At a glance
MacKenzie Green has been a fan of Prince since he was too young to understand the pop star’s funky, often off-color lyrics.
“I think I discovered the records around 4 or 5,” said Green, a 29-year-old singersongwriter in Los Angeles. “Let’s just say I probably got in trouble for singing a few lines from ‘Controversy,’ not knowing what I was talking about.”
This weekend, Green probably will receive applause — rather than a scolding — for singing songs by Prince, whose hit tracks included “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Little Red Corvette” and “Purple Rain.” The artist — born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis — died due to a drug overdose in April 2016 at 57.
On Saturday, Green will “A Symphonic Tribute to the Music of Prince” Columbus Symphony John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons, East Rich and South High streets 614-469-0939; 1-800-7453000, www.ticketmaster.com 8 p.m. Saturday general admission — $25, or $10 for ages 3 to 12, free for ages 2 or younger; table seating: $40 to $85
serve as the vocalist in “A Symphonic Tribute to the Music of Prince,” in which the artist’s music will receive orchestral support from the Columbus Symphony. The concert is the opening offering of this summer’s edition of Picnic With the Pops at John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons.
“Everybody knows Prince,” said Rich Corsi, vice president of programming at the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, which manages the symphony. “It’ll be just a great party atmosphere.”
Despite Green’s enthusiasm for Prince, the performer promises that he will not do an impression of the artist.
“I in no way, shape or form try to imitate Prince,” Green said. “I do try to stay as true to the music as I possibly can, but also by being myself, I think that’s the best way to honor him and his music.”
But, Green added, he is able to hit many of the same notes that Prince did.
“There’s stylistic things that everyone knows about — certain ways that he would inflect, certain ways that he would hit ... those high notes that we all know and love,” Green said. “I’m fortunate to be able to do those things, so I do those things.”
Guest conductor Bob Bernhardt describes Prince’s music as ready-made for an orchestra.
“He conceived of a lot of his music on a grand scale,” said Bernhardt, who works as a pops conductor with the Louisville Orchestra in Kentucky, the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera in Tennessee and the Grand Rapids Symphony in Michigan. “I think that adapting his body of work is a natural to the symphonic world.”
A touring show, “A Symphonic Tribute to the Music of Prince” debuted in March in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. A rhythm section boasts two musicians who previously made music with Prince: bassist Andrew Gouche and guitarist Jairus Mozee.
The set list varies from concert to concert, but Green promises an extensive survey of Prince’s career. The singer especially enjoys performing the artist’s ballads with
an orchestra, including “Adore.”
“It’s a little quieter onstage,” Green said, “and you really get to hear all the little intricate details of the song and the music.”
The tribute to Prince will be preceded by 30 minutes of orchestraonly music.
“Because his name is Prince, all of the first-half music has something to do with royalty,” Bernhardt said.
Among the tunes on tap: “Pomp and Circumstance” by Edward Elgar, “King Cotton” by John Philip Sousa and “Princess Leia’s Theme” from “Star Wars” by John Williams.
The lineup might be tongue-in-cheek, but the music is meant to be savored.
“People who are lovers of Prince that have never been to a symphony concert,” Bernhardt said, “will hear for a half-hour what a great symphony orchestra can do.”