BWW Interviews: Christmas at Carnegie Hall with Steven Reineke

It's Christmastime again, and few things are as enjoyable at the holidays than celebrating with great live music in a gorgeous venue! So this December, venture out to Carnegie Hall for their back-to-back Christmas concerts on December 10th and 11th, conducted by Steven Reineke and the New York Pops. Featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell, the two evenings promise to be full of holiday cheer. There is a also a special matinee performance of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" on the Saturday that is perfect for those families with little ones.

BWW had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Reineke about what can be expected at the concerts, about holiday traditions and of course, Christmas:

Happy Holidays! Can you describe what our readers can expect from your Carnegie Hall Christmas Shows?

We are going to be featuring one of Broadway's leading baritones, Brian Stokes Mitchell (Man of La Mancha, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown). We will be doing a lot of holiday favourites and typical fare. Brian recently recorded with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and we are going to use some of those arrangements and also will be featuring Essential Voices USA and children from the Camp Broadway Children's Chorus. It will be really amazing. The kids are great, they do choreography and really add pizzazz to the show. Plus nothing says the holidays are here quite like having kids around you. Wait until you see Jingle Bell Rock with the kids, it's crazy.

Will the music featured be the same songs that people are used to hearing? Or will they be a bit different?

I decided to write some new arrangements for Brian Stokes Mitchell, and we have been working with the great Jonathan Tunick as well. There are also going to be two world premieres including a brand new Kwanza song written by Wesley Whatley and William Schermerhorn.

We will also feature some great Chanukah music and have commissioned a large new Chanukah suite called "Songs of Freedom" which will end Act 1.

How about yourself? Do you have a favourite holiday song?

It's so hard to choose! But I do love Carol of the Bells. It's a real tour de force for the orchestra and a great Christmas tune in a minor key.

Could you tell us a bit about "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" on Saturday afternoon?

It's going to be a great family event! There is no intermission, it is just going to be straight fun all the way through. We will feature selections from the evening concerts as well. For "Grinch" we are featuring the original TV score by Albert Haig. It is an iconic piece of American culture and we wanted to do it justice.

Brian Stokes Mitchell is going to narrate the piece so he gets to sing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" which will be fabulous. We will have the chorus from Essential Voices USA again as well as the New York Theatre Ballet. We also have Izzy Hanson-Johnston as Cindy Lou-Who who will sing a solo. I'm using the James Horner song from the Grinch movie "Where Are You Christmas?" so that we can showcase her wonderful talent.

And of course, there may be a special appearance by a certain guest...if all the girls and boys are extra good!

Finally, do you have any special holiday traditions for yourself?

Not really! I love the holidays but I spend them traveling between different cities doing holiday concerts. So I guess my tradition is helping to spread holiday joy and magic to others through music!

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When and Where?
Celebrate the Holidays with Brian Stokes Mitchell

December 10th and 11th at 8PM
Family Holiday Concert December 11th at 2PM

Carnegie Hall

Tickets range from $33-$106 and can be purchased at the box office, by phone at 212-247-7800 or online at www.carnegiehall.org