Press & Reviews
Hip senior chorus schedules concert
by PAT CAHILL - The Springfield Republican
May 11, 2006
The hippest seniors since George Bernard Shaw are at it again.
The Young @ Heart Chorus, composed of two dozen vigorous vocalists aged 70 to 93, will present "Alive and Well," Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton.
Tickets are $12, or $10 in advance.
The program will combine "greatest hits" from previous performances and new arrangements, according to choral director Bob Cilman of Northampton, who founded the group 24 years ago.
"We'll be introducing a lot of new songs," said Cilman.
They will include Nirvana's "Come As You Are," Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenic" and Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here," according to Cilman.
Among the Young @ Heart renditions familiar to its fans are Bob Dylan's "Forever Young," U-2's "One," and Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees."
"We reinterpret rock-'n'-roll," said Cilman.
The chorus is accompanied by a five-piece band with piano, accordion, guitar, drums and violin.
"Alive and Well" marks another milestone for the ever-evolving ensemble, because it will be recorded by Bluebird Films of London for showing on British TV Sept. 29.
The audience will want to take care its collective hair is combed, because Cilman said the production is sure to include audience shots as well as scenes of Northampton.