ArtsWatch

I remember being told many years ago (at least 30) that the phrase "Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops" really meant Mr Fiedler, a few players he brought along, a pile of scores and parts, plus a free-lance group of musicians assembled near the sites for the tour. (Specifically I remember being told the Virginia tour orchestra was assembled in the Baltimore/Washington area.) It was explained that ANY orchestra conducted by Mr Fiedler using their arrangements was the "Boston Pops". I found it at least irritating even then, and frankly bordering on the dishonest.

I have a friend whose sister plays in the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. Last summer he told me that the musicians in this group are paid less than the Boston Pops Orchestra (not to mention no benefits). This is really just a pickup group, not the real Boston Pops. I see it as dishonest to be so ambiguous. When I go to see the Phillies, I want to see the major league Phillies, NOT a farm team.

I have heard the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra several times under the baton of John Williams. The last such time was at a Tanglewood concert. Even on their home turf, there was some audience confusion as to the Esplanade moniker. A review of the musician roster in the program revealed that the ranks were sprinkled with members from the Boston Symphony. To these ears, there really was no difference in quality from the previous afternoon's performance of the Boston Symphony and the following evening's concert by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. It seems to be a pretty similiar arrangement to what the Los Angeles Philharmonic does when it presents the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, another ensemble comprised of freelance musicians. I agree that there should be proper billing for the Bostonians, but I don't believe there's an issue in terms of quality.

Here's a sure way to tell the REAL Boston Pops from the pickup orchestra. The regular Boston Pops wears BLACK bowties. The pickup musicians wear red. As stated before, they are also paid less.