By Kevin Zimmerman
During the upcoming weekend, a little bit of Beantown blows into Flushing with a crescendo of holiday tunes.
Conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra are set to make their first-ever Queens appearance at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts Sunday.
“We have played New York venues before, like Radio City (Music Hall),” Lockhart said. “But it’s always cool to come to a new place.”
The location might be new, but the show will include the orchestra’s classic repertoire of seasonal music.
“We run the gamut from Tchaikovsky to (Handel’s) ‘Messiah’ to secular music just for fun,” Lockhart said.
Audience members will also be treated to the orchestra’s signature version of the Christmas tune “Sleigh Ride.”
“‘Sleigh Ride’ is our calling card,” Lockhart said. “But ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ has become a literal show-stopper.”
Sunday’s performance is early in the orchestra’s calendar of 50 shows between now and Christmas Eve.
It also coincides with the release of a new CD, “A Boston Pops Christmas — Live from Symphony Hall,” the group’s first foray into live recordings.
“It was recorded over two seasons,” Lockhart said. “It catches the energy of the audience. You can hear the audience cheering and singing.”
Lockhart anticipates the man in the fur trimmed red suit will drop in for the show’s sing-a-long finale.
He also expects to spend more time in Queens in the future.
“I’m hoping the concert hits the sweet spot,” Lockhart said. “And I hope a new tradition is being established.”
Reach news editor Kevin Zimmerman at 718-260-4541 or by email at kzimmerman@cnglocal.com.
If you go
Holiday Pops Esplanade Orchestra
When: Sunday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 pm
Where: Colden Auditorium at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing
Cost: $50 to $120
Contact: (718) 793-8080
Website: kupferbergcenter.org
