F E A T U R E D P E R F O R M A N C E
ALL WE CAN SAY IS
MERCY!
ROCK LEGEND ROY ORBISON DIED 30 YEARS
AGO — BUT HE LOOKS AND SOUNDS GREAT.
FALL 2018 | artsLife 41
eeing the ethereal Roy Orbison onstage
was an unforgettable, other-
icon, known for his trademark shades
and tremulously high, quasi-operatic vocals,
delivered some of the most memorable hits
“Only the Lonely,” “Pretty Woman,” “Running
Scared” and many more.
three-octave range and glass-shattering
falsetto, prompting Elvis Presley to anoint
his erstwhile Sun Records labelmate as “the
greatest singer in the world.”
For a time, Orbison was the best-selling recording
artist in the world. But through most of
quietly touring but no longer a force on the
charts — and largely unknown to a generation
weaned on hard rock, funk and disco.
Orbison was always revered among his
musical peers, however. In 1988, when Bob
Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Tom
Petty formed a rock supergroup called the
Traveling Wilburys, they were overwhelmed —
Dylan, in fact, was downright giddy — when
Orbison agreed to participate. (“Roy Orbison
incredible! Roy Orbison is in our band!”)
Partly because of the resulting exposure,
to rebound. But he died later that year of
a massive heart attack at age 52. Tragic,
yes. But subsequently, the native of Wink,
Texas, has been universally acknowledged
as one of the greatest singers of the rock
era — and his music is as popular now as it
was during his heyday.
since technology allowing resurrection of the
dead is unlikely anytime soon. But you can
replicate the concert experience — or at
least come close — through advanced holographic
technology.
In Dreams: Roy Orbison in Concert – The
Hologram Tour will materialize in the Walt
Disney Theater on Friday, November 16, at
8 p.m. Tickets are priced starting at $44. A
laser-projected, holographic image of Orbison
will sing 16 of his most popular songs,
backed by a live orchestra.
Portions of the show were previewed for
critics at Lincoln Center earlier this year. One
your disbelief and cynicism, and to forget
preview was followed by a well-received U.K.
tour with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
S