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Rock superstar Elton John has been one of the world's most prolific and successful singer-songwriters since his first Top 10 hit, "Your Song," more than three decades ago. Now, with a recent concert at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, John has established the Elton John Scholarship Fund at Britain's Royal Academy of Music, which he himself once attended on scholarship. With a 90-piece orchestra, a five-piece electric band, and a choir of Royal Academy students conducted by acclaimed film score composer James Newton Howard, John performs lush symphonic arrangements of some of his greatest hits, "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," "Philadelphia Freedom," and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."
In addition to his status as a pop icon, Elton John has also become well known over the past decade for his charitable work on behalf of those living with HIV and AIDS. In recognition of his charitable activities as well as his contributions to the arts, Elton John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998. The evening's concert, filmed at the Royal Operal House in December 2002, raised more than $1 million for the Elton John Scholarship Fund at the Royal Academy. To find out more about the superstar, read an extensive biography from the ST. JAMES ENCYCLOPEDIA OF POPULAR CULTURE. A complete list of the musical selections featured in the program can be found in the song list.
Some local PBS stations are offering the videocassette of ELTON JOHN AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE as a Pledge gift. To order this gift,
pledge now. Or you may purchase the VHS from WNET Video Distribution.
Top banner photos: Elton John in performance at the Royal Opera House. |
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Members of the Royal Academy of Musical Theatre Choir. |
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Young cellist with the Royal Academy of Music Orchestra. |
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