“To open our 75th season, I wanted something over the top,” says Diane Wittry, Allentown Symphony Orchestra (ASO) Music Director and Conductor.

“In addition to the orchestra, I also wanted to feature the Allentown Symphony Chorus and am pleased that joining us will be the Husky Harmony vocal ensemble from Louis E. Dieruff High School,” Wittry says.

The Allentown Symphony Orchestra Pops presents “Broadway Rocks! - ‘Wicked,’ ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and more,” 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown.

“This concert is very different in that it has a lot of pieces made famous by rock ‘n’ roll artists and are incorporated into a Broadway musical which tells the life of the artist,” says Wittry.

The orchestra will open the concert with a blend of rock, soul, gospel and symphonic elements in the dramatic “Overture” to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

What began as a concept album and rock opera in 1969 developed into a highly-successful full-staged musical in 1971.

Says Lloyd-Webber, “Rather than telling the story of the last six days of the life of Jesus Christ, one is actually trying to examine why it was that Judas betrayed somebody that he clearly loved.”

From rock to Motown, “Everybody Rejoice” from “The Wiz” (1978) features guest artists Chloe Lowery, LaKisha Jones and Dan Domenech along with the Allentown Symphony Chorus and Husky Harmony. The piece embodies the crusade of the Civil Rights Movement and rallies for justice, liberation, freedom and equality.

Each guest vocalist has feature selections: Jones in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” from “The Body Guard” (1992), reflecting a desire for true love and companionship; Domenech in the Billy Joel classic “Movin’ Out” from the show “Movin’ Out” (2002), dealing with the impact of the Vietnam War on youth, healing and reintegration into civilian life, and Lowery in “Natural Woman” from “Beautiful: The Carol King Musical,” representing freedom, power and gender equality.

The trio performs “Seasons of Love” from “Rent” (1996) and, with the Allentown Symphony Chorus and Husky Harmony, “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King” (1997) and the dynamic “Proud Mary” from “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” (2019).

The concert’s second half begins with the ensemble’s performance in the electrifying “Bohemian Rhapsody” from “We Will Rock You” (2004), a quest to save rock ‘n’ roll, after which Jones presents the powerful and moving “I Will Survive” from “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” (2022), reflecting Aretha Franklin’s life of love, tragedy and triumph.

Additional selections include: Lowery and Domenech in the stirring love ballad “Suddenly Seymour” from “Little Shop of Horrors” (1982); Domenech in Neil Diamond’s tribute to Caroline Kennedy, “Sweet Caroline” from “A Beautiful Noise” (2022); Lowery in selections from “Wicked” (2003), and Jones singing Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” from “MJ the Musical,” inspiring self-reflection to effect positive societal change.

The concert closes with a rousing performance of music from “We Will Rock You” (2004), the music of Queen.

Lowery’s music career as singer, dancer, actress and songwriter began with performances at age nine and signing to RCA Records at age 12. She toured with Yanni in the United States and Mexico in 2009 and was signed to Disney/Hollywood Records as a solo artist. In 2010, she joined Trans-Siberian Orchestra, made her Broadway debut in 2018 and released her debut album in 2019. Lowery released the single “Girls Like Me” in 2023.

Jones began singing in choral groups. In 2007, she auditioned for “American Idol,” and became a Top Four finalist. She was on the Broadway stage in “The Color Purple.”

Domenech made his Broadway debut in 2011 in “Rock of Ages,” toured with the Tony Award-winning musical “RENT,” as well as “Wonderland,” “Sister Act” and “Rock of Ages.” Domenech performed in the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s 2017 production of “Evita.”

Husky Harmony, under the direction of Choral Director Jennifer Dodd, is comprised of performing arts groups at Louis E. Dieruff High School, Allentown.

Allentown Symphony Chorus (ASC) Master Eduardo Azzati has been on the music faculty at Muhlenberg College since 2017 and is Director of the Camerata Singers.

Says Azzati, “The concert selections with added chorus are a pretty eclectic set of songs from the rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues genres that pose the chorus different challenges and offer varied opportunities for expression.

“We are certainly excited for the opportunity to collaborate with the talented students of Dieruff High School’s Husky Harmony and the ASC is looking forward to digging into the different styles of contemporary commercial music which departs from what the ASC is accustomed to performing.

“I believe this will be a highly-entertaining program for all ages and an opportunity to hear familiar tunes performed by very talented solo vocalists together with the ASO, ASC and Husky Harmony.”

“Broadway Rocks! - ‘Wicked,’ ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and more,” Allentown Symphony Orchestra Pops, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27, Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown. Tickets: box office; 610-432-6715; https:///www.millersymphonyhall.org

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnon-line.com