YSO to play music of Elton

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Elton John came to Youngstown in May for what was one of the biggest concerts ever at Covelli Centre.

Mahoning Valley music-lovers can now hear the rocker’s greatest hits in a different way.

The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra will present “Madman Across the Water,” a salute to Elton John, at its concert Saturday night at Powers Auditorium.

Randall Craig Fleischer, music director of the YSO and its conductor, admitted that he had scheduled the concert before he knew that Elton John was coming to Youngstown. Still, the timing is fortuitous.

“If you loved the man himself [in his Covelli Centre concert], you’ll really enjoy this show, too,” said Fleischer of the YSO concert. “It’s all his best material but with full orchestra.”

The YSO will be accompanied by vocalists Jean Meilleur, Don Paulton, Mitch Taylor and Jeff Christmas, as well as the Dana Chorale in performing Elton John hits, including “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” “Madman Across the Water,” “Rocket Man,” “Daniel” and more.

Elton John is back in the news this week for another reason. He will release a new album Tuesday titled “The Union,” which he created with fellow piano legend Leon Russell.