RELEASE: Pink Martini and the Omaha Symphony Take the Holland for a Celebration

Singer Storm Large and bandleader Thomas Lauderdale Lead a Dazzling Multilingual Performance
Thomas Wilkins Conducts the Omaha Symphony Strings as the 12-piece Outfit Returns to Omaha
Sunday, May 9 Performance to be Streamed Live at SymphonyAnywhere.com

OMAHA, Neb., April 27, 2021 — Back in Omaha for the fourth time by popular demand is the genre-bending band from Portland, Oregon, that always brings the party to the concert hall. Pink Martini, a 12-piece outfit fronted by singer Storm Large and led by pianist Thomas Lauderdale, brings color and life to the Holland Center as they join the strings of the Omaha Symphony in rousing renditions of multilingual classics and innovative arrangements. The band melds the sounds of jazz, samba, pop, cabaret, classical and more for a celebration that will bring audiences to their feet.

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 8 and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 9 at the Holland Performing Arts Center Peter Kiewit Concert Hall.

Lauderdale is a long-time artistic collaborator of Omaha Symphony Music Director Thomas Wilkins; the two have shared a special musical bond that began during Wilkins’ tenure as Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in Los Angeles.

“As we started putting together this Centennial season – and my final season as Music Director of the Omaha Symphony – I knew there had to be a party. And there’s no better party than a Pink Martini party,” said Maestro Thomas Wilkins. “This final season is all about making incredible music and celebrating with dear friends, and Thomas Lauderdale and Pink Martini are the epitome of the celebration that our community is craving in this moment.”

Program Info:

7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 8
2 p.m. Sunday, May 9
Holland Performing Arts Center Peter Kiewit Concert Hall

Artists

Thomas Wilkins, conductor

Pink Martini:
Thomas Lauderdale, piano and bandleader
Storm Large, lead vocals
Gavin Bondy, trumpet
Robert Taylor, trombone
Timothy Nishimoto, backing vocals and percussion
Nicholas Crosa, violin
Phil Baker, upright bass
Dan Faehnle, guitar
Reinhardt Melz, drums
Miguel Bernal, percussion
Brian Davis, percussion
Jimmie Herrod, guest vocals

Setlist Highlights

“¿Donde estas, Yolanda?”
“Let’s Never Stop Falling in Love”
“Splendor in the grass”
“Una notte a Napoli”
“Brasil”
And lots more!

About Pink Martini

In 1994 in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale was working in politics, with the intention of eventually running for office. Like other eager politicians-in-training, he went to every political fundraiser under the sun… but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming, lackluster, loud and un-neighborly. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop – and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the “little orchestra” Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, cleaning up the Willamette River, funding for libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks.

One year later, Lauderdale called China Forbes, a Harvard classmate who was living in New York City, and asked her to join Pink Martini. They began to write songs together. Their first song – “Sympathique” (Je ne veus pas travailler)- became an overnight sensation in France, was nominated for “Song of the Year” at France’s Victoires de la Musique Awards, and to this day remains a mantra (“Je ne veux pas travailler” or “I don’t want to work”) for striking French workers. Says Lauderdale, “We’re very much an American band, but we spend a lot of time abroad and therefore have the incredible diplomatic opportunity to represent a broader, more inclusive America… the America which remains the most heterogeneously populated country in the world… composed of people of every country, every language, every religion. Except for Native Americans, all of us are immigrants from every country, of every language, of every religion.”

Featuring a dozen musicians with songs in 25 languages, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South America and North America. Pink Martini made its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 and its orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1998 under the direction of Norman Leyden. Since then, the band has gone on to play with more than 70 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London.

Ticketing Information

Tickets for Pink Martini with the Omaha Symphony start at $20. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.omahasymphony.org, through the Ticket Omaha app, or by calling Ticket Omaha at 402.345.0606. Performance dates are subject to change. In the event of performance changes or cancellations, the Omaha Symphony will email ticket holders to inform them of new dates and ticketing options. Patrons with questions may email ticketomaha@o-pa.org. The Omaha Symphony also regularly posts performance updates at omahasymphony.org, along with the Omaha Symphony’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages. Patrons can sign up for the latest updates at omahasymphony.org.

Livestream Information

The Omaha Symphony is excited to offer a livestreaming option for viewing this performance. Audiences can purchase tickets and view the livestream at www.symphonyanywhere.com. Tickets for this livestreamed performance are $25.

Public Health Information

Performances at the Holland Performing Arts Center feature physically distanced seating and will only be seated at a maximum of 30 percent capacity. All patrons will be required to complete a health screening questionnaire prior to accessing their mobile tickets via the Ticket Omaha app. Masks are required at indoor Omaha Symphony performances. The following changes have been implemented within the venue:

  • Enhanced Cleaning & Sanitation - Electrostatic technology disinfecting large common areas, enhanced sanitizing of high touch surfaces with hospital grade disinfectant and hand sanitizing stations throughout the venue
  • Heating and Cooling System – Upgrades to air handling units includes bipolar ionization filtering out viruses through ventilation
  • Staff Precautions – Staff and volunteers are required to complete a health screening upon entrance to the building, wear face masks and receive temperature checks.
  • Touchless Experience – Tickets are accessible via the Ticket Omaha app. Tickets can also be printed at Will Call. Program notes will be delivered digitally.

Find the most up to date public health information at omahasymphony.org/public-health.

This performance is sponsored by Immanuel Communities and Lindsay Corporation.

The Omaha Symphony is a non-profit organization that presents more than 100 live orchestral performances from September through June. In addition to Masterworks, Symphony Pops, Symphony Rocks, Movies, Symphony Joslyn, and Family series concerts, the Omaha Symphony’s nationally recognized education and community engagement programs touch the lives of more than 40,000 people each year. For tickets or information regarding the Omaha Symphony, call 402-345-0606 or visit omahasymphony.org. Programs, artists, dates, times, prices, and availability are subject to change.

###