Tony DeSare's The Music of Billy Joel

Tony DeSare's The Music of Billy Joel at Hilbert Circle Theatre

Billy Joel’s songs are familiar; hearing Tony DeSare approach them with a full orchestra changes their scale. That's the promise of Tony DeSare's The Music of Billy Joel at Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis on February 5, 2027, at 11:00 AM.

DeSare is a vocalist and pianist, and he leads the show from the keys. That matters because Billy Joel's songwriting has always been built on piano and voice. Here, DeSare brings both to the front and joins the ISO, conducted by Jack Everly. Strings, brass and woodwinds give familiar melodies new color. The presenter has announced orchestral versions of Piano Man, Just the Way You Are, Only the Good Die Young, You May Be Right, Movin' Out and My Life. Those are the kinds of songs people have carried through car rides, kitchen radios and big life chapters.

To be clear, this is a tribute. Billy Joel is not announced as a performer, and the song selections are announced repertoire, not a guaranteed running order. What you get is the songbook itself, played live in an orchestral setting. It's a daytime outing that could be a treat for a friend, a parent or anyone who knows every word to My Life. You'll hear the songs you love in a bigger, richer sound, and you'll share them with a room full of people who love them too. If that sounds like your kind of morning, grab your seats for The Music of Billy Joel in Indianapolis.