In July 2009, Seattle Symphony will present “Symphony Summer,” featuring The Peking Acrobats with Seattle Symphony on July 8 and 9; Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy on July 10 and 11; and Michael Feinstein: The Sinatra Project on July 16. Tickets go on sale to the general public December 8. Additional programs will be announced at a later date.
The Peking Acrobats with Seattle Symphony Since their debut performance in 1986, The Peking Acrobats have redefined the art of Chinese acrobatics. From daring maneuvers atop precarious pagodas of chairs to treacherous wire-walking and gymnastics, the troupe has performed their signature acrobatics around the world. They have been featured on numerous television programs, including That’s Incredible, Ellen’s Really Big Show (TV special with host Ellen DeGeneres), The Wayne Brady Show, ABC’s Wide World of Sports and NBC’s Ring in the New Year Holiday Special. The troupe was also featured in Steven Soderbergh's hit film Ocean's Eleven, playing along with Hollywood's elite such as Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and George Clooney. The Peking Acrobats recently made their debut at the Hollywood Bowl, performing as part of the venue’s Fireworks Season Finale.
Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy featuring Seattle Symphony
Audiences are invited to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Final Fantasy with two performances by Seattle Symphony featuring music from the popular video game series. Giant video screens will display video and art stills synchronized with the music. The program will highlight the music of Nobuo Uematsu, one of the most celebrated composers in the video game field, who has achieved global recognition for his work on the Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy VIII’s theme song, "Eyes on Me,” was featured on an album by Hong Kong pop star Faye Wong and sold a record 400,000 copies. It also won Song of the Year (Western Music) at the 14th Annual Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1999, marking the first time in history that music from a video game achieved this illustrious honor. The music from the game series has grown to such notoriety, Nobuo Uematsu was named as one of the innovators in Time Magazine's Time 100: The Next Wave of Music feature.
Michael Feinstein: The Sinatra Project
Singer and pianist Michael Feinstein and his 17-piece band bring Feinstein’s latest recording project to Benaroya Hall. The Sinatra Project was released in September 2, 2008 and was recently nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category. The CD is a moving and celebratory tribute to legendary crooner Frank Sinatra and his contemporaries, including Ella Fitzgerald and Nat “King” Cole. Feinstein explains that, “Sinatra considered himself, first and foremost, an interpreter of song, and his influence on other entertainers is incalculable.
He has become so thoroughly entrenched in the history of American popular song that it is impossible to open your mouth and sing without his influence being part of that.” A now five-time Grammy nominee, Michael Feinstein will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his professional debut in 2009.
An archivist of the Great American Songbook, Feinstein has dedicated his career to preserving, protecting and promoting the work of the great tunesmiths, ranging from household names like Gershwin, Porter and Berlin to such lesser-known craftsmen as Hugh Martin and Burton Lane. He serves on the board of the Library of Congress’ National Sound Recording Advisory. -- www.seattlesymphony.org
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