Steven Reineke’s is who makes the New York Pops the spectacular orchestra that it is. His boundless enthusiasm and exceptional artistry have made him one of the nation’s most sought-after pops conductors, composers and arrangers. Mr. Reineke is also the Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Principal Pops Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He is a frequent guest conductor with The Philadelphia Orchestra and has been on the podium with the Boston Pops, The Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl. His more than one hundred orchestral arrangements soar with a thrilling musical cadence.
This December the New York Pops present two holiday concerts. The first is It’s Christmas Time in the City on Friday, December 18th and Saturday, December 19th at 8:00pm at Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium. It stars Tony Award nominees Stephanie J. Block (Wicked), Brian d’Arcy James (Something Rotten) and Pops favorite Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA. The second concert is my personal favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas on Sunday, December 20 at 3:00pm at Carnegie Hall. Broadway’s John Bolton (Dames at Sea and A Christmas Story the Musical) is the narrator, as the New York Theatre Ballet led by Liza Gennaro, TADA! Youth Theater and Essential Voices USA, join in on the fun.
T2c got together with Mr Reineke to learn more about these holiday favorites.
T2C: What made you choose the performers for the Christmas concert?
Steven Reineke
Steven Reineke: I knew I wanted a male and a female and I knew I wanted Stephanie. Stephanie and I started talking and we started coming up with a list of males. When I mentioned Brian d’Arcy James Stephanie was thrilled. They had been friends but had never worked together before. Brian has a Christmas CD out. He wrote this song called “Michigan Christmas,” for his hometown and I love when he sings that.
T2C: What will people be surprised at?
Steven Reineke: “Oh Holy Night.“ It is the Sandi Patti version and I can’t wait for the audience to hear Stephanie’s glorious soprano on that. She never gets to sing like this.
T2C: What are you looking forward to?
Steven Reineke: I did several arrangements one is “Jingle Bell Rock” and the other “The Holiday Hits Melody” which uses popular Christmas song but pop versions like “Hard Candy Christmas” and Mariah Carrey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”
T2C: What made you choose A Charlie Brown Christmas?
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Steven Reineke: We did this 2 years ago. It is the 50th anniversary of the TV special and it’s a classic. We use 5 different non profits; Weill Music Institute which comes from Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops, Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA, TADA Youth and the NY Theatre Ballet. Liza Genero is wonderful at expressing her clever chorography. We auditioned the kids from TADA.
T2C: What would you like to do next?
Steven Reineke: Well we’ve done “The Grinch” and “Rudolph” so maybe anything Rankin/Bass.
T2C: What made you choose John Bolton?
Steven Reineke: Liza Genero recommended him and he’s a perfect fit. He is going to sing more this year. There is a follies section with 5 or 6 new numbers including “Silver Bells.”
T2C: What would you like the audiences to take away from these concerts?
Steven Reineke: To leave with a smile on their face and a heart filled with love and compassion for their fellow man. There is so much craziness that is going on. It is my way of adding a connectivity to other people. These concerts give us a chance to reflect on the meaning of Christmas.
T2C: What are you doing after this?
Steven Reineke: Laying in the sun in Aruba for 10 days. I need a vacation and some hot days and nights.
T2C: If you could have any performer to perform with the Pops who would you want?
Steven Reineke: Adele. I’m just putting it out there.
Art
Ahead of the Broadway Opening of Lempicka The Longacre Theatre Is Showcasing Art Work By Tamara de Lempicka
The Longacre Theatre (220 W 48th St.), soon-to-be home of the sweeping new musical, Lempicka, is showcasing a curated selection of renowned artist Tamara de Lempicka’s most famous works. Eschewing traditional theatrical front-of-house advertising, the Longacre’s façade now boasts prints, creating a museum-quality exhibition right in the heart of Times Square. The musical opens on Broadway on April 14, 2024 at the same venue.
The Longacre’s outdoor exhibition includes works of Self Portrait (Tamara in a Green Bugatti) (1929), Young Girl in Green (1927), Nu Adossé I (1925), The Red Tunic (1927), The Blue Scarf (1930), The Green Turban (1930), Portrait of Marjorie Ferry (1932), Portrait of Ira P. (1930), Portrait of Romana de la Salle (1928), and Adam and Eve (1932).
Starring Eden Espinosa and directed by Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin, Lempicka features book, lyrics, and original concept by Carson Kreitzer, book and music by Matt Gould, and choreography by Raja Feather Kelly.
Spanning decades of political and personal turmoil and told through a thrilling, pop-infused score, Lempicka boldly explores the contradictions of a world in crisis, a woman ahead of her era, and an artist whose time has finally come.
Young Girl in Green painted by Tamara de Lempicka (1927). Oil on plywood.