Review: Under the Mistletoe Carnegie Hall
The New York Pops with Ashely Brown of Mary Poppins Broadway fame played to a packed house at Carnegie Hall with many musical theater stylized arrangements and the superb Essential Voices choir. Ms. Brown entertained the audience when she shared her thoughts about the wondrous opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall, moving outside of New York City and bringing her two year old daughter up in a recently purchased home, where she would be sharing Christmas with her entire family, along with friends who were present at the concert to applaud her great accomplishment, upbeat style, and lovely singing voice.
Music Director and vivacious Conductor Steven Reineke was marvelous to watch as he conducted the fabulous New York Pops musicians who played Tchaikovsky’s, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from The Nutcracker, Walter Kent & Kim Gannon’s, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” arranged by Steven Reineke, Mykola Leontovich’s “Carol of the Bells” arranged by David Hamilton, 19th century “Deck the Halls” lyrics by Thomas Oliphant arranged by Carmen Dragon, as well as many other Christmas favorites. A special treat was enjoyed by all as a strikingly original piece, “A Celebration of Chanukah” arranged by Larry Hochman and Judith Clurman, filled the auditorium with a memorable fresh composition sung in the harmonious celebration by the Essential Voices choral ensemble and conducted by Judith Clurman.
