By Stewart Schulman, TheaterScene.net

If it’s true that “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, then it can also be argued that Irving Berlin, the creator of that legendary song from the hit 1946 Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun, is in essence the grandfather of the Great American Songbook. Composer George Gershwin clearly said as much back in 1911, “The first real American musical work is ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band.’” when commenting on the influence of Berlin’s newly minted first musical hit song. “Berlin has shown us the way; now it will be easier to attain our ideal.”

100 years later, on Friday, October 14^th, 2011—some 1,500 musical compositions to his name—composer-lyricist Irving Berlin, aka Israel Isidore Baline from Tyumen, Russian Empire, was honored by The New York Pops with an evening celebrating his music at Carnegie Hall. Listening to the mere sampling of his classic American works that the two-hour long concert allowed for was nothing short of thrilling.

The evening’s program was masterfully conducted by guest artist Jack Everly. (NY Pops Music Director Steven Reineke was at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC conducting his inaugural concert as principal pops conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra. Congratulations, Maestro Reineke!) Mr. Everly, himself a principal pops conductor of symphony orchestras around the nation, presented an evening that did not disappoint. The five guest artists on the bill—Ashley Brown, Tony DeSare, James T. Lane, Hugh Panaro, and NaTasha Yvette Williams—all took stage during the course of the evening, performing everything from quintets to solos. A variety of Berlin’s best-known songs was offered up, magnificently accompanied by the awe-inspiring sound of the NY Pops Orchestra. The combination of Berlin’s music and the power of the Pops made the concert memorable.

In an evening sharing so much great music performed by such talented artists, it’s difficult to single out just a few highlights. In some ways the music itself was the ‘star’—so much so that it wouldn’t seem possible to say that any one of the following group numbers topped the other. “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, the “Steppin’ Out Medley” (with classics such as “Cheek To Cheek”, “Steppin’ Out”, and “Let Yourself Go”), “Strolling Up the Avenue”, “Heat Wave”, the “Holiday Medley” (“Happy Holidays”, “White Christmas”, “Easter Parade”), “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”, and the “Sister’s Medley” (“A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody”, “Sisters”, “Falling In Love Is Wonderful”), were all great. However, there were some solo or duet moments in this evening at Carnegie Hall that are worth mentioning. They are as follows:

Ashley Brown’s soulful rendition of the hauntingly beautiful “What’ll I Do?” (You wonder whose loss Berlin was lamenting when he wrote this timeless heartbreaking song.)

Tony DeSare’s virtuosic arrangement of the 1915 ragtime love song “I Love A Piano.” (It’s always a pleasure listening to Mr. DeSare’s buttery voice while watching him tickle the ivories with his unique clever re-imagining of a piece.) Jack Everly’s delicate, orchestral arrangement of “Remember.” (A quiet moment in a mostly up-tempo evening—augmented by his recitation of the little known lyrics first.) NaTasha Yvette Williams’ belting out of a torchy rendition of “How Deep Is The Ocean”—and whisking you back to 1932, the year it was written. James T. Lane’s suave soft-shoed version of “Steppin’ Out With My Baby”, decked out in white tuxedo, top-hat and tails.

Hugh Panaro’s rich tenor voice filling the legendary hall with “Blue Skies”, a song Berlin wrote after his first daughter’s birth, just for her. And Ashley Brown and NaTasha Yvette Williams’ fantastic rendition of “(I Wonder Why) You’re Just In Love” from 1950’s “Call Me Madam.” (No Irving Berlin evening could possibly be complete without one example of his ingenious counterpoint duets—another Berlin contribution to the Great American Songbook.)

In truth though, what elevated this evening beyond measure was its finale—a medley entitled “Irving Berlin’s America.” More than anything, this Russian Jewish immigrant, born in Siberia in 1888, was an American patriot. During World Wars I and II, Irving Berlin composed countless songs that he performed in countless shows here and abroad to raise money for the war effort. And the money he raised with that music far exceeded anyone’s expectations. The man loved America and he loved the opportunities it gave him to share his unique gifts with the American people. Because his lyrics were written in the American vernacular—uncomplicated, simple and direct—he captured our nation’s heart as he tried through his music to reflect the country’s soul. Composer George Gershwin called him “the greatest songwriter that has ever lived.” Composer Jerome Kern concluded that “Irving Berlin has no place in American music—he is American music.” Thus it was fitting that the finale to this inspiring evening at Carnegie Hall, celebrating the works of this brilliant American songwriter, was comprised of a medley of his most famous patriotic songs: “This Is A Great Country”, “This Is The Army”, “Oh, How I Hate To Get Up”, “Give Me Your Tired”, and the awe-inspiring anthem “God Bless America”. This song, first sung by Kate Smith in 1938, continues to this day to shore up our American spirit whenever it is sung. God bless you, Irving Berlin, for sharing your passions and talents with us. And thank you for shaping the fabric of the American psyche in so many glorious ways.


The Pops will have four more concerts this season. The remaining schedule is:
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 8PM: Cheyenne Jackson’s Cocktail Hour: Music of the Man Men Era
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 8PM & Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 8PM: John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey Wish You a Swingin’ Christmas
Friday, March 16, 2012 at 8PM: Patti Austin Sings Ella Fitzgerald’s Gershwin Songbook
Purchases can be made at the Carnegie Hall Box Office (57th Street and 7th Avenue) or by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800. Visit http://www.carnegiehall.org for more information.