#MorningMusic with Diane Lesser
#MorningMusic with Diane Lesser
The New York Pops principal oboe Diane Lesser shares a few of the songs that shaped her life in New York City. You can listen to her playlist here and read her thoughts on her selections below!
Song: “Losing My Mind” from Follies (Stephen Sondheim)
Performer: Barbara Cook
Album: Follies: New York Philharmonic Cast Recording (1985)
“Going to the Café Carlyle to see Barbara Cook was the greatest New York experience and special treat, and her 1985 Follies live performance accompanied by an orchestra led by the legendary Paul Gemigniani is just spectacular.
Song: “How Do You Keep the Music Playing”
Performers: Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin
Album: Duets II
“This features two of the greatest superstars ever, and the song was orchestrated and conducted by the brilliant stylist Jorge Calandrelli.
I'm playing oboe and English horn in this recording, and there are lots of other New York Pops members in the orchestra on the Duets II album as well (Piano: Lee Musiker, Violins: Avril Brown, Karen Karlsrud, Elizabeth Lim-Dutton, Katherine Livolsi-Landau, Viola: Adria Benjamin, Flute: Katherine Fink, Trumpet: Tony Kadleck).
Song: Yesterday I Heard the Rain
Performers: Tony Bennett and Alejandro Sanz
Album: Duets II
“This opens with my very short oboe solo and then features an incredible trumpet solo by Arturo Sandoval.”
Piece: “Erbarme Dicht” St. Matthew Passion (J.S. Bach)
Performer: Nathalie Stutzman, Orfeo 55
Album: Best of Bach
“One of the most poignant arias from my lifelong ‘desert island’ piece.”
Song: "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Performer: Queen
Album: A Night at the Opera
“I was a Juilliard student when I was first exposed to this, and up until that point, I was just a Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, the Beatles (and a closet-bubblegum pop!) listener. Like so many other people, I wore out this record!”