Featuring Chris Botti, Sting, Josh Groban, John Mayer, Yo-Yo Ma, Steven Tyler, Highland Heartbeat, Daniel O'Donnell, Celtic Woman, Yanni, Conspirare and More
ARLINGTON, VA; FEBRUARY 9, 2009 -- From Celtic to classical, from Paul Simon to the Police, from Cantors to Conspirare, PBS gives viewers access to a world of entertainment this February and March, with great music programming for everyone - from every walk of life.
Featuring a once-in-lifetime lineup of guest artists, CHRIS BOTTI IN BOSTON showcases the acclaimed trumpeter performing with Sting - who sings on stage with Josh Groban for the first time - John Mayer, Yo-Yo Ma, Steven Tyler, Katharine McPhee, Lucia Micarelli and Sy Smith. HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT, with singer and actress Fiona Kennedy and a coterie of other Scottish performers, captures the pride and passion of Scotland in a celebration of music that brings centuries-old tradition to old and new songs. Plus, perennial audience favorite Yanni is back with a concert filmed live at the Forum in Acapulco, featuring four exciting new vocalists who re-interpret Yanni compositions in intoxicating performances.
These programs air between February 28 and March 15, 2009, on most PBS stations. Check local listings for dates and times in your area. Download images and find more information about these programs on PBS PressRoom at http://pressroom.pbs.org/specialprogramming.
PBS February/March 2009 Music Specials Broadcast Premieres (check local listings)
CHRIS BOTTI IN BOSTON
Trumpeter Chris Botti performs with an incredible group of featured guest artists, including Sting, Josh Groban, John Mayer, Yo-Yo Ma and Steven Tyler, with Keith Lockhart conducting the Boston Pops.
GREAT PERFORMANCES "The Police Certifiable"
The Police perform in Buenos Aires during their 2007 farewell tour.
YANNI VOICES: LIVE FROM THE FORUM IN ACAPULCO
Yanni and vocalists Nathan Pacheco, Chloe, Ender Thomas and Leslie Mills perform at the new Forum at Mundo Imperial in Acapulco, Mexico.
HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT
Singer and actress Fiona Kennedy, known in North America as the host of "Tartan TV," leads a group of Scottish singers brought together after a country-wide audition.
3 MO' DIVAS
Three classically trained, genre-defying divas - Laurice Lanier, Nova Payton and Jamet Pittman - are showcased in thrilling solos and combined in ensembles of show-stopping power. Jazz, blues, opera, gospel, even disco - the divas do it all.
A COMPANY OF VOICES: CONSPIRARE IN CONCERT
The Grammy Award-nominated choral group Conspirare is joined by cellist Bion Tsang, oboist Ian Davidson and percussionist Thomas Burritt.
DANIEL O'DONNELL: HOPE AND PRAISE
Daniel O'Donnell, with Mary Duff, a young adult choir and children's choir, performs multi-denominational hymns, up-tempo gospel songs and pop tunes.
CELTIC WOMAN: THE GREATEST JOURNEY
Celtic Woman's latest television special is a collection of beloved and memorable highlights from their acclaimed PBS specials. All of the songs are intertwined with stunning scenic and landscape images of Ireland.
Encore Presentations
PAUL SIMON: THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG
This concert special, in honor of Paul Simon, features appearances by Yolanda Adams, Marc Anthony, Dixie Hummingbirds, Jerry Douglas, Art Garfunkel, Alison Krauss, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lyle Lovett, Stephen Marley, James Taylor and Buckwheat Zydeco.
CANTORS: A FAITH IN SONG
Cantors Naftali Hershtik of Jerusalem, Benzion Miller of Brooklyn and Alberto Mizrahi of Chicago sing Jewish cantorial and secular music in a concert taped before an audience in Amsterdam's revered Portuguese Synagogue.
About PBS Special Programming
PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Download images and find more information about these programs on PBS PressRoom at http://pressroom.pbs.org/specialprogramming.
-PBS-
CONTACTS: Cara White, CaraMar Publicity, Tel.: 843-881-1480; cara.white@mac.com
Joe Miller, PBS, Tel.: 703-739-5793; jwmiller@pbs.org
www.pbs.org/pressroom