The New York Pops attracts amazing guest artists from the worlds of Broadway, cabaret, and beyond. The largest independent orchestra in the US devoted to popular music, the ensemble has called Carnegie Hall home since its founding 40 years ago, giving dozens of revered vocalists their debuts on the storied stage.
Kelli O鈥橦ara already had two Tony Award nominations under her belt when she was asked to headline an evening of Broadway show tunes with The New York Pops in 2007. She remembers the experience vividly. 鈥淭he first time I heard The New York Pops perform I was standing among the musicians, being supported and lifted by their music as I sang my debut Carnegie Hall concert,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here is something truly magical about being in that space, singing among the ghosts of singers past alongside those incredible musicians. They give singers the experience of their dreams.鈥�
Since that landmark evening, O鈥橦ara鈥攂eloved for her performances on Broadway (South Pacific; Kiss Me, Kate; her Tony Award鈥搘inning turn in The King and I) and at the Metropolitan Opera (The Merry Widow, Cos矛 fan tutte, The Hours)鈥攈as become a New York Pops regular and even joined its board of directors. On November 17, she performs her 11th Carnegie Hall concert with the orchestra alongside fellow Broadway star Sutton Foster, who also made her Hall debut thanks to The New York Pops back in 2005.
O鈥橦ara credits Steven Reineke, The New York Pops鈥� erudite and exuberant music director and conductor, as one of the main reasons she keeps returning. 鈥淚 have enjoyed all our collaborations, and I am so grateful he continues to invite me to these musical parties,鈥� she says, noting that the group allows artists to tackle genres for which they鈥檙e not necessarily famous. While her one-night-only performance with Foster is dedicated to their musical theater careers, in previous New York Pops concerts, O鈥橦ara has used her shimmering soprano on folk songs and Christmas carols. That diversity of material 鈥渕akes us all better as musicians and listeners,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd Steven always contributes gorgeous, new orchestrations.鈥�
Norm Lewis, who made his solo Carnegie Hall debut in 2022 with The New York Pops, also cites Reineke as an incomparable collaborator. 鈥淗e鈥檚 more than a conductor,鈥� says the booming Broadway baritone, whose credits include The Gershwins鈥� Porgy and Bess, Les Mis茅rables, and The Phantom of the Opera. 鈥淪teven鈥檚 got such a great personality. He loves to get involved. At our concert last year, he actually sang with me鈥攚e did 鈥楾he Confrontation鈥� from Les Mis. He鈥檚 not just standing there waving his arms. He鈥檚 someone who鈥檚 really in it for you, supporting you.鈥�
Like O鈥橦ara, Lewis is a New York Pops board member. Earlier this year, as the stakeholders planned the upcoming season, they discussed potential singers to star in their annual holiday celebration. Meanwhile, for the past seven years, Lewis had been doing his own seasonal songfest at the cabaret club 54 Below, even releasing a Christmas album in 2018. Suddenly, an epiphany hit: The two traditions could become one. So, on December 22 and 23, The New York Pops embarks on 鈥淭he Best Christmas of All with Norm Lewis."
While the setlist is still being finalized, Lewis says they鈥檙e erring on the traditional side, though he promises some surprises. There will be guest stars: some as-yet- to-be-confirmed boldface names as well as young participants in the orchestra鈥檚 extensive PopsEd program, which brings music education to underserved New York City public school students. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 always up for a Santa hat or a flashing nose,鈥� Lewis adds. 鈥淚 might even give out gifts!鈥�
Mainly, he鈥檚 eager to celebrate his favorite holiday in a favorite venue. 鈥淐arnegie is one of the best halls in the world,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always sung these songs with a trio. Now I鈥檒l have 78 musicians behind me. I鈥檓 excited to hear this particular music on a grand scale.鈥� It鈥檚 not just singers who have been introduced to Carnegie Hall audiences by the orchestra. Before he became the leader of The New York Pops, Reineke made his Carnegie Hall debut as a guest conductor with the ensemble in 2008. 鈥淚t was their 25th anniversary and it was huge, a monster program,鈥� he recalls. It also turned out to be an unofficial audition to take the reins after the death of founding conductor Skitch Henderson. 鈥淚 had no idea that I was even being looked at,鈥� he says. 鈥淪o that started the whole journey for me. My life changed forever.鈥�
Although Reineke is a perfectionist when it comes to the music, he鈥檚 known for his playfulness, donning costumes, cracking jokes, and making sure all artists and audiences feel welcome. 鈥淚 have so much fun when I get to make music with others. I try to make it feel like we鈥檙e just presenting a concert in my living room as opposed to at Carnegie Hall,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a stuffy environment. It鈥檚 very approachable as if we鈥檙e all good friends. We鈥檝e always talked about cultivating a family atmosphere with The New York Pops. Skitch and Ruth Henderson, the founders, very much had that sort of mentality about it. That was something I not only didn鈥檛 want to lose, but wanted to expand upon. So, we really have kept that feeling that we鈥檙e part of a group, a club, a family.鈥�
The New York Pops season continues with a centennial celebration of Rhapsody in Blue on February 9 with additional Gershwin selections performed by Memphis Tony nominee Montego Glover, who made her Carnegie Hall debut with the ensemble in 2010. It ends with a Motown retrospective on March 15, featuring decades of hits by the likes of Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and Martha and the Vandellas. Fittingly, both vocalists, Bryan Terrell Clark and Valisia LeKae, starred in Motown: The Musical on Broadway and are making their Carnegie Hall debuts with this program.
鈥淚 definitely want to keep finding new talent to introduce to Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops,鈥� Reineke says. 鈥淭o me, the Hall is home鈥擨 live just a block and a half away. It鈥檚 never lost on me all of the greats who have performed here. I will hit my 100th concert at Carnegie Hall at the opening of next season. That is such an honor and a thrill. Every time I walk on that stage, it is pure magic.鈥�
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