Symphony meets soul this Saturday with Pacific Symphony’s “Disco Fever — Let’s Dance!” at Great Park Live in Irvine.
Led by Principal Pops Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez, the retro-powered celebration of the ’70s promises Bee Gees falsettos, Donna Summer divadom, and enough “I Will Survive” energy to fuel a dance floor all night.
Joining Lopez-Yañez will be powerhouse vocalists Maiya Sykes and Ty Taylor, and the
symphony swelling behind them. The night will present disco reimagined on a symphonic scale.
For Lopez-Yañez, it’s also personal. The son of a ’70s music fan, he grew up surrounded by these anthems, and now he’s putting them center stage in a way that connects generations.
Backstage SoCal caught up with him to talk about his earliest disco memories, the thrill of conducting to an audience on their feet, and why this show is the perfect first taste of symphony life.
Q: You’ve said your father was a huge fan of ’70s music and that this show is like the soundtrack of your childhood. What are some of your earliest memories of hearing disco at home?
Enrico Lopez-Yañez: Whenever my dad was home, we had music of the ‘70s playing around the house and on the radio. One of my favorite memories with this music though, comes from my mom who used to exercise every morning to the Richard Simmons workout videos. Every time the song “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang would come on, my sister would run into her room to join her in dancing and singing along, “Yahoo!”.
Q: What’s it like translating iconic disco beats and grooves into a full symphony orchestra experience?
Lopez-Yañez: Disco music is one of the best genres to hear with orchestra because so many of the original songs used strings and brass sections from conception. This means not only does the live orchestra add authenticity to the experience, it allows us to expand upon the original songs in a unique way that amplifies the energy and creativity of these songs and that the audience has never heard before!
Q: From Donna Summer to the Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor to KC and the Sunshine Band — how did you decide which artists and songs to highlight in the program?
Lopez-Yañez: The goal in this show was to, of course, cover all the greatest hits and legends of the ‘70s. It was definitely hard to cut down on the hundreds of incredible songs we had to choose from, so this show is packed with medleys to make sure you get to hear some of your favorites as well as all the high-energy hits to get folks up on their feet dancing!
Q: You’re joined by Maiya Sykes and Ty Taylor, two incredible singers with powerhouse resumes. What do they bring to the stage that really lights up these disco classics?
Lopez-Yañez: These two superstar vocalists have appeared on stage, television, and film alongside the biggest acts in the world and bring all of that star power and energy to every show we do. They are two of the most energetic and vocally talented performers I have worked with and they constantly blow me away by how they are able to bring these classics to life with new vibrancy each time.
Q: This concert is billed as fun for all ages. What do you hope kids and younger audiences—maybe hearing disco for the first time—take away from the experience?
Lopez-Yañez: I think what younger audiences will be surprised by is how fun and engaging this music is, but also just how many songs they’ve likely heard before. The songs in this show are still ever present in our daily life whether you hear them when you go out to the store, attend a wedding, or scroll TikTok. The hits from the ‘70s have stood the test of time and are still just as in to dance to now as they ever were!
Q: What’s the most fun part for you personally when you conduct a disco program like this? Do you ever catch yourself dancing a little while conducting?
Lopez-Yañez: Since these are all arrangements I wrote myself, I love looking out at the audience getting up on their feet, dancing, and having a great time. I definitely catch myself dancing along and have been known to bust a move or two on stage during these concerts as well!
Q: For people who might be new to Pacific Symphony Pops concerts, why is this the perfect “gateway” performance to come experience what you do?
Lopez-Yañez: This show is simply pure fun. If you’ve never experienced an orchestra live, this is the perfect opportunity to hear and watch an incredibly lively show all about singing, dancing and soaking in the incredible hits featuring one of the greatest orchestras in the country!
Q: If you could invite one disco legend—past or present—to join you onstage for this concert, who would it be and why?
Lopez-Yañez: I would love to have worked with Donna Summer! As the Queen of Disco, she was such an iconic figure and had so many incredible hits. Thankfully we do incorporate an amazing Donna Summer medley into the show and Maiya brings down the house, so we get pretty close!
More info: Pacific Symphony’s SummerFest 2025 is presented by City of Hope Orange County. “Disco Fever—Let’s Dance!” takes place on August 23 at 8 p.m. with tickets ranging from $44-$160. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799, or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.
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