Theater Scene
by Stewart Schulman
You walk into a sold-out Carnegie Hall. The image of Sinatra’s iconic fedora illuminates the back wall of the stage. The New York Pops orchestra enters. The audience applauds. Not one note’s been played or sung—and yet you know you’re in for the concert of the year! And true to its promise, “The Best Is Yet To Come”, the NY Pops 27th Birthday Gala—celebrating the legacy of Frank Sinatra—was one fantastic evening.
The show begins with Leonard Bernstein’s “New York, New York”, from 1944’s Broadway musical “On The Town”. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, John Tartaglia, and Michael Urie burst onstage in sailor caps and bump right into musical director and conductor Steven Reineke, who yells out: “Hey, watch where you’re going! What is this, your first time in NY?” And the sailors yell back: “Yeah it is!” With that—the audience is swept away on a trip down memory lane honoring the legendary man of song and his incredible book of music.
For instance, did you know that Frank Sinatra played Carnegie Hall 68 times? And that one of those times he denounced ‘the delicious’ Liz Smith, for something she’d said about him in a column, from the very stage where she was celebrating him this past Monday night? He obviously later forgave her, because, in her opinion, “Frank Sinatra was the greatest singing performer of his time. He simply dominated music.” And according to Dean Martin: “This is Frank’s world and we just live in it.” And we certainly did, on Monday night.
Reineke, backed up by the largest pops orchestra in the United States, took us on an astonishing musical journey. The song selections, their placement throughout the program, and the delightful Sinatra anecdotes by hostess Liz Smith and the performers themselves, made the perfectly-paced concert one of the most memorable nights of music in the past decade. Everything about the show conspired to take you back to a time of posh elegant nightclubs, big band sounds, and the smooth kind of vocal belting that made the members of The Rat Pack the kings of swing.
Every moment was a highlight. Cheyenne Jackson magically appeared in the audience oozing sex appeal as he worked his way onstage with his buttery voice crooning “Luck Be A Lady” with all the swagger of a Frank, Dean or Sammy. Steve Tyrell sang solo—with a throaty bluesy sound reminiscent of Tony Bennett—on “The Way You Look Tonight”; and in a duet with Haley Swindal—with her clean, jazzy, bell-like-high-swing-belt—on “Fly Me To The Moon”.
John Pizzarelli explained how when he’d opened for Sinatra, Frank said only five words to him: “Eat something. You look bad!” Then he proceeded to wow the crowd with a solo on his signature jazz guitar of “It’s Sunday” in homage to Tony Mottola. And he followed with a spellbinding Don Sebesky orchestration of “Witchcraft” (with the Pops), enchanting the crowd with his mischievously playful cool jazz phrasing.
A mesmerizing Norm Lewis (currently on Broadway in “Sondheim On Sondheim”) offered up “Don’t Worry About Me” with his dreamy luscious baritone sound. And it was truly a treat to hear a clarified-butter-like voice such as his finally backed up by all those phenomenal musicians. Montego Glover, star of Broadway’s “Memphis”, and stunning in her fuchsia evening gown, gave us the concert’s title song: “The Best Is Yet To Come”—a fine choice for the immensely talented and newly Tony- nominated star.
Michael Cerveris, along with the “Bad Habit” band and “The Ronald McDonald House Choir” (both young student musical groups), belted out an adorably charming “High Hopes”—a high point for the Gala Benefit crowd. At song’s end, (mid-concert), they all stood, cheering the youngsters in their Carnegie Hall debut. Making his own Carnegie Hall debut that night was the remarkably versatile singer, songwriter, and pianist Tony DeSare. First there was Sinatra, then Connick & Buble, now there’s DeSare—rounding out that list of crooners, which could easily be labeled “The Four Franks”. Only this Monday night, DeSare’s “Night And Day” was clearly his own. After a big finish, when he popped a smile, he lit up the house!
Frank Sinatra Jr. added just the right tone to the festivities... explaining to us that “Dad always chose to open with or include a song in his shows that was pertinent to the time and place of a particular performance.” Since it was the beginning of May, he offered up “Spring Is Here”. And if you closed your eyes and just listened... for a moment you could hear a bit of the “Old Blue Eyes” magic. He also explained “A little known fact is that Dad had a career as a conductor, too. He made albums he didn’t sing on, only conducted.” And in honor of that, Frank Sinatra Jr. took the opportunity to conduct the thrilling New York Pops Orchestra.
Also conducting that evening, as a guest artist, was Don Megahan. The Benefit raises money each year to promote the education and artistry of student musicians. An auction is held where you can win the chance to conduct a selection with the NY Pops. Don was this year’s winner. Fortunately, he’s a conductor in his own right. And his “The Lady Is A Tramp” (as orchestrated by Nelson Riddle) was a triumph. Smooth, lilting, simply done, the arrangement ends with a pop... and it’s just as if you’ve uncorked a bottle of fine champagne.
A choreographic selection from Broadway’s “Come Fly Away” by Twyla Tharp was incorporated as well. Two of the dance world’s most magnificent performers, Karine Plantadit and Keith Roberts, did a pas des deux of “One For My Baby”. Even out of context the piece worked like a dream, with the couple romantically contorting, lifting, and loving their way across the world-famous stage.
The final performer of the night was the incomparable Michael Feinstein, belting out the timeless “For Once In My Life”—and sharing one final Sinatra anecdote. “When I met Frank Sinatra for the first time, I was very young, and he was very encouraging. He told me to follow my passion. Do my music. And to please keep the songbook alive.” In that vein, the evening concluded the way it began, with a song titled “New York, New York”. Only this time, it was the version by Broadway collaborators John Kander and Fred Ebb—and the signature song of “The Voice” himself. Mr. Feinstein was joined on stage by a wonderful ensemble of the evening’s immensely talented performers, as well as the Young People’s Chorus Of New York City—all exceptionally conducted by the phenomenal Steven Reineke. It was one big monumental inspiring sound. This night at Carnegie Hall was what music is all about—leaving one confident that there will certainly be more ‘best’ yet to come.
