Iconic composer on the mend makes exception for Summer Pops
By Pat Sherman
SDUN Assistant Editor
Bacharach, know for his string of hits during the 1960s and ’70s with lyricist Hal David, will conduct the second half of the August 8 show, which starts at 7:30 p.m.
Bacharach’s songbook includes hits he and David crafted especially for Dionne Warwick, including “The Look of Love,” “Say a Little Prayer,” “Walk on By” and “This House Is Not a Home,” as well as The Carpenters’ chestnut “(They Long To Be) Close To You,” Tom Jones’ “What’s New, Pussycat?” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” from the soundtrack to the Robert Redford/Paul Newman film, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”
“We are very, very fortunate that his only summer gig is going to be with us,” said Summer Pops Principal Conductor Matthew Garbutt, who has co-conducted with the now 82-year-old Brill Building alum before. “Because it was the San Diego Symphony’s 100th birthday and he’s got a bit of a connection here in San Diego he felt that he could do at least a half of our show this year.”
Garbutt, who is principal tubist during the symphony’s winter season, said his favorite Bacharach composition is the Warwick tune, “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?”
“It’s just great being anywhere around someone like that—all of the great songs that he’s written and all of the careers that have been bolstered by this music and his creations,” Garbutt said. “It’s very exciting; you can really feel it.”
Garbutt will conduct the first half of the show, featuring symphonic selections with an appropriate cloak and dagger swagger, including a medley of “James Bond” film selections, such as “Live and Let Die,” as well as the themes from “Mission Impossible,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “Get Smart,” “Peter Gunn” and “The Pink Panther.”
“[Bacharach] has made cameo appearances in each of the ‘Austin Powers’ movies and he built the score for ‘Casino Royale,’ which was sort of a James Bond spoof with Peter Sellers,” Garbutt said. “I thought I would go with kind of a ‘spies and private eyes’ first half this time.”
Three backup singers will accompany the symphony, delivering Bacharach’s cheery, at times melancholy, melodies.
“He always brings really great, talented singers,” Garbutt said. “He comes out, sits at the piano and he talks and interacts with the audience. He does a couple songs himself but most of the time it’s his singers which showcase all that great music.”
It is perhaps no coincidence that Bacharach would return to San Diego during Del Mar racing season. For decades he has entered his horses at Del Mar, where he resided with former wife Angie Dickinson during the ’70s.
The recipient of three Academy Awards and seven Grammys, Bacharach withdrew from the spotlight during his time in Del Mar. Admittedly frustrated by the dissolution of his creative partnership with Hal David, he reportedly spent his days playing tennis and wandering the beach. Bacharach sold his Del Mar home in 1980, though he continued racing horses at Del Mar.
Since 1990, Bacharach has reunited with David for projects and has connected with a new generation of music fans, collaborating with everyone from Elvis Costello to Dr. Dre (with whom he recorded an album of protest songs).
Bacharach has not announced which of his selections he’ll perform during the Summer Pops show, though Garbutt assured the playlist mainly will be comprised of Bacharach’s Top 10 hit songs.
San Diego Symphony’s Bridgepoint Education Summer Pops
August 8
7:30 p.m.
Embarcadero Marina Park South
Tickets $17-$76
sandiegosymphony.org
235-0804
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