COMMERCIAL IMAGE - In this photograph taken by AP Images for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Marvin Hamlisch is seen at the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. (Alex J. Berliner/AP Images for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) (Alex J. Berliner)
In 1974, Marvin Hamlisch won two Oscars -- best original score and best original song -- for his work on "The Way We Were."

That song, which has the same title as the film, was mentioned with great movie music during Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony.

"That was nice, I thought," Hamlisch said during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon.

Of course he watched the telecast, he said, but he was disappointed that the two songs nominated this year were from kids' movies.

"I love Billy Crystal, but I thought the show was . . . endless," he said of the Oscars. "The part with Cirque du Soleil, which has absolutely nothing to do with movies, left me kind of cold. I'm sure in the theater it must have been incredible."

Hamlisch probably could have talked about movies for hours, but his busy schedule only allowed a few minutes.

And he had business to discuss, since the York Symphony Orchestra announced last week that he'll help conduct its 2012-13 season.

What made you decide to come back to York? I had a very good time when I worked with (the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center for a September 2011 concert). I really enjoyed it. The nice thing about it is that it's not that far from New York (City), which makes it a very pleasant way to work. I like the town a lot. I met a lot of lovely people, and I thought, "Why not?" I think it's a nice thing to do.

You'll be helping YSO define its pop series. Exactly. I've been doing this for a long time. I have a lot of knowledge and a lot of programs that I've done that I know are really good. And we're going to try them out here. Hopefully, they'll work.

Have you thought about what programs you'll use in York yet? A lot depends on when the concert is. If a concert's around Christmas, then you start thinking Christmas. The timing is everything. I don't have a timing of the dates in York (unless) you tell me?

The York Symphony Orchestra said it will release its 2012-13 schedule in the next few weeks. OK. Well, then you can call me back and we can figure out what we're doing.

Are pops concerts different than what symphonies normally do? Pops is about having a good time. That's the . . . definition. (It involves) putting out good music, putting out popular music and doing it in a way that is accessible (and) fun. When people think about going (they) almost think about having like a Saturday night when you just think, "let's go out and have a fun night." That's what I want it to be.

Do you pull out some songs you've composed? It might factor into one or two concerts, but not that much. I tend to not want to exploit myself and have people think that every time they come to a concert they're going to have to hear a Marvin Hamlisch song.

I know you're the conductor and guest conductor for several different orchestras, so how do you split your time? Usually when I do a rehearsal, I . . . spend three days in a town and I come right back home. I'm working on a show right now, so I'll be doing lot of writing. (It's a) Broadway musical. It's fun, so we're going to give a good try.

You're also working with Tony Award-winning singer and actress Idina Menzel, correct? I've done a few concerts with her. She's an amazing talent. I'm very happy that she and I have really gotten along so well. The PBS special (we worked on together) comes out in March, and we're working on a Carnegie Hall concert for October.

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About Marvin Hamlisch

Born June 2, 1944, in New York, Hamlisch went on to study at Queens College and The Juilliard School of Music.

He composed scores for movies, including "The Sting," "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "The Informant." His musicals include "A Chorus Line," "The Sweet Smell of Success" and "They're Playing Our Song."

He's one of two people to have earned Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize. The other is Richard Rogers of Rogers and Hammerstein.

Hamlisch, who still calls New York City home, is the principal pops conductor for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony and Pops, Seattle Symphony and San Diego Symphony.

For details, visit marvinhamlisch.com.

Read more about his plans to join the York Symphony Orchestra's 2012-13 season: http://www.ydr.com/living/ci_20014040