The New York Pops: “007: James Bond Forever”
The New York Pops opened its Carnegie Hall season on October 23, 2026, with “007: James Bond Forever.” Music director Steven Reineke conducted, with Lena Hall as guest artist. Drawing on 18 films released between 1962 and 2021, the program celebrated a musical identity strong enough to accommodate orchestral suspense, romantic ballads, soul, and hard rock. Hall and the orchestra were strong throughout. The songs carry powerful associations with their original performers, including Shirley Bassey, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, and Adele. Hall gave this varied material a consistent vocal presence. Reineke kept the orchestra an equal partner, emphasizing how much of Bond’s character lives in the instrumental writing. [more]