews. Most recently, Mr. Manilow created the Manilow Music Project as part of his Manilow Fund for Health and Hope (www.manilowfund.org) which encourages individuals to get involved in local schools by donating instruments or music. Bruce Sussman (Co-author Book, Music & Lyrics) is the co-author of well over 150 published and recorded songs written for dozens of artists, films, television programs and stage musicals. The majority of these projects were written with his collaborator of more than 25 years, Barry Manilow. His impressive stage credits include authoring the book and/or lyrics for such shows as Harmony, Wendy Wasserstein's Miami, and Ted Tally's Coming Attractions (Obie Award and Pulitzer Prize finalist), and many of his songs have been featured in stage revues. Mr. Sussman's songs have been recorded by an array of artists including Mr. Manilow, Bette Midler and Michael Feinstein and these recordings have earned him a Grammy® Award and multiple Gold and Platinum records. Jack Feldman (Co-author Book, Music & Lyrics) has written music and lyrics for theater, film, television and pop records. His vast number of works includes the lyrics for Disney's "Newsies" (music by Alan Menken), "Thumbelina," "Oliver & Company," "Tribute," "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" and "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride." He has written dozens of pop songs, including the Grammy® award-winning "Copacabana" and the top 10 hit "I Made It Through the Rain." For the theater, he wrote the score for Ted Tally's Coming Attractions, Wendy Wasserman's Isn't It Romantic and the score for the musical Miami, which he wrote with Mr. Sussman and Ms. Wasserstein. Tickets for Barry Manilow's Copacabana start at just $18.50 and are available online at pittsburghCLO.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or at the Box Office at Theater Square. Groups of 10 or more may call 412-325-1582. |
| July 7, 2009 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | "Manilow makes magic for fans" by Karen Carlin |
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| Barry Manilow promised to bring the hits to Pittsburgh, and he delivered. Last night the singer/songwriter/musician turned the Mellon Arena into the Las Vegas Hilton (complete with showgirls) with his "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits" show. While the audience enthusiastically waved glow sticks, Manilow kicked off the 90-minute concert with a feel-good medley of "It's a Miracle," "Daybreak," "Somewhere in the Night" and "This One's for You." He acknowledged the popularity and sheer number of songs in his catalog and thanked the fans for making it so. That was the first of many times he would recognize his fan base, and the crowd at the nearly full arena lapped it up. The hits continued, from "Weekend in New England" to "Bandstand Boogie" to "Looks Like We Made It." He took a break from his own material only once, to perform "Islands in the Stream," the Dolly Parton-Kenny Rogers duet Manilow sings on "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties" compilation. Manilow shared the spotlight a few times, including with opening act Brian Culbertson on trombone and Michael Lington on saxophone for "Brooklyn Blues" and with three other keyboard players who played tag pounding on the piano with Manilow on "New York City Rhythm." With a tight band and talented backup singers, music was the focus, but the headliner offered some chit-chat -- joking about he and Barbra Steisand both charting with versions of "Memory" from "Cats" ("There's a correlation between the size of one's nose and the success of this song"), almost tearfully relating how his grandfather helped him discover his love of music and mentioning he may have written a commercial for Mellon Bank back in his jingle-writing days. Just how far Manilow has come and changed over the past three decades hit home when he played in the background while screens on both sides and the back of the stage showed his performance of "Mandy" and "Could it Be Magic" from a 1975 episode of "Midnight Special." No hits show would be complete without "I Write the Songs" and "Copacabana (At The Copa)," which evolved into a rap number and ended in a dance-move crotch grab (an homage to Michael Jackson, perhaps?). With a rousing "Let Freedom Ring," Manilow and friends sent the audience off feeling patriotic, awash in confetti and streamers. Playlist
"It's a Miracle"/"Daybreak"/"Somewhere in the Night"/"This One's for You"
"The Old Songs" / "Ready to Take a Chance Again"
"Weekend in New England"
"Bandstand Boogie"
"Looks Like We Made It"
"Islands in the Stream"
"Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" / "Even Now"
"Brooklyn Blues"
"New York City Rhythm"
"Memory"
"I Made it Through the Rain"
"Can't Smile Without You"
"Ships"
"Mandy"/"Could it Be Magic"
"I Write the Songs"
"Copacabana (at the Copa)"
"Dancin' in the Streets/"It's a Miracle" reprise
"Let Freedom Ring"
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| June 30, 2009 | ET Online | Barry Manilow Reflects on Michael Jackson |
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| Barry Manilow talks to ET about the "tremendous shock" of learning that Michael Jackson had died -- he also reflects on the King of Pop's "incredible talents" and the stories the two performers share. "He will go down as one of history's greatest entertainers," Manilow tells ET. "I was very happy to be in the world when Michael Jackson was in the world." Watch the video to hear more memories from Manilow including a story about the medley he performed for the pop star at the 1984 American Music Awards. Manilow will perform at A Capitol Fourth Independence Day Concert on July 4. [ Video: Barry Manilow Reflects on Michael Jackson ] |
| July 4, 2009 | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | "Barry Manilow brings his 'Ultimate' show to Mellon Arena" by Alice T. Carter |
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| For Barry Manilow, it's all about the music. "Music is a part of me," says Manilow. "I love arranging songs, singing songs, producing them." And many "fanilows" -- the term applied to his ardent followers -- agree. "It's the music," says Barb Steinberg, the volunteer host of WYEP-FM's "The Sunday Mix," who has been a follower of Manilow since she was 13. "It's a combination of how he writes music, sings music, performs music. He brings the full performance with him. He's like family. His music is always there for me." Catherine Dyson, a former Washington, PA, resident who now lives in Havana, FL, voices similar sentiments: "He is a musician first. If you get into his music and read his music, there is a message there," she says. During July, fans have two opportunities to experience Manilow's work in Pittsburgh. On July 21, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera begins a two-week run of "Barry Manilow's Copacabana" at the Benedum Center. Manilow wrote both the script and the music for the musical that had its world premiere at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera in 2000. For most, the big excitement is Monday night's appearance by the man himself as Manilow gives a one-night performance of "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits ... and then some," at Mellon Arena, Uptown. It's the touring version of the show Manilow has been performing at the Las Vegas Hilton since last September. He created its all-Manilow lineup from songs he has written, sung and popularized over a career of more than three decades. "The goal was to see if I could do a full show with every song a familiar one," he says. "I'm lucky I can actually fill up an evening of music and you will know every song." With 62 albums to his credit and several Top 40 hits-turned-classics -- such as "I Write the Songs," "Mandy," This One's for You," "Can't Smile Without You," and "Copacabana," aka "At the Copa" -- choosing only enough songs for one evening requires some hard choices. "You can't just do the hits," Manilow says. If he did, it would probably be all right with fans like Kaaren Radecki of Dormont who will be attending her 10th Manilow concert on Monday. A fan for 31 years, Radecki once carted home a life-size cardboard cut-out of Manilow from South Hills Village on the T. "His music has held up so long," she says. "I don't like rap, hip-hop and some of the stuff out there now, and I can understand the words. There is just something very appealing. It's music a person can connect with." She's also grown to like the person behind the music. "He's somebody you never hear about his getting arrested or going into rehab," she says. Manilow is a private person who admits to being most at ease when creating music. "I feel most at home working with a bunch of guys in a studio or at a computer," he says. "I love being alone with my guys (in the studio). I love the creative process -- rehearsing and being creative." Despite his love of privacy, Manilow recently went public to help support student musicians in his hometown of Palm Springs, Calif. After learning about the poor condition of the music instruments at Palm Springs High School, Manilow brought together some friends and corporate sponsors to form the Manilow Music Project. Last September, Manilow donated $500,000 in musical instruments, sheet music and equipment to 21 middle and high schools in the Palm Springs, Coachella Valley and Desert Sands Unified School Districts. "I feel like this takes care of this area," Manilow says. "I plan, when I go out of town, to look for (other) schools." 'Ultimate Manilow: The Hits ... and then some'; When: 7:30 p.m. Monday; Admission: $10.49-$125.99; Where: Mellon Arena, Uptown; Details: 800-745-3000, www.manilow.com or www.ticketmaster.com. 'Barry Manilow's Copacabana'; Produced by: Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera; When: July 21 through Aug. 2 with performances at 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays and 1 p.m. July 23; Admission: $18.50-$70.50; Where: Benedum Center, Downtown; Details: 412-456-6666. |
| July 1, 2009 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | "Barry Manilow to focus on the hits for one-night stand at arena" by Karen Carlin |
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| Disappointed you haven't made it to Las Vegas to see Barry Manilow at the Hilton? Cheer up -- Manilow is bringing his hits-filled Vegas show to the Mellon Arena Monday night. The singer/songwriter/musician was last in Pittsburgh for his "One Last Time" tour in 2004. He hasn't toured since then, but when he gets a few weeks off from the ongoing Vegas show, which has been running since 2005, he heads out for some quick gigs. "I say, 'Come on, let's go out and visit the folks. As long as it's not a tour I'm OK doing these one-nighters in an arena here and there in cities that I love. Pittsburgh is one of them," Manilow said by phone from his home in Palm Springs, Calif. "They are just one-nighters. We have the show, we have the set, we have everybody in it. It's relatively simple to put one of these things up. It's just that I don't want to tour ever again. But one-nighters? I'm fine." It may be for just one night, but the size of the show is substantial, requiring 11 truckloads of light and sound equipment, instruments and whatever else the musicians need. "It's not a nightclub production, I'll tell you that," Manilow said. The concert also comes packed with something else: the songs that have made the Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner famous in the nearly 40 years since his debut album. "The audiences, they get younger, and even the older folks, they want to hear the hits. You know, no matter what I do, they want to hear the hits... Luckily enough, I have enough familiar songs in my catalog to fill up a full evening's worth of music," he said. "I see what they want. And I'm happy to give it to them." The show will follow much the same format as the latest incarnation of the Vegas show, "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits." "It's based on all the hits, so we've got basically a show that does this. And in the middle of this show I can stick in cuts from my first album to 'Here at the Mayflower' to '2:00 a.m. Paradise Cafe.' But the basis of it is the hits." Fans never tire of hearing such chestnuts as "Mandy," "Copacabana" and "I Write the Songs," and Manilow never tires of singing them. "I am honored. I am grateful. I am a very grateful man to be able to have an audience that still wants to hear these songs," he said. One of those classics, "Copacabana," became a full-scale Broadway-style show co-produced by Pittsburgh CLO. "Barry Manilow's Copacabana" made its American debut at the Benedum Center in 2000, and Manilow was in town working closely with CLO executive producer Van Kaplan and the rest of the production team. "It was a beautiful production and a gorgeous theater," Manilow said. He knew from Kaplan that patrons have repeatedly voted for the show's return in annual polls, and CLO will bring "Copacabana" back to the Benedum July 21-Aug. 2. "I assume it will be a great show again," Manilow said. In his most recent recordings, Manilow has departed from his own music, singing compilations of what he considers the greatest songs of the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s. "It was [producer] Clive Davis and myself making a list of the most well-known titles that we could think of for each decade. The challenge was that each song of each decade that we chose, we wanted them all to have been a No. 1 record, so that they were all terribly popular." Manilow enjoyed recording the well-known tunes, but that doesn't mean the projects were easy. "On one hand it was great, an honor, honestly, to sing these very very famous, beautiful well-written songs. On the other hand it was a challenge to compete with the original. The closer they got to contemporary world, like the '80s, the more difficult it was for me to make a new record, because the records that were made were so famous... If I changed one little chord, it would hurt the memory of these songs." Manilow has been putting together a new album of original music, a work in progress for the past two years. Two songs out of 16 have been recorded so far. "These original albums take a long time to do. It's easier for me to do the cover albums because I know how to do 'Arthur's Theme.' When you finish 'Arthur's Theme' you've got 'Arthur's Theme.' But when you start with an original song, you really don't know what you've got until you're done. And they take long... With my stuff I usually have a concept to them and it starts here and ends there and it's got a little story, so they take longer." He said the new album will be out "as soon as I can wrangle it together," within the next year, he guessed. While working on his own music, Manilow is finding time to help a younger generation through the Manilow Music Project, which replaces shoddy musical instruments in high schools and middle schools in the Coachella Valley, where Manilow lives. "Yamaha and myself, a couple more publishing companies, we all chipped in and sent out 13 trucks on the same day, same morning, and delivered 13 trucks' worth of musical instruments, music stands, sheet music to all of the schools down here in the Coachella Valley," he said. Twenty-two schools benefited from more than $500,000 worth of musical instruments. "It's a big passion of mine these days when I found out the condition of musical instruments and music classes all over the country. I'm doing as much as I can and whenever I can." Barry Manilow; Where: Mellon Arena. When: 7:30 p.m. Monday; Tickets: $10.49-$125.99; 1-800-745-3000; For more on Manilow, his Vegas Hilton shows and the Manilow Music Project, go to http://www.manilow.com. |
| July 3, 2009 | The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) | "Manilow ready for Capitol audience" by Jay Bobbin (Zap2It) |
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| Among those celebrating this Independence Day is the music superstar countless fans can't smile without. Barry Manilow will be among the stars of "A Capitol Fourth," the holiday concert broadcast by PBS. Airing at 8 p.m. Saturday, the 29th annual edition also will feature Emmy winner Jimmy Smits hosting on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Manilow has plenty of musical company for "A Capitol Fourth": legendary "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin. Natasha Bedingfield, Michael Feinstein, classical pianist Andrew von Oeyen and the cast of the Four Seasons-inspired stage hit "Jersey Boys." Erich Kunzel will return to conduct the National Symphony Orchestra. "I know I'll be on the stage a lot," Manilow says. "I've got this song called 'Let Freedom Ring,' which I wrote with my collaborator, Bruce Sussman; I sang it at Bill Clinton's inauguration and a couple of other times. I'd love to do that. The biggest thrill, of course, will be working with an orchestra that size," Manilow adds. "I don't get the chance for that too often. I may have done only a bunch of shows in concert halls in my whole career, so I can't wait to hear my stuff played by a large orchestra." Considering that career has spanned 35 years, and even longer with his earlier efforts as an arranger and accompanist, Manilow enjoys tackling anything new. Lately, he's enjoyed success with his albums of popular songs of the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s; since 2005, his live show has been a regular attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton. Manilow has found being a Vegas staple an experience unto itself. "All the strengths are there, and on the other hand, so are all the challenges," he says. "Having my own (performance) room, I know I can do anything I want to. Recently, I did 30 to 40 minutes of just (material from the album) 'Here at the Mayflower.' I said, 'This was really personal and important to me, and I hope you enjoy it.' "It went over really beautifully, and I can only do that in a room like that. I couldn't do that on the road. The challenges are conventions and tourists. Usually I'm spoiled; I get onstage and everybody yells and cheers, but that doesn't always happen in Vegas." Still, that won't deter Manilow from dipping into his jazz-oriented "2:00 AM Paradise Cafe" and "Swing Street," among other specialized works, as long as he remains close to the Strip. "I'll see if the cement mixers convention likes it," he muses. "I've had so many different albums, so many different styles of music." Happy to stay mainly in one place now, Manilow says, "We keep throwing in one-nighters (elsewhere) periodically, whether they're benefits or regular shows, and that's fun. I have some more coming up, but I don't want to tour anymore. That's the great part of being at the Hilton now: I don't have to live out of a suitcase. After 30 years, maybe even more, I still found myself ordering room service. It just got to be too much." |
| June 19, 2009 | NJ.com | "Barry Manilow to play PNC Bank Arts Center" by Jay Lustig |
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| Barry Manilow does most of his performing in Las Vegas these days, with a semi-permanent show at the Hilton called "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits." He occasionally performs elsewhere too, and will present a show titled "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits ... and then some," at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, Aug. 14. Tickets, priced from $65.25 to $159.25, go on sale at 10 a.m. June 22; call (877) 598-8694 or visit livenation.com or manilow.com. |
| June 16, 2009 | MyCentralJersey.com | "Barry Manilow is coming to the Arts Center" by Chris Jordan |
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| He is music and he writes the songs. He's also coming to the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. Barry Manilow is set to perform his "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits...and Then Some" show on Friday, Aug. 14, at the Jersey Shore amphitheater. Tickets - $65.25 to $159.25 - go on sale 10 a.m. Monday, June 22, through www.livenation.com, www.Manilow.com, 877-598-8694 charge-by-phone and at the PNC Bank Arts Center box office. The PNC Bank Arts Center is located at Exit 116 on the Garden State Parkway. More information is available by calling 732-203-2500 or by visiting www.artscenter.com. Manilow's hits include "Mandy," "Even Now," "This One's for You," "Weekend in New England," "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again," "Copacabana (At the Copa)" and "I Write the Songs." |
| June 9, 2009 | Hello Magazine | Barry Manilow to perform at Proms In The Park |
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| Veteran crooner Barry Manilow has announced his lone UK concert for this year. He'll take to the stage in London's Hyde Park on September 12 for the BBC Proms In The Park event. The 65-year-old Copacabana singer, whose other hits include "Mandy" and "I Write The Songs," will join Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins at the popular musical highlight, which will be hosted by TV favourite Terry Wogan. Barry's performance at the Proms In The Park – tickets for which cost £25 – has been dubbed "a real treat" for fans by Radio 2's Bob Shennan. The concert, which will be broadcast live on Radio 2, will also include performances by Icelandic tenor Garoar Thor Cortes and the BBC concert orchestra. |
| June 8, 2009 | TheaterMania | "Barry Manilow to Appear in London's BBC Proms in the Park" by Brian Scott Lipton |
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| Grammy Award winner Barry Manilow will perform at BBC Proms in the Park in London's Hyde Park on September 12. The event will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2. The concert, to be hosted by Sir Terry Wogan, will also feature singers Katherine Jenkins and Garoar Thor Cortes, along with the BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Martin Yates. The concert culminates in a live video link-up with the Royal Albert Hall and a nationwide sing-along to traditional favorites including "Rule Britannia." In addition to his pop songs, Manilow has been represented on stage in the shows Harmony and Copacabana. His most recent CD, The Greatest Songs of the Eighties, was released last year. For more information, visit www.bbc.co.uk. |
| June 8, 2009 | BBC News | Manilow to sing at BBC Proms |
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| Veteran musician Barry Manilow has announced his only UK gig this year will be at the BBC Proms in the Park. The 65-year-old, best known for hits such as "Mandy" and "Copacabana," will join soprano singer Katherine Jenkins at the annual concert, in London's Hyde Park. Now in its 14th year, the event on 12 September, hosted by Sir Terry Wogan, will be broadcast live on Radio 2. Radio 2 controller Bob Shennan said listeners will be in for a "real treat" to hear Manilow perform. The event also sees performances from acclaimed Icelandic tenor sensation Garoar Thor Cortes and the BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Martin Yates. The concert culminates in a live video link-up with the Royal Albert Hall and a nationwide sing-along to traditional favourites including Jerusalem and Rule Britannia. |
| June 8, 2009 | Rapid Talent | Barry Manilow tops stellar line-up at BBC Proms In The Park |
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| Music legend Barry Manilow is to join this year's BBC Proms In The Park – the annual extravaganza held in London's Hyde Park, and broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 – that allows music lovers to enjoy the magic and passion of the much-loved Last Night of the Proms. It is to be his only UK concert in 2009.
With worldwide record sales exceeding 75 million, his work as a singer, songwriter, arranger and producer has cemented Barry Manilow as a leading and much adored legend in the entertainment world. With hits such as "Mandy," "Can't Smile Without You" and "Copacabana," combined with his Las Vegas residencies selling out instantly, his success has become a benchmark in popular music. Bob Shennan, Radio 2 Controller, says: "Everyone at Radio 2 is delighted that Barry Manilow will headline BBC Proms In The Park in September. Barry Manilow is one of the giants of world show business and the fans in the park and our Radio 2 listeners are in for a treat." He joins a star-studded line-up that includes the award-winning mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, who performs at the London Proms In The Park concert for the very first time. The event also sees performances from acclaimed Icelandic tenor sensation Garoar Thor Cortes and the BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Martin Yates. It culminates in a live video link-up with the Royal Albert Hall and a nationwide sing-along to traditional favourites including Jerusalem and Rule Britannia! with the help of the Royal Choral Society. As ever, crowds are encouraged to bring picnics and flags, to sing along and enjoy the music and fireworks. Tribute bands to two of the world's best rock groups start the entertainment in the afternoon's warm-up events, which is hosted by Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce. The Counterfeit Stones entertain with their individual take on The Rolling Stones and Gary Mullen and The Works prepare audiences for the main event with the best of Queen. This year's Proms In The Park follows the success of last year's event, which featured Sharleen Spiteri, Jose Carreras and Lesley Garrett. Barry Manilow fans across the UK will be able to tune into the Hyde Park concert and watch him live by pressing the red button during the Last Night Of The Proms on BBC Two. Viewers can also watch him on BBC iPlayer for seven days after the event, as part of the Hyde Park Prom. Now an integral part of the UK's musical calendar, BBC Proms In The Park is hosted, for its 14th year, by Sir Terry Wogan, in Hyde Park. The event, supported by NS&I (National Savings & Investments), on Saturday 12 September 2009, is one of five major outdoor shows staged by the BBC in five locations across all four nations of the UK – Glasgow, County Down, Salford, Swansea and London – which bring the magic of the Last Night Of The Proms to many thousands of music lovers around the UK. The expanding programme of BBC Big Screens takes Proms In The Park even further around the country including Bradford (Centenary Square), Bristol (Millennium Square), Cardiff (The Hayes), Derby (Market Place), Hull (Queen Victoria Square), Leeds (Millennium Square), Liverpool (Clayton Square), Manchester (Exchange Square), Middlesbrough (Centre Square), Norwich (Chapelfield Plain), Plymouth (Armada Way), Portsmouth (Guildhall Square), Rotherham (All Saints Square), Swansea (Castle Square), Swindon (Wharf Green),Waltham Forest (Walthamstow Town Square) and other UK cities where new screens are currently being commissioned. |
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