Music Review by Marilyn Lester . . . .
In naming the annual Christmas concert at Carnegie Hall The Best Christmas of All, The New York Pops, led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, made a mighty big promise to deliver… but the odds were certainly in their favor. The Friday, December 22 concert, repeated on Saturday, December 23, was a thrilling, high-energy musical explosion of festive good cheer. How could it miss being the best Christmas ever with the orchestra at the top of its game, the charisma and dynamism of Reineke on the podium, and special guest, Norm Lewis, bringing his own magnetic personality and exquisite talents to the stage.
These couple of showmen, friends Reineke and Lewis, rolled out classic carols, modern favorites and Christmas-tangent goodies for two fast-paced acts filled with delights. The marvelous, well-considered program had something for everyone. From the movies, Home Alone and Mrs. Santa Claus, the Pops offered “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas” (John Williams) from the former and “The Best Christmas of All” (Jerry Herman) from the latter, both aided by Essential Voices USA. Although not featured in this particular concert, Herman also authored “We Need a Little Christmas,” and while the mood of the evening was decidedly up and festive, there was an acknowledgement too that right now, the world is in crisis, with displaced people in need and terrible wars on two fronts. In 1914, Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych wrote “Carol of the Bells,” based on the Ukrainian New Year’s song “Shchedryk.” The Pops played it beautifully, dedicated here to the besieged people of the Ukraine. Essential Voices USA, led by Music Director and Conductor Judith Clurman, had its own feature in “Chanukah Joy and Peace” (Clurman, David Chase), and later in the program, Reineke repeated a wish for world peace.
In Norm Lewis there couldn’t be a better dispenser of cheer and good will. Exuberant, dynamic, charmingly friendly and blessed with a powerful baritone, Lewis puts across any song he chooses with authenticity. “Silver Bells” (Ray Evans, Jay Livingston) with Essential Voices USA was full of the spirit of the season. Amped up into a beautiful, joyful noise, the triumphant gospel, “Go Tell It On the Mountain” was praise music delivered with rejoicing and jubilation. Adding his voice to this number was Lewis’ cousin Pastor Bobby Lewis, himself a renowned figure in the music world. Together, both Lewis’ (with a marvelous chemistry) sang a creative R&B version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (Johnny Marks). Pastor Lewis wasn’t the only singing partner of the evening for Norm. A very surprise guest was Vanessa Williams. The pair courageously sang a sparkling “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (Frank Loesser). Loesser originally wrote the tune in 1944 as a party performance piece with his wife; it was later made a hit in the film Neptune’s Daughter in 1949 and covered many times by major vocalists of the 1940s, ‘50s and beyond. As of late, the song has been criticized and “cancelled” by the overly sensitive who misconstrue it. Williams and Lewis performed a rendition that made it quite clear that “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is a tongue-in-cheek bon bon of mutual courtship—and tremendous good fun as Mr. and Mrs. Loesser intended.
As to his magnificent voice, accompanied by his music director Joseph Joubert (who was sitting in with the Pops), Lewis delivered a wholly touching “Home” (written by Larry Kerchner, but attributed to Charlie Smalls for The Wiz). In glorious operatic mode, with Essential Voices USA, he offered a deeply resonant “Ave Maria” (Franz Shubert) and “O Holy Night” (Adolphe Adam, John S. Dwight). Several more musical gifts were part of this something-for-everyone evening. Guest percussionist, 14-year old Jonathan Logan (a Pops-Ed student) played an intense rhythm on djembé to Lewis’ delivery of “The Little Drummer Boy” (Harry Simeone, Henry Onoroti, Katherine K. Davis).
Earlier in the year, at a Pops gala, Ruthanne Ruzika won a raffle prize, and was to appear at this Pops program and guest conduct the orchestra. This she did with aplomb, with Reineke some distance away on stage, offering encouragement with a touch of comedic anxiety. It was all a very sweet moment and “Winter Wonderland” (Felix Bernard) never sounded better. Of course, every year the Pops is visited by Santa Claus and his Elf assistant, with much Ho-Ho-Ho-ing and laughter. This year, Santa was moved to offer guidance as well as merriment; we have the power, he said, and the capacity, to heal the world. That power, he emphasized, is the power within all of us to love and to share love to create peace and good will.
An entire cast finale led a happy and festive audience in a Jingle Jingle sing-along of familiar seasonal songs, including “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph…,” “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Jingle Bells.” The spirit of Yuletide, the wonder of children at Christmas, the innocence of times past, the hope of the future—all these things and more were captured in The Best Christmas of All, to be taken inward, and mightily taken outward into the world.
Photos: Richard Termine
