"Return to Romance," a festival embracing the romance of music and the enduring love affair visitors and residents share with Hawai'i, will be March 1 to 11 on O'ahu.

The Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii will be at the core of the events, which will include a centerpiece concert March 6 at the Hawai'i Theatre.

The program will include 20 tunes deemed the "Most Romantic Songs Ever Written, Part 1," as determined by more than 100 industry professionals in a survey commissioned by Catingub and partner Allen Sviridoff, co-founders of the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii. Sviridoff was a producer of the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack from the Academy Award-nominated film, "Good Night and Good Luck."

A diverse slate of events will be presented at various venues. A program on March 1 themed "The Food, Wine and Music of Romance" will tap celebrity chefs from here and abroad at Ko Olina.

On March 4, "A Smooth Romance" show at the Waikiki Shell will feature the jazz of Patti Austin, Wayman Tisdale, Kirk Whalum and Peanuts Whalum. On March 10, a "Hawaiian Wedding/Fireworks Spectacular" on the Waikiki shore will be a dream wedding for a couple to be named.

"The response has been overwhelming," Catingub, who also is Honolulu Symphony Pops conductor, said in a statement.

"Return to Romance" also is the title of the orchestra's first CD, due Oct. 17, which features a host of guest artists, including The Brothers Cazimero, Keali'i Reichel, Patti Austin, Jimmy Borges, Dave Koz, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Na Leo Pilimehana and Toni Tennille.

The concert will be hosted by Nick and Nina Clooney, who have been married for 47 years and are the parents of actor George Clooney.

"The intersection of the world's most romantic songs and the world's most romantic place seems to be a match made in paradise," said the elder Clooney.

The program was announced Wednesday at the Halekulani hotel.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.