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Anonymous · 01-28-2004, 12:50 PM

Symphony gig is up for Doc Severinsen

By Kyle MacMillan
Denver Post Critic-at-Large

What's up? Well, not Doc.

Because of gradually declining attendance during Doc Severinsen's three-year tenure as the Colorado Symphony's principal pops conductor, the orchestra will not renew his contract for 2004-05, Doug Adams, the symphony's president and chief executive officer, said Monday.

"He's not just the principal pops conductor," Adams said, "he's also the entertainer. So having the same basic act for three times a year worked, and it worked for three years, but we felt it was time to make a change.

"He knows that, and we talked about that the last time he was here very candidly and very openly."

Severinsen, who gained widespread fame as the flamboyantly dressed leader of "The Tonight Show" band and Johnny Carson's sidekick, was named principal pops conductor of symphony in February 2001.

Since then, he has conducted three sets of pops programs each season, Adams said, and average attendance has progressively fallen. Severinsen is scheduled to lead two remaining pairs of concerts this year, including "20 Years of Glory" on Friday and Saturday.

Even though the orchestra and Severinsen are severing formal ties, Adams said, the symphony still hopes to have him back regularly as a guest performer.

"He's popular here," Adams said. "We were looking for a date for next season. I'm not sure that's going to work, but we would definitely like to have him back. He's a terrific guy."

The position of principal pops conductor will be left vacant for now, but Adams expects it to be eventually filled by someone else.
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01-28-2004, 12:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Anonymous Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,127	Doc's Symphony Gig is Up. Symphony gig is up for Doc Severinsen By Kyle MacMillan Denver Post Critic-at-Large What's up? Well, not Doc. Because of gradually declining attendance during Doc Severinsen's three-year tenure as the Colorado Symphony's principal pops conductor, the orchestra will not renew his contract for 2004-05, Doug Adams, the symphony's president and chief executive officer, said Monday. "He's not just the principal pops conductor," Adams said, "he's also the entertainer. So having the same basic act for three times a year worked, and it worked for three years, but we felt it was time to make a change. "He knows that, and we talked about that the last time he was here very candidly and very openly." Severinsen, who gained widespread fame as the flamboyantly dressed leader of "The Tonight Show" band and Johnny Carson's sidekick, was named principal pops conductor of symphony in February 2001. Since then, he has conducted three sets of pops programs each season, Adams said, and average attendance has progressively fallen. Severinsen is scheduled to lead two remaining pairs of concerts this year, including "20 Years of Glory" on Friday and Saturday. Even though the orchestra and Severinsen are severing formal ties, Adams said, the symphony still hopes to have him back regularly as a guest performer. "He's popular here," Adams said. "We were looking for a date for next season. I'm not sure that's going to work, but we would definitely like to have him back. He's a terrific guy." The position of principal pops conductor will be left vacant for now, but Adams expects it to be eventually filled by someone else. [/b]