FROM CARNEGIE WITH LOVE

Lena Hall brings power, style, and versatility to
a celebration of six decades of James Bond music

The James Bond franchise includes twenty-five films produced in sixty-four years. The films’ theme songs have been sung by major artists and sometimes became major hits. So it’s not surprising that when Tony Award-winner Lena Hall asked Steven Reineke, conductor and music director of the New York Pops, if he was interested in a show focusing on these songs, he happily agreed. On October 23 at Carnegie Hall, the audience saw the result: 007: James Bond Forever, a celebration of the films, the songs, and the people who wrote and sang them.

Hall has a powerful voice with a broad range. She’s good with haunting songs like “Spectre” and songs like “Goldfinger,” famously belted by Shirley Bassey. And Hall knows how to reproduce the tenor and tone of the artists who originally sang them.

The show alternated between instrumental music performed by the New York Pops and vocals performed by Hall, who came out each time with a different outfit. The first, a classic black men’s suit with a white shirt, was followed by one sexy, glittering gown after another.

For those who want to know the backstory, Hall included delicious tidbits concerning who sang the songs, who almost sang the songs, and who didn’t. One of the most interesting stories was about “You Only Live Twice,” which was originally offered to Frank Sinatra. He said he wasn’t interested but proposed his daughter, Nancy. “Spectre,” the one song in 007: James Bond Forever that never made it into the movie, was written by Radiohead but submitted too late.

James Bond theme songs have been sung by formidable artists such as Adele (“Skyfall”), Tina Turner (“GoldenEye”), Carly Simon (“Nobody Does It Better”), and Billie Eilish (“No Time to Die”). Hall had big shoes to fill, and she did so with grace, style, and versatility.

Because the James Bond films spanned so many decades, people of different ages will remember them in different ways. But no matter who played Bond and how the films treat the hero, everyone can enjoy the magnificent music that came with them.

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photos by Jenny Anderson

007: James Bond Forever
The New York Pops with Lena Hall
Carnegie Hall, 881 Seventh Avenue in New York
performed October 23, 2026
for future concerts, visit NY Pops

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