The "Ladies and Gentlemen - The Beatles!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Talking with my son about the New Year's Eve celebration that Carol and I attended last night at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA.   The concert began with Stephen Gunzenhauser, the Maestro of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra talking about the "Beatles" music and the fact that they are considered the Mozart of the 20th Century.  After his bow to the audience to thank everyone for attending the show, he said, "Ladies and Gentlemen - The Beatles!"  Those five iconic words signaled were used many times to signal the most exciting thing to happen to music in the 60s.  The Beatles were the greatest band of all time, and getting to see them, or even their tribute band, is a thrill of a lifetime.  The four musicians in "Classical Mystery Tour" look and sound just like The Beatles, but this concert was much more than just a re-creation of a rock concert.  The show presented about two dozen Beatles tunes transcribed note-for-note and performed exactly as they were originally written and recorded.  Carol and I have hear other 60s bands being accompanied by a symphonic orchestra in the past, but his was totally different.  It was fantastic!  We got to hear "Penny Lane" with a live trumpet section, just as it was written and recorded.  We got to hear and experience the beauty of "Yesterday" with an acoustic guitar and string quartet.  And we even heard a seldom played "I Am the Walrus" which is the rock/classical blend on the hard edge song.  And best of all, it was LIVE!  The four musicians who stepped in for John, Paul, George and Ringo did a fantastic job.  Tony Kishman (Paul McCartney) from Arizona, Jim Owen (John Lennon) from California, Chris Camilleri (Ringo Starr) and Thomas Teeley (George Harrison) from California made us feel as if we were back in the mid-60s watching the "Beatles" live in concert.  The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra with director Gunzenhauser did not overpower the four vocal performers which is so easy to do.  They made me feel, when I closed my eyes, that I was in a recording studio over 50 years ago listening to the performance being recorded.  The evening was a truly great New Year's Eve celebration accompanied by streamers, noise makers, an audience and performers singing and playing Auld Lang Syne and the best show the "Beatles" never did!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - A few photos of our evening follow.

The stage of the American Music Theatre before the performance.

Cameras were not allowed, but I managed to get this photo between songs.

LDub and Carol show their excitement about being at the concert.