Every year there are different things that "get us into the spirit". Sometimes it's an early snowfall or passing the newly lit Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. This year it was the lighting of the large Christmas tree at the Metropolitan Museum. This has been a ritual at the Met for at least 30 years. If you've never seen the "angel tree" as it's known you're missing a very special time. The tree is decorated exclusively with 18th century Neapolitan creche figures. The figures are individual works of art that combine to form a re-creation of a village nativity scene. The tree itself is decorated with angels and candles that seem to swirl in their silk robes to the star on top. The yearly tree lighting is a grand affair which includes a dramatic rising of the lights (accompanied by the sounds of music), that makes the figures seem to glow with the rising sun. Each year there is some live entertainment that never disappoints. This year the New York Children's choir delighted us with their upbeat versions of traditional Christmas carols.
We loved every part of it, especially the children's choir and thought we were ready for the holidays at last!
After the tree lighting, it was only 7:30 and there we were "all dressed up with no where to go". After the Met, we frequently go to Bemelman's Bar at the Carlyle Hotel where they have music every night. But it was too crowded so we walked over to the Regency Hotel on Park Avenue. Amazingly there was room for Michael Feinstein's holiday show.
Feinstein’s at the Regency
Home for the Holidays
540 Park Avenue, at 61st Street
(212) 339-4095;
Neither Christina nor I had ever seen him perform. We were hoping to see the show, an annual favorite, before we left for China, but had very little time or hope of getting a ticket.
The show was absolutely delightful. He performs with a six member band (including Jay Leonhart that we'd seen a couple of weeks ago at the Blue Note) and three back-up singers. It's really almost too big a show for cabaret, but it is his room. He brought a little polish and romance to all the traditional Christmas favorites and did a wonderful boogie-woogie tune, "Pig-foot Pete", an Oscar runner-up from the year White Christmas won (1942). At the end Chris let out a mournful "No, it can't be over!"
It was a great show. See it if you can. He's there until the 30th of December.
We loved every part of it, especially the children's choir and thought we were ready for the holidays at last!
After the tree lighting, it was only 7:30 and there we were "all dressed up with no where to go". After the Met, we frequently go to Bemelman's Bar at the Carlyle Hotel where they have music every night. But it was too crowded so we walked over to the Regency Hotel on Park Avenue. Amazingly there was room for Michael Feinstein's holiday show.
Feinstein’s at the Regency
Home for the Holidays
540 Park Avenue, at 61st Street
(212) 339-4095;
Neither Christina nor I had ever seen him perform. We were hoping to see the show, an annual favorite, before we left for China, but had very little time or hope of getting a ticket.
The show was absolutely delightful. He performs with a six member band (including Jay Leonhart that we'd seen a couple of weeks ago at the Blue Note) and three back-up singers. It's really almost too big a show for cabaret, but it is his room. He brought a little polish and romance to all the traditional Christmas favorites and did a wonderful boogie-woogie tune, "Pig-foot Pete", an Oscar runner-up from the year White Christmas won (1942). At the end Chris let out a mournful "No, it can't be over!"
It was a great show. See it if you can. He's there until the 30th of December.
No comments:
Post a Comment