MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with famous musician Doc Severinsen, who has been named the first principal pops conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra. Severinsen details what symphony orchestra program will look like as a “pops” concert.
MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with famous musician Doc Severinsen, who has been named the first principal pops conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra. Severinsen details what symphony orchestra program will look like as a “pops” concert.
SPEAKER: Big news at the Minnesota Orchestra today. Doc Severinsen is going to be joining the Minnesota Orchestra's conducting staff. He's being named today as the Minnesota Orchestra's first principal pops conductor. Doc Severinsen is, of course, best known as the former music director for The Tonight Show, and he's a Grammy award-winning conductor and trumpeter. Doc Severinsen joins us now by telephone from Orchestra Hall. Good morning sir.
DOC SEVERINSEN: Good morning.
SPEAKER: Say, congratulations, I guess, huh?
DOC SEVERINSEN: Well, they're in order, and I appreciate it very much. Thank you.
SPEAKER: What drew you to the Minnesota Orchestra?
DOC SEVERINSEN: Well, an invitation from David Hyslop, president of the organization. I've known him for years. And actually, it's a natural progression. I guess I've played with the Orchestra over the years quite a few times. And so one thing led to another, and here I am.
SPEAKER: Mhm. How many concerts?
DOC SEVERINSEN: I don't think my name heard any either in this part of the country.
SPEAKER: Certainly not.
DOC SEVERINSEN: Having a Scandinavian name doesn't hurt.
SPEAKER: [LAUGHS] How many concerts are you actually going to be conducting?
DOC SEVERINSEN: Well, that's not a complete-- that's never a closed issue. You know what I mean? I start off with-- the plans are for three times per year, but then you're involved in the planning of who's going to be on the pop series and what it's going to consist of. And I suppose that if it's like other orchestras, there will be other dates added as well.
SPEAKER: When is the first one scheduled for?
DOC SEVERINSEN: In June. I don't have the exact date in front of me.
SPEAKER: Right. Mhm.
DOC SEVERINSEN: The 26th and 27th of June.
SPEAKER: OK.
DOC SEVERINSEN: So we're not wasting any time. We're getting right to it.
SPEAKER: You know what you're going to be performing that night? First one?
DOC SEVERINSEN: I don't have the program in front of me, but I'll have it later today. I've already made it out. But quite honestly, I don't have it at hand.
SPEAKER: No, are you going to be playing with the orchestra as well as conducting or just conducting?
DOC SEVERINSEN: Well, usually when I conduct a Pops program, I have that trumpet right at hand, and I'm always ready to reach down and rip out a couple of choruses of something or another. And so I will be doing a certain amount of playing.
SPEAKER: Mr. Severinsen, how does--
DOC SEVERINSEN: Would you please call me Doc?
SPEAKER: All right, Doc. How does the concept of a Pop concert fit into the overall mission of a Symphony Orchestra?
DOC SEVERINSEN: Well, it deals with a different type of music. But I think that at all times, even though it's a Pops concert, you need to play something of a classical nature at points throughout the program to keep the people reminded and the people in the orchestra as well that this is the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra. And you use all of the glorious instrumental capabilities of a Symphony Orchestra to translate music that can be jazz, Broadway, Pops, movie music, and blues, and gospel. You name it.
SPEAKER: Right. Is the idea, though, primarily to get people in the hall who might otherwise not go to, in this case, a Minnesota Symphony?
DOC SEVERINSEN: That often happens. Yes, people will come to a Pops concert because of some particular artists or a grouping of selections that they want to hear. And then they find out that they really like the symphony. And they wind up coming to the classical as well.
SPEAKER: Right. I have to ask you before we go. What do you wear? What do you wear now as a conductor? Do you appear in the formal tuxedo, or do you wear that one of those popular sports coats that you became so famous for?
DOC SEVERINSEN: I guarantee you. I will have sequins on every now and then. And I think no matter what you do in life, you have to be yourself. And myself is a bit flamboyant. And so I don't see that that's going to change.
SPEAKER: Well, it's great to have you.
DOC SEVERINSEN: Look at it this way. If I'm here conducting in December and I fall in a large drift of snow, say, something about 6 feet deep, they won't have any trouble finding me.
SPEAKER: Thanks a lot for joining us.
DOC SEVERINSEN: It's a pleasure.
SPEAKER: Great.
DOC SEVERINSEN: Thank you.
SPEAKER: Thank you so much. Doc Severinsen, who's joining the Minnesota Orchestra's conducting staff, named today as the Minnesota Orchestra's first principal Pops conductor.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Views and opinions expressed in the content do not represent the opinions of APMG. APMG is not responsible for objectionable content and language represented on the site. Please use the "Contact Us" button if you'd like to report a piece of content. Thank you.
Transcriptions provided are machine generated, and while APMG makes the best effort for accuracy, mistakes will happen. Please excuse these errors and use the "Contact Us" button if you'd like to report an error. Thank you.