Photo Coverage: Jodi Benson and Hugh Panaro in Concert with the TSO

The Toronto Symphony kicked off their 2011 Pops Series last week with ‘Hollywood Hits', an incredible evening of song featuring Jodi Benson (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Crazy for You) and Hugh Panaro (The Phantom of the Opera) and conducted by New York Pops Conductor Steven Reineke. The show was fantastic, showcasing brilliant new arrangements of old Hollywood classics and introducing Toronto to the stunning vocal stylings of these two wonderful performers.

Steven Reineke is a charismatic and enthusiastic conductor and a true lover of musical theatre, something which I recognized in him the very first time I spoke with him (to discuss celebrating Stephen Sondheim's 80th Birthday). Whenever I hear he is coming back to Toronto to conduct our wonderful symphony, I always make sure to attend because his shows are magic. This was no exception. He brought world class talent with Ms. Benson and Mr. Panaro, and the three of them (combined with the wonderful Amabile Men's Choir from London) took full advantage of the stunning orchestra to delight audiences with movie classics both old and new.

Highlights included Jodi Benson reprising the classic song from The Little Mermaid, Part of Your World and Hugh Panaro doing a stunning rendition of The Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. They ended the evening by getting audiences up in the aisles to dance to Hairspray's You Can't Stop the Beat and Mamma Mia's Dancing Queen. BWW was thrilled to be on hand to bring you exclusive photographs of the event, including the touching and hilarious moment when Mr. Reineke lost his conducting baton and quipped "hey, it happens!"

When and Where?

For more details on upcoming Toronto Symphony Orchestra Pops Concerts please visit their website

The next Pops show has Steven Reineke conducting 'Christmas with the Canadian Brass'

Performance Schedule for the Christmas Show:

Tues December 20th at 8PM
Wed December 21st at 2PM and 8PM

Tickets range from $29-109 and can be purchased by phone at 416-593-4828 or online

All photos by Racheal McCaig Photography