The holiday season at the Kennedy Center wouldn't be complete without the National Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday pops concert. With help from the Fairfax Choral Society, Unified Voices, two young singers and several North Pole guests, NSO Pops conductor Marvin Hamlisch and the orchestra spread holiday cheer through a variety of music Thursday night at the Concert Hall.
Pausing to banter with performers and audience members and occasionally sitting down to play a baby grand, Hamlisch led the NSO through a regal performance of Leroy Anderson's popular medley, "A Christmas Festival," and encouraged vibrant calm from the orchestra in an arrangement of "What Child Is This?" ("Greensleeves"), featuring the NSO's own Carol Stephenson, who played her oboe beautifully.
Marvin Hamlisch got into the spirit.
|
|
An impressive 11-year-old Pennsylvanian, Vanessa Campagna, took the stage confidently in a peppy rendition of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town." She sang a mature-sounding "O Holy Night," but her voice suited John Lennon's "So This Is Christmas" better.
JiYoung Lee's sparkly soprano bloomed on Schubert's "Ave Maria," while the choral society's traditional sound, silvery in Randal Bass's "Gloria," tender in "Silent Night," inspired an enthusiastic Christmas carol singalong.
The unflagging energy of Unified Voices, a gospel ensemble assembled for the program, ensured toe-tapping celebrations of holiday music each time the group filed onstage. Its rousing "Hallelujah" Chorus made a joyous finale.
Concerts continue tonight and tomorrow night -- take your little ones!
-- Grace Jean
for L U N G C A N C E R V I C T I M S>>
HIP REPLACEMENT -- did you get one after '03?>>