“The Boston Pops said Monday that it has agreed to take over the annual July Fourth fireworks concert on the Esplanade, ensuring that the four-decade tradition will continue uninterrupted after the retirement of longtime producer David Mugar,” writes Shirley Leung in Tuesday’s (10/4) Boston Globe. “Mugar, 77, said in December that the 2016 show would be his last. The Pops assumes responsibility for putting on the show from Mugar’s Boston 4 Productions, which has handled the job for the past 43 years. The organization also will be on the hook for finding a corporate sponsor … so it can be free to the public…. The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular draws about 500,000 spectators to the banks of the Charles River…. Keith Lockhart, the Pops conductor who has presided over 22 fireworks concerts, described the move as a ‘logical succession…. We are having positive talks with several companies right now. We hope to have a confirmed sponsorship later this fall.’ … In assuming the management of Mugar’s production company, the two executive producers, Pam Picard and Rich MacDonald, would become employees of the BSO. The board of the BSO approved the arrangement on Friday. Mugar will take on an advisory role.”
Posted October 5, 2016
