Roll over Beethoven, Las Vegas hits are rocking the Houston Symphony this weekend. Another installment of POPS orchestra is taking over Jones Hall with Viva Las Vegas.
I was tapping and clapping along to the familiar songs, which included tunes from Elvis Presley and others that have rocked Las Vegas stages.
Houston is blessed with the premier conductor of popular music, Steven Reineke, who has led orchestras from New York’s Carnegie Hall to San Francisco and everywhere in between. Over 60 years since Elvis released his first album, and the music of the biggest teen-heartthrob in history is being performed on the same stage as Mozart.
Two special guests electrify this production, all-around musical deity Frankie Moreno and star dancer Lacey Schwimmer.
Three-time Las Vegas Headliner of the Year Frankie Moreno brings sin city to h-town. If you don’t think you have heard his music before, you have. He has written hit singles for chart-topping artists, and stars in his own PBS special Frankie Moreno In Concert. From piano, to guitar, harmonica and his voice, Moreno is an incredible performer with a captivating stage presence. In Viva Las Vegas, Moreno shows that he’s the best Elvis impersonator alive. Don’t expect to sit still in your seat at this performance, Moreno engaged the audience to stand, clap, and even dance.
You have probably seen Schwimmer before on So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars, but her energy is contagious in a live performance. Schwimmer was a fireball herself when she burst on stage shimmying and shaking to the classic song Great Balls of Fire. I was disappointed that Schwimmer didn’t have more time to shine in Viva Las Vegas, she was only on stage for about two songs.
Bayou city’s world-class orchestra proves once again that they can perform anything, from Tchaikovsky, to Harry Potter scores to Elvis Presley. I enjoy hearing the tunes of popular music being performed with the depth and range of a full classical orchestra.
Viva Las Vegas is playing at the Houston Symphony’s home in Jones Hall, August 31 through September 2. Student Rush tickets are available for $15.
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