NY Pops Birthday Gala 2015

[DropOfGoldenSun2]

Posted: 5/5/15 at 8:20pm

was anybody there? How was it? It seems like they really got an all star line up. 

 

 

(Also, this is a weird first post, I know, and I know how some of y'all feel about new posters but I assure you I simply didn't see a thread for this and wanted to hear people's thoughts on it)

Updated On: 5/5/15 at 08:20 PM

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 5/5/15 at 9:30pm

I was there and it was absolutely wonderful! Especially for me as someone who only has been a huge theater fan for the past 5 or so years and only moved to New York a few weeks ago, this was an incredible night. I was my first time seeing the likes of Victor Garbor and Bebe Neuwirth live, for example, and that in itself was pretty amazing!

My personal highlight was Laura Benanti's performance. She sang Unusual Way, which is not my favorite from her album, but to hear this song live and with a full orchestra was astounding. Her soprano soared and the orchestra swelled and it was breathtaking.

Renee Flemming showing up as a surprising and singing unamplified was quiet a treat as well.

A little tidbit: I was sitting in the 2nd tier so I could see most of the parquet seating and happened to see Sutton Foster sitting down among the audience after her performance so watch the rest of the show with, I assume, her husband. 

Overall it really was 90 minutes of bliss.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 5/5/15 at 10:36pm

I had a wonderful time at this concert which honored Rob and Kathleen Marshall.

Highlights for me included Laura Benanti - Unusual Way, Rachel York - Children Will Listen, Bebe - All That Jazz and Victor Garber - Those Were the Good Old Days from Damn Yankees.

Kelli did Someone to Watch Over Me, Sutton- Anything Goes, Queen Latifah - When You're Good to Mama. Alan Cumming opened the show with Wilkommen and closed it with Cabaret.

It was also nice to get a sneak peak at Ever After which will open soon at Paper Mill.  Margot Siebert and James Snyder performed Out of Darkness.

Such a treat to hear all the greats with a 78-piece orchestra!

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 5/6/15 at 12:39am

 

I wrote a review, which there was a conspiracy to ignore.

 

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1082836&dt=0

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 5/6/15 at 8:55am

I had seen that there was second topic after I had replied here, whoops...

I had forgotten about the Ever After song, I thought it was beautiful and it totally made me want to go to Papermill to see the show!

[harx1]

Posted: 5/6/15 at 10:18am

I was there as well and thought it was wonderful.  The last time I saw Victor Garber singing live was in the production of Damn Yankees, and he was just as wonderful 20 years later. 

 

I thought the whole evening was magical, and I don't know why, but I was amused by the somewhat raucous reaction to Queen Latifah (who did a fantastic rendition of When You're Good to Mama. 

 

In addition to Victor Garber (who was the impetus for me to purchase the ticket), I thought Laura Benanti was fantastic and I can not wait to see her in Roundabout's She Loves Me. Though those were my favorites (well, Queen Latifah kind of knocked my socks off), everyone seemed in fine form, and while I'm not an opera fan, I was glad to get the chance to see Renee Fleming.  

 

My one quibble was not with the show, but with the venue. I was sitting in the Parquet about four or five rows from the stage and the sound sometimes seemed muddled.  I know that the Tiers are generally the best places to hear in Carnegie Hall, but I was still surprised that it was not clearer. Still, a minor quibble for a well-worth it evening. Also, the woman behind me tried to sing throughout Alan Cumming's opening number (Wilkommen). Luckily, I was not the only one who expressed my immense displeasure. She did not try again. 

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 5/6/15 at 7:52pm

"I thought the whole evening was magical, and I don't know why, but I was amused by the somewhat raucous reaction to Queen Latifah (who did a fantastic rendition of When You're Good to Mama."

Lol! My thoughts exactly! But I agree, she was quite wonderful and I have to admit that I had no idea she was such a good singer!