A VARIED AND VOLUPTUOUS NIGHT OF SONG

A night at Carnegie Hall always feels special and elegant, and the evening of January 15 was no exception. Applause was plentiful, cheers resounded, and moments of surprise and comic relief brought amused laughter that banished any fear that a heavy layer of formulaic formality would settle over the performance. Certainly impressive mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard—whose career includes major opera roles and performances in multiple languages around the world—could easily have coasted on classical selections alone. She also could have sung the entire program solo and satisfied her legions of fans. Instead, she invited two male vocalists as special guests for solos and duets, all accompanied by the very able pianist John Arida, with a repertoire full of variety weighted toward musical theatre and American masters of melody and lyrics. The glittering program was matched by two glittering gowns worn by a glamorous, grateful, gracious diva with a decidedly non-diva attitude.

Isabel Leonard

The umbrella title The Songs of Bernstein, Berlin and Beyond allowed for a potent potpourri of possibilities “beyond” any limits. Bernstein, of course, referred to the man whose first name is her surname (and who was the subject of the recent film Maestro, in which she appeared). He was no stranger to Carnegie Hall, having appeared there hundreds of times. On the Town (Bernstein/Comden & Green) was represented with three selections, and also on the bill was the winking protest song “I Hate Music,” with his own cheeky lyrics from a child’s point of view. The middle “B” word in the title referred to composer-lyricist Irving Berlin, whose 100th birthday was honored with an all-star concert at the storied venue (he lived to be 101). The prominence of his name seemed more due to alliteration than volume, as only one of his songs appeared on the printed program. If not for the encore—more about that later—there would have been a grand total of one: the famous one-upmanship duet “Anything You Can Do” from Annie Get Your Gun. That series of “I can do better” boasts was a treat, a fun opporTUNEity to show off the personalities and range of Miss Leonard and guest Ryan Speedo Green, as well as their chemistry.

Isabel Leonard with pianist John Arida and Ryan Speedo Green

Beyond Bernstein and Berlin in the realm of musical theatre, the most represented songwriters were Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, with three of their joint classics and one Hammerstein lyric set to music by an opera composer. Leonard charmed with “Many a New Day” from their landmark score Oklahoma!—which had been performed in full at Carnegie Hall just three days earlier. From Carousel, she and guest Jordan Donica delivered the evening’s highlight: the full theatre version of the set piece “If I Loved You,” complete with the accompanying dialogue and performed fully in character, with rewarding reactions and shadings. On his own, Donica presented South Pacific’s “Some Enchanted Evening” in a refreshingly non-stentorian manner. There was also a taste of Hammerstein’s words set to an opera-derived melody with another formidable Donica solo, “Dis Flower” from Carmen Jones, using Bizet’s music from the opera Carmen.

There was an art-song feel as well, with settings of Langston Hughes poems by composer Aaron Copland and other works by him. These were handled with notable dignity by Mr. Green, although it was sometimes difficult to discern every word in the less familiar material when his bass-baritone rolled them out. Still, the resonant tones and effective moods compensated.

Isabel Leonard with John Arida, Jordan Donica and Ryan Speedo Green

Opera singers, opera fans, and Carnegie Hall audiences love their encores—note the plural. The show ain’t over ’til it’s over. While some patrons began filing out, apparently convinced by the onstage exits and pauses that the first or second encore marked the true end, patience was rewarded. After all the singers combined for a thoughtful farewell number, “Some Other Time” from On the Town, acknowledging tempus fugit while promising reunion, there was a clear “wait, there’s more” mood. One bonus was the aforementioned Irving Berlin selection: a campy “Sisters” performed by the two men, echoing how Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye encored their female co-stars’ duet in the film White Christmas. The final moment came with a rendition of another song introduced on film—famously sung in 1939 by a teenage star and later performed many times by her as an adult, including in one of the most celebrated Carnegie Hall concerts of all time. Yes, it was a heartfelt “Over the Rainbow,” with Miss Leonard in a sparkly red gown that recalled Judy Garland’s ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz.

Wisely, she also reinforces the image of herself as a youthful wide-eyed optimist with another warm film classic, “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” from Disney’s animated Cinderella. Some songs—and singers—seem ageless indeed.

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

photos by Chris Lee

Isabel Leonard and Friends
Carnegie Hall
a one-night-only concert on January 15, 2026
for more events at the landmark venue, visit Carnegie Hall 
read more about Isabel Leonard at Facebook and Promethean Artists

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦