Tickets are still available for what’s sure to be a weekend of great music as the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus presents its tribute concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Beatles, “All You Need is Love: The Music of the Beatles.”
The concert will combine songs based on the Beatles’ original arrangements and the vocal stylings of the 100-voice AGMC.
“We’ve been asked, ‘Why should a gay men’s chorus salute The Beatles?’ My answer is, how can we not? It’s all-male vocal music, with simple yet powerful messages of civil rights, love, peace and understanding…tolerance in an intolerant world. The messages are needed just as much today as in the tumultuous ’60s,” says Kevin Robinson, AGMC artistic director, in a statement.
“We had only one challenge in building this musical tribute, and it was a big one — what do we possibly leave out?” Robison adds. “We’ve worked hard to include as many of our favorites as possible. We have nearly 30 of them in the show…probably an AGMC record.”
The concerts features hits including “We Can Work It Out,” “With a Little Help From My Friends,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Let It Be,” “Hey Jude,” and John Lennon’s “Imagine.”
“By special arrangement, the AGMC is working from original Beatles scores, remaining true to the original sound of the group as possible. Songs were arranged by Robison, a respected ASCAP composer-arranger, with a special arrangement of ‘In My Life’ by AGMC founding director Jeffrey McIntyre dedicated to popular chorus member and veterinarian Mark McManus, who died last year,” according to an AGMC press release.
“”In My Life’ and a few other tunes, such as ‘We Can Work It Out’ and ‘Imagine’ have been arranged specifically to bring the power of their messages into this century. Our goal has been to create a work that honors and celebrates the 60’s, but also emphasizes that we have more work to do as a community with regard to civil rights and equality,” Robison says. “It’s a fun romp through some great music, but it’s also relevant, and I think very powerful.”
“‘All You Need Is Love’ will also feature ’60s-style costumes and a number of pertinent sound bytes from the era, including that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President John F. Kennedy,” according to AGMC.
“The combination will definitely make for a unique, exciting and moving production that we’re eagerly looking forward to presenting,” Robison says.
A 5-piece band will accompany the chorus and besides the great music, there will be professional dancers from the Staibdance troupe.
‘All You Need is Love’
Saturday, July 10 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Rialto Center for the Arts
80 Forsyth St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
www.agmchorus.org
www.rialtocenter.org