NEW YORK—The moment Norm Lewis hits the stage for his first-ever solo concert at Carnegie Hall, one which took him “33 years to get,” a wait made even longer by the pandemic, you can see how he relishes the moment. What follows is a musical journey through some of the roles he has played in his career. These parts include those he has always wanted to take on, as well as some he never even knew he wanted, at least until he was offered them.
Lewis, an Emmy, Tony, and SAG award nominee, is backed in his performance by The New York Pops. The orchestra performs under the superb eye of music director and conductor Steve Reineke. For Lewis to stand out from this esteemed body of musicians is no easy task and, indeed, in Lewis’s first number, the rousing “This is the Life,” it does feel as if he’s battling with the orchestra for the audience’s attention.
