Jack Everly - NAC Principal Pops Conductor (Freestyle Photography) Photo

From: BWW Review: NAC ORCHESTRA POPS SERIES PRESENTS RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN at National Arts Centre - Southam Hall

For its first Pops Series performance of the 2018 / 2019 season, the NAC Orchestra is paying tribute to the famous composer / lyricist team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II by performing some of their most beloved songs in the newly renovated orchestra shell of the National Arts Centre. Led by conductor Maestro Jack Everly, the NAC Orchestra was in fine form, providing music not only from Rodgers & Hammerstein's most popular musicals, but delivering some lessor known melodies, such as the overture to the 1961 film, Flower Drum Song. Two choirs, the Calixa-Lavallee Ensemble and the Ewashko Singers, provided beautiful harmonies to complement the guest vocals. The three featured vocalists, handpicked by Maestro Everly, were Laura Osnes, Ben Crawford and Ted Keegan. All three were simply spectacular, with the twice Tony-nominated Osnes channeling Julie Andrews in the opening number, 'The Sound of Music', and again in 'My Favorite Things'.