The Beatles reunite even though George and John are dead. Why do you think they call them Fab Four?

November 10, 10:41 AMPittsburgh Stage and Screen ExaminerAlan Petrucelli

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Imagine . . . There’s no heaven.
     Imagine . . .The Beatles playing with a symphony orchestra.
     And they said it would never happen.
     The Beatles are coming.
     And their destination is Heinz Hall.
     OK. We exaggerate slightly, especially since John and George are hellishly playing with some heavenly choir.
     It’s actually the Classical Mystery Tour that’s coming to town, bringing the legendary Fab Four to life as they join forces with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for a reincarnation of the original Beatles.
Classical Mystery Tour features Jim Owen (John Lennon) on rhythm guitar, piano, and vocals; Tony Kishman (Paul McCartney) on bass guitar, piano, and vocals; Tom Teeley (George Harrison) on lead guitar and vocals; and Chris Camilleri (Ringo Starr) on drums and vocals. Martin Herman conducts the symphony orchestra.
     This sounds like it a perfect way to keep all your troubles so far away.
Just ask the usually stiff-upper lipped Los Angeles Times critic who called the show "more than just an incredible simulation...the swelling strings and soaring French horn lines gave Saturday's live performance a high goose-bump quotient...the crowd stood and bellowed for more."
     All you need is love. And a ticket. Tickets range from $79 to $20m and can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412.392.4900 or by visiting  www.pittsburghsymphony.org.
     "We really make an effort to sound exactly like the originals," explains Owen, who admits that he and the other three Classical Mystery Tour members are big Beatles fans. "The orchestra score is exact, right down to every note and instrument that was on the original recording. On 'Got to Get You Into My Life,' we have two tenor saxes and three trumpets. That's what it was written for, and that's what we use. And on 'A Day in the Life,' can you imagine that big orchestra crescendo happening live?"
     The four musicians in Classical Mystery Tour look and sound just like The Beatles, but Classical Mystery Tour is more than just a rock concert. The full show presents some 30 Beatles tunes sung, played, and performed exactly as they were written. Hear "Penny Lane" with a live trumpet section; experience the beauty of "Yesterday" with an acoustic guitar and string quartet; enjoy the rock/classical blend on the hard edged "I Am the Walrus." From early Beatles music on through the solo years, Classical Mystery Tour is the best of The Beatles like you've never heard them: totally live.
     Even though two are dead.

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