In celebration of one of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s most beloved musicals, Rob Fisher and Tom Thompson created this full-length concert adaptation, with a fresh new full orchestral arrangement, created by Bill Elliot, including every song from the original score (originally composed for just 13 on-stage musicians), and intermittent spoken dialogue, this new version is reimagined for full symphony orchestra.
Musicals in concert have long been a staple of popular programming for orchestras around the world, and now Broadway’s longest running musical, CHICAGO, is available to symphony orchestras, featuring a five-member cast of Broadway singing actors lead by CHICAGO’s original musical supervisor and beloved American conductor Rob Fisher.
CHICAGO In Concert is a sensational tale of sin, corruption and all that jazz with a ripped-from-the-headlines story about fame and scandal and one show-stopping song after another.
Rob Fisher
Conductor
Rob Fisher is an internationally recognized music director, conductor and pianist, and a leading figure in American music and musical theatre. He has been a guest of every major orchestra in the country as conductor or pianist, and has collaborated many times with the San Diego Symphony.
With the New York Philharmonic, he conducted the acclaimed concert versions of Carousel (Emmy Nomination for Best Music Director) and My Fair Lady, both starring Kelli O’Hara, as well as Mr. Keillor at 70. At Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, he led gala performances of Candide, Guys and Dolls, and The Sound of Music.
Fisher was recently represented on Broadway as the score supervisor and arranger for An American in Paris (Grammy nomination) and Anything Goes (Grammy nomination). Additionally, he remains the music supervisor and arranger for Chicago: The Musical.
In addition to collaborating in concert and recording with such artists as Renée Fleming, Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O’Hara, Patti LuPone, Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and David Hyde Pierce, he conducted the San Francisco Symphony in the Emmy-winning concert production of Sweeney Todd starring LuPone and George Hearn. At the Chicago Lyric Opera, he led the record-breaking production of The Sound of Music.
Fisher was founding music director and conductor of the New York City Center Encores! series from its inception in 1994 until 2005. The series earned a 2000 Tony Award, and in 1997, Fisher was given the Lucille Lortel Award. Fisher has made numerous recordings for Encores! including the Grammy Award-winning Chicago cast album. Recently Fisher arranged and conducted Renée Fleming’s Broadway.
A native Virginian, he holds degrees from Duke, American, and Mansfield Universities.
Kander & Ebb
Composer & Lyricist
John Kander and Fred Ebb were a highly successful American songwriting team consisting of composer John Kander (born March 18, 1927) and lyricist Fred Ebb (April 8, 1928 – September 11, 2004). Perhaps best known for two of their most famous stage musicals, Chicago and Cabaret, the duo also scored several movies, including Martin Scorsese‘s New York, New York, which included their most familiar song, “New York, New York” recorded by many artists, but a signature song for Frank Sinatra.
