OCEAN CITY – After a week that included accompanying Bernadette Peters for a sold-out performance and two free outdoor patriotic concerts for the appreciative community, the Ocean City Pops Orchestra took to the Music Pier stage for an energy-filled evening of orchestral repertoire.
Maestro Vince Lee took the group through a demonstration of their talents and a preview of the coming season.
He opened with a medley from Bizet’s “Carmen,” showcasing a beautiful cello introduction (Mark Kosmals and Charles DePasquale) that led to the familiar “Toreador Song” in the brass and full orchestra.
“Magnificent Seven,” film music by Elmer Bernstein — no relative of Leonard — included a pair of trumpet solos (Brian Kuszyk). The driving syncopation had Lee nearly dancing on the podium. Later, second trumpeter Steve Hitzer had his moments in the “Gypsy” overture; triplets “entertain you” as the lyrics suggest. Indeed, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”
For Rimsky-Korsakov’s tales, Concertmaster Luigi Mazzochi’s violin was the voice of “Scheherazade,” the narrator. Mazzochi introduced the fragile theme; the French horns (Karen Schubert, Sarah Boxmeyer) built the drama and the full orchestra turned the piece into one large crescendo.
Music from “The Avengers” was a first performance by the O.C. Pops. As with many of the evening’s choices, Lee had images from the film on the Music Pier’s large screens. A rhythmic ostinato propelled the orchestra. Another first included a video games sampling from “Final Fantasy” and “Chrono Trigger” as he moved to the new keyboard and back to the podium. Scenes from the game were on the screens.
The first half of the concert closed with a pair of familiar tunes, “Singin’ In the Rain” — Gene Kelly on display — and a smooth Beach Boys Medley, previewing one of many coming Music Pier concerts.
Tom Hanks appeared on the screen as Forrest Gump for the “Feather Theme” from that film. Lee called it “gorgeous and wistful.” He played piano joined by the strings. He was also at the piano for “Somewhere in Time,” a John Barry film score intentionally reminiscent of Rachmaninoff. Lead clarinetist Doris Hall-Gulati established the theme of “The Mandalorian,” the multi-season TV series. The orchestra turned it into a march that backed-off into a sweet three-note motif.
As he often does, Lee complimented the large collection of music “upstairs.” John Warrington’s arrangement of “Beyond the Sea” typified that written-in-pencil simple swing from nearly a hundred years ago.
The evening celebrated the community of Ocean City. Michael Allegretto, aide to the mayor who covers the myriad details of all the Music Pier productions, helped celebrate this 95th anniversary of the Pops Orchestra. With him, Karen Mahar of the Friends of the Pops and Ocean City Free Library, read a proclamation from Gov. Phil Murphy honoring the city’s cultural leadership. The late Ellen R. Pospiech was remembered for her city work in the information booth and for her strong help to Vince Lee. In a touching tribute to her, Lee dedicated “Nimrod” from Elgar’s “Enigma Variations,” a gentle hymn-like selection.
The high-energy concert closed with “Tornado” from “The Wiz” and a powerful “Pinball” theme. For both, the entire orchestra was moving to the dance rhythm and fierce funk sound.
The Pops are back in the Music Pier tonight (Wednesday) for a program of Broadway tunes. Sunday night they join Frankie Moreno for music of Elvis.
– STORY and PHOTO by RICHARD STANISLAW/For the Sentinel
At top, Maestro Vince Lee conducts the Ocean City Pops Orchestra Sunday evening at the Music Pier.
