Honolulu Symphony
Maureen McGovern recorded five albums during
the late 1980s and early 90s.

McGovern sings
Gershwin to open Pops

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

The answer is: Maureen McGovern, Rosemary Clooney, and "Da Wizard of Oz."

The question? What are some of the highlights of the Honolulu Symphony's 1998-99 United Airlines Pops Season, Sept. 25. to April 16?

All performances are at the Blaisdell Concert Hall and start at 7:30 p.m. Matt Catingub is the principal Pops conductor.

Singer McGovern opens the season Sept. 25 with "Celebrating Gershwin's 100th by George" featuring "Rhapsody n' Rhythm." Legendary singer Clooney closes the season in April with "A Sentimental Journey" singing her hits, old standards and songs from her Nelson Riddle tribute recording "Dedicated to Nelson."

The rest of the season looks like this:

Oct. 30 and 31: "Fright Night! A Halloween Spooktacular Returns" with "haunting selections" from stage, screen, and television.

Nov. 27 and 28.: Pianist Michael Feinstein returns to Honolulu with "Isn't It Romantic on Broadway Tonight," a collection of Broadway treasures from Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart and more.

Dec. 11 and 12: The Brothers Cazimero in "A Very Cazimero Christmas with the Brothers" with the Kamehameha Schools Glee Club and with Aaron Mahi as guest conductor.

Jan. 8 and 9: The Smothers Brothers.

March 19 and 20: A star-studded cast singing "Da Wizard of Oz" Hawaiian style, a specially arranged "local-style" version of the classic film with Emma Veary, Jimmy Borges and others performing the music while dressed as Oz characters.

McGovern made a name for herself in the early 1970s with the soundtrack themes to two disaster movies, "The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure, and "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno. Later she would spoof her work as disaster-theme queen with a spot as a singing nun in the movie "Airplane."

McGovern starred in the PBS/BBC Emmy Award-winning special "Celebrating Gershwin," in the revivals of CBS Masterworks recordings of "Of Thee I Sing" and "Let 'Em Eat Cake" and in her own PBS Special, "Maureen McGovern: Live at Wolftrap."

She has been a guest artist with symphonies across the country, including the Boston Pops, New York Pops, and the National Symphony.

Clooney began her career in 1945 singing duets with her sister Betty for WLW Radio in Cincinnati. In 1947, the Clooney Sisters joined bandleader Tony Pastor, making their debut at The Steel Pier in Atlantic City.

After two years on the road, Clooney struck out on her own and headed for New York where she signed a recording contract with Columbia Records..

In 1951, Mitch Miller, the reigning monarch of Columbia, convinced her to record a novelty song, "Come On-a My House." It catapulted Clooney to stardom.

Clooney has been featured on the 1982 CBS-TV movie, "Rosie, the Rosemary Clooney Story," based on her autobiography, "This For Remembrance." She appeared on the hit television series "ER" with her nephew George Clooney and has done numerous television specials.

She has been inducted into the National Broadcaster's Hall of Fame. In 1995 ASCAP awarded her The Pied Piper Award, describing her as "an American Musical Treasure and one of the best friends a song ever had."

Feinstein has made a career of singing the songs of the 1930s, '40s and '50s. His concerts always include his interpretations of George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin.

Season tickets for the 1998-99 pops season are $91 to $280 and on sale now. For tickets and information call 538-8863.

Symphony $100,000 short of goal There are just five days left for the Honolulu Symphony to raise the $102,000 needed in order to receive a $500,000 Matching Gift Challenge. If the deadline is met on Wednesday, July 15, the $1 million -- $500,000 from an anonymous donor and the half-million to be raised by the Symphony -- the organization will be debt free for the first time in more than a decade, Symphony officials said. The Matching Gift was pledged to the Symphony in May with the stipulation that an equal amount must be raised by July 15. To date the Symphony has received 2,638 pledges and gifts totaling $398,000. Matching gifts for the campaign can be made by calling the Honolulu Symphony Development Office at 524-0815, extension 227.