Happy birthday, New York Pops!
AT CARNEGIE Hall (from left): Stephanie J. Block, Norm Lewis, Kyle Scatliffe (partly hidden), Claude-Michel Schönberg, the author, Marie Zamora and Jeremy Jordan. PHOTO from John Michael Villa’s Facebook
NEW YORK—It seemed only right to celebrate the New York Pops’ 33rd birthday with some of the most timeless music ever created for musical theater, and to gather a slew of musical theater artists to perform them with this amazing orchestra, conducted by musical director Steven Reineke.
A special presentation of Boublil and Schönberg’s “Do You Hear the People Sing” was presented on May 2 at the legendary Carnegie Hall.
This concert celebrating Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s work was created in 2011, debuting with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jack Everly.
Alain himself tapped five artists who have previously performed in a Boublil-Schönberg musical to participate in that concert, namely Stephanie J. Block (“The Pirate Queen”), Peter Lockyer (“Les Misérables” and “Miss Saigon”), Terrence Mann (“Les Misérables”), Marie Zamora (“La Révolution Française”) and yours truly (“Miss Saigon” and “Les Misérables”).
Since that debut, it has been performed all over the world with a rotating set of artists including David Harris (“Miss Saigon”), Eric Kunze (“Les Misérables” and “Miss Saigon”), Jennifer Paz (“Miss Saigon”), Kathy Voytko (“The Pirate Queen”).
At Carnegie Hall, though, the concert that played was very different.
First, many more artists who have done a Boublil-Schönberg show were recruited: along with Stephanie, Eric, Terrence, Marie and myself, there were Marcus D’Angelo (“Les Misérables”), Montego Glover (“Les Misérables”), Norm Lewis (“Miss Saigon”), Robert Marien (“Les Misérables”), Eva Noblezada (“Miss Saigon”), John Owen-Jones (“Les Misérables”), Hugh Panaro (“Les Misérables”), Steven Pasquale (“Miss Saigon”), Kyle Scatliffe (“Les Misérables”) and the great Patti LuPone (the original Fantine in the West End production of “Les Misérables”).
Next, there were also artists who have never done a Boublil-Schönberg show before but were asked to join: “The Last 5 Years’” Jeremy Jordan, “Cinderella’s” Laura Osnes and “Modern Family’s” Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
Lastly, instead of one adult choir and one children’s choir (represented by the Essential Voices USA and the Camp Broadway Kids, respectively), we also invited kids from the Ronald McDonald House New York to sing along, as well as Kids on Stage—a group of 20 talented middle school student-instrumentalists that got to play alongside the Pops.
The energy in the hall was magical. As each singer headed out to the stage, they were met with thunderous applause, which seemed to get even louder with each number that followed.
The biggest surprises for me as someone listening from backstage were when someone who has never performed this material in front of an audience just nails it, like Jeremy Jordan’s show-stopping rendition of “Why, God, Why,” and Laura Osnes and Marcus D’Angelo singing the original version of “Little People” with the kids from Ronald McDonald House.
Or, when someone like Steven Pasquale who played Chris sings “Bui Doi,” infusing the song with something different. His gorgeous baritone voice is nothing to sneeze at, either.
Getting to sing “I Dreamed a Dream” beside the original Fantine, Patti LuPone, was incredible. Stephanie and I flanked her as she stood center stage, following her as she dictated the pace of the song. And that quartet of John Owen-Jones, Robert Marien, Eric Kunze and Hugh Panaro singing “Bring Him Home” was powerful.
Hilarious as the Thenardiers performing “Master of the House” were Jesse and Patti (with Jeremy playing one of the customers at their inn).
Imagine Jesse pulling sausage links from his tuxedo jacket. I was sitting backstage as Jeremy came off, carrying his stool and wearing the sausages around his neck.
It was also very special getting to sing “Movie in My Mind” with Eva singing the Kim part, and with me singing Gigi, which I’ve never done. But it was wonderful getting to sing alongside this very talented young woman, and to revisit material that has been in my bones for over 25 years. She will wow Broadway without a doubt, and I cannot wait to watch it happen.
We are also treated to music that we’ve never heard in New York before. From Boublil and Schönberg’s first collaboration, “La Révolution Française” were “Parisians, Awake and Rise / Français, Français” performed by Montego, Jeremy and Kyle, and “Au Petit Matin / In the Early Morn” by Marie Zamora, singing the role of Marie Antoinette on the morning of her execution.
Ending the concert was “One Day More,” which never fails to bring the audience to its feet. This night was no exception, and it’s always a thrill to sing it.
I am only too grateful for these two Frenchmen and the musicals they have written. The material is timeless and classic. That they are still wowing audiences the world over is testament to their power to grab you by the heart and not let go, and it is always such a privilege to have the opportunity to perform them.
The coach is out of the bag
It’s official: “The Voice Kids” has a brand-new coach: Sharon Cuneta will be joining us for our third season.
Welcome, Coach Sharon, and let the games begin! Good luck!
