Grammy-winning composer/arranger/conductor Victor Vanacore – who has been at the nexus of classical and pop music for more than 30 years, shaping the artistry of the Jackson 5, Ray Charles and Natalie Cole, among many others – conducts the world premiere of his latest work, “La Sorgente,” 10 neo-classical arias he composed to the poetry of Pope John Paul II, on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m., at the John Anson Ford Theatre in Hollywood. The 90-minute piece features a 35-piece orchestra, two sopranos and three tenor soloists.
Vanacore was Ray Charles’ music director, arranger and opening act from 1990 to 2004 and provided all of the orchestral arrangements for Charles’ only platinum album, “Genius Loves Company,” featuring the Grammy-winning “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” with special guest Johnny Mathis. He was conductor, keyboardist and musical arranger for the Jackson 5; and he has also guest conducted the LA Phil, St. Louis and San Francisco symphonies, and London Philharmonic Orchestra, to name a few.
The 10 poems featured in “La Sorgente” come from Pope John Paul’s book of meditations, “Trittico Romano: Meditazioni” (“The Roman Triptych: Meditations”). The meditations, expertly transformed into arias by Vanacore, are both secular and sacred, recounting stories from the Pope’s personal experiences in the great outdoors, of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and of the Old Testament.
For tickets or more information, visit FordTheatres.org, or call (323) 461-3673.