STAR-BULLETIN / 2003 Matt Catingub, seated, collaborated with Jimmy Borges in a pops concert two years ago.

Pops conductor
playing full hand

"It's a dry heat" is how Honolulu Symphony Pops conductor Matt Catingub describes the summer weather in his new home in Simi Valley, Calif.

But the weather is not why the symphony's popular conductor-musician moved from Honolulu.

Honolulu Symphony Pops Season-opening concert with Bill Medley, formerly of the Righteous Brothers » Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall » When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday » Tickets: $40 to $90, available at the Honolulu Symphony ticket office in Dole Cannery » Call: 792-2000 or order by phone, 877-750-4400 » Online orders: honolulusymphony.com or ticketmaster.com

"It was about being closer to other opportunities in the entertainment industry, and nothing to do with the current financial and administrative problems the symphony is attempting to correct," he says. "My (symphony) contract is up in two years and I have no plans, absolutely no plans, of not staying with the organization. Maybe I should have that tattooed on my forehead."

That would be his second major physical change in the last year.

"Cat" shaved his beard and cut off his trademark 2-foot-long ponytail for a role in the George Clooney film "Good Night and Good Luck," with its scheduled release Oct. 7. The maestro arranged the soundtrack and appears in the film.

But Catingub did keep the clipped ponytail -- it just might be up for auction at the 2006 Honolulu Symphony Ball.

Question: What was your vision for the 2005-06 Pops season?

Answer: Just to follow the same simple guidelines I've done for years. Pops can be anything you want it to be. I always try to cover as many bases as I can. Our headline act this season is Elvis Costello, and the only reason that happened is our connection with (his wife) Diana Krall.

Q: The Pops is doing a concert dedicated to the music of Israel Kamakawiwoole?

A: I'm working closely with Jon de Mello, and it will be two hours of chicken skin. We haven't finalized who will be singing, but we're doing a lot of high-tech stuff. Iz will be singing with the symphony, and we're still in process of making that work.

The whole technical aspects of Jon's ideas are fantastic but require a lot of practice and work. Because of so many changes within the symphony, I'm sometimes trying to figure out who I'm supposed to be talking to in the organization about these things, so it's going even slower than Hawaii time.

Q: How have the symphony's internal problems affected the Pops and you personally?

A: As far as Pops, I don't think it's affected the program as a whole. Am I worried about it personally? Sure, of course. This is still my baby and I still have the same dreams and aspirations for this organization -- and bigger and better for next season. It's a little disheartening to hear what's going on. But there is nothing I can do about this, so I just do what I do and hope the folks who are in charge work it out.

Q: The Pops continues to have the highest attendance and is higher revenue-producing than the classical side. There are no changes expected on your side of the podium.

A: Obviously, everyone's budgets were cut. One of the things we've been proud of is our first-half artist programs, and we had to cut that back a bit this year. This first concert will not have a local artist performing. But it does give us the opportunity to feature the orchestra, and I think they really should be featured more.

Q: Why are Pops' programs so popular?

A: It's simple. Pops brings in artists people want to see. Many times we get audiences who have no idea they're coming to see the Honolulu Symphony. All they know is they're coming to see an artist.

We hope that by just attending, some will say, 'Wow, this is very cool with a 65-piece orchestra,' and that will fan an interest to return to see an orchestra-only show and check out the MasterWorks.

For the Iz tribute, I know there will be people attending who never even thought about going to see the Honolulu Symphony. We'll have folks from all over coming down, and maybe they'll come back.

Q: How did you get Elvis Costello?

A: I e-mailed Diana's manager and asked what Elvis is doing this season, then asked whether they would do a symphony show together. Diana said she and Elvis do not want to be "this century's Steve and Edie," so that was a definite no. But it turns out Elvis wanted to do a symphony, and they both like Hawaii. So once again we played the Hawaii card and it won. Might not work if we were in Iowa.

Q: Have you written charts for Elvis?

A: I don't know if I will need to, at this point. The first half of the concert is some piece he's written for a symphony. But I can tell you that his concert is a landmark for the organization.

Q: Mayor Hannemann is singing in the opening concert?

A: Mufi has a nice little singing voice, and we look forward to having the mayor on stage.