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Gershwin by Feinstein and the RPO

Michael Feinstein at Kodak Hall this morning
Alex Crichton
Michael Feinstein at Kodak Hall this morning

A singer, pianist and conductor well known for his interpretations of the Great American Songbook will sing the songs of George and Ira Gershwin at two shows at Kodak Hall Friday and Saturday night.

Michael Feinstein will be making his debut with the Rochester Phiharmonic Orchestra.

He does over 200 shows a year, interpreting American standards.

"These songs are important to me and I'll always do what I can to perpetuate them. Sometimes I'll sing a song because it's not particularly well known and I want to share it with people...that's why I started performing, just to share the music, not to have my voice heard."

Feinstein calls the RPO one of the "fine orchestras on the planet."

He says they're incredibly gifted, can stylistically play anything and they clearly enjoy what they do.

Feinstein and the RPO perform Gershwin in two shows, Friday and Saturday nights at 8 at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.

Two special guest vocalists are teenagers Julia Goodwin and Nick Ziobro, who won Michael Feinstein's Great American Songbook High School Vocal Competition.

Here's some footage from this morning's rehearsal: