Photo Credit : Nick Piacente
The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., was alive with holiday spirit on December 8th as Norm Lewis performed A Holiday Pops! Steven Reineke served as evening conductor, leading the NSO and The Heritage Signature Chorale. At the same time, special guests included Nova Y. Payton and Rishab Jain.
The event commenced with a performance by The Heritage Signature Chorale, which included a selection of Christmas classics. The stage was then graced by Mr. Lewis, who opened his set with a series of holiday favorites, such as "The Christmas Song." However, he added an element of surprise to the performance with a delightful rendition of "Home," taken from the musical masterpiece "The Wiz." The audience was captivated by Mr. Lewis's stunning performance and eagerly anticipated the rest of the set.Â
Another highlight of the show's first half was the appearance of Nova Y. Payton, a native of the DMV, who delivered a splendid performance of Mariah Carey's classic "All I Want For Christmas Is You." Payton's performance was spectacular, leaving the audience clamoring for more. And the green dress Ms. Payton wore was nothing short of stunning.
Following a brief intermission, the show's second half kicked off with Mr. Lewis bringing down the house with a performance of "Ave Maria," which transitioned seamlessly into "O, Holy Night." Lewis was then joined on stage by current NSO Youth Fellowship member Rishab Jain for a soul-stirring rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy." As the night began to wind down, Lewis and Payton took the audience to church with a feel-it-in-your-bones duet of "Go Tell It On The Mountain." The night concluded with a sing-along with the audience of Christmas classics.
A Holiday Pops! with Norm Lewis was a memorable night of great music and impressive performances, showcasing the artists' exceptional talents and the holiday season's festive spirit.
Final Grade: B+