Boston's sons and daughters proudly proclaim their city to be the best, but let's be honest: we have an awful lot of competition. We're not the biggest city (New York), the most logically designed (Washington D.C.), the cleanest (Portland), or even the weirdest city (Austin). Sometimes it's difficult to think about what sets Boston apart from the rest of the urban field.
Thankfully, we have the Boston Pops to remind us that our hub status remains, in certain respects, deserved as ever. The local musical institution launched its 124th season with a Wednesday night celebration that showcased the trademark Pops accomplished yet accessible spirit. Through the evening's program, however, the Pops also reminded its audience of Boston's place right in the thick of everything.
Sports? The Pops premiered a brand new arrangement of "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" - proving that the Dropkick Murphys have officially permeated every aspect of Boston culture - complete with a Red Sox-centric video that highlighted the Pops' new Red Sox Album release. While favoring the Pops' Fenway neighbors, the selection also served as an astute nod to the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and the proud citizens of Championship City, USA.
On the cultured side, Barbara Cook rested her hand against the piano, sparkling in diamonds, as she unleashed the confidence that only more than 50 years of musical performance and a Tony Award can provide. Cook, the Broadway ingenue who originated roles in Candide and The Music Man, is one of a small group of people who feel much more like full-throated crooners than mere singers; her intimate (backed predominantly by a jazz trio) run through the Who's Who of musical theatre (Rodgers and Hammerstein, Porter, Berlin, Sondheim and Gershwin among them) gave Boston a brush with theatrical royalty.
Lest we forget Boston's historical contributions beyond the Freedom Trail, a commanding tribute to Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday was fused together by the combination of composer Aaron Copland's famed "Lincoln Portrait," the accompanying reading by Jack Williams, and footage of sculptor Daniel Chester French's iconic Lincoln Memorial scuplture. The Boston area was well represented: Copland collaborated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Williams is Mr. WBZ-TV himself, and French was a Stockbridge man.
While this could seem like a bit of municipal grandstanding, the Pops' vibe - approachable, charming, even cheeky when appropriate - allowed the performance to seem much more celebratory than cocky. The spirit within Symphony Hall on Wednesday night was one focused on the idea of inclusion and warmth for the wide range of ages in attendance. Audience members clapping their hands to "Stars and Stripes Forever" for the first time were matched in joy and intensity by those who have taken in the Opening Night experience for years; the balance of tradition and innovation reflects a commitment to keeping the Pops fresh even beyond the indie vibe that annually takes over the Hall with EdgeFest.
As balloons descended from the ceiling to cheers and applause, the Pops successfully managed to both kick off their latest season, and also put Boston right back on the map.
Photo by Michael J. Lutch, provided by Boston Pops
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