Bethel Woods concludes season with a very loud pop

By TOM KANE

BETHEL, NY — In a glorious climax, the ever-popular Boston Pops Orchestra brought an explosive end to the maiden season of the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, on the site of the famous 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival.

Despite a persistent and at times annoying misty rain, the concert was attended by thousands, with hardly a seat unoccupied—in fact, the audience extended to the wet grass outside the pavilion, where a swarm of intrepid music lovers braved the weather on seating brought from home.

The Boston Pops, led by charismatic conductor Keith Lockhart, presented a program of favorite tunes from Broadway shows of years past. Accompanied by the dulcet and colored tones of the famed orchestra were the brilliant musical renditions by Broadway vocalist Faith Prince. Prince’s performance was most memorable in the comedic pieces, like “Where in the World is my Prince” and a medley of tunes from the award-winning production “Chicago.”

Just as memorable was the almost overwhelming ambience of the center itself—the jammed pavilion, the sweeping pathways, the looming buildings, the lush grass and flowers. This is a venue that will bring many top-drawer musical artists of every genre who will want to be a part of something so impressive.

The experience still does have a few rough edges, understandable in the center’s maiden voyage season. The crowds could be handled with more dispatch and flexibility: three entrance gates could hardly handle the swarm of people who stood in the rain on lines that crept into the grounds. And at the end of the concert, it would be helpful to establish more exits than the narrow one through which people had to squeeze to get to the parking lots.

To enhance the experience for those sitting on the sides, it might also be helpful if two more banks of speakers were erected at the two ends of the pavilion. As it is, some of what Lockhard said and what Prince sang was difficult to hear for those sitting on the extreme side.

With those caveats, however, the center throughout the summer has provided audiences with a marvelous time, and with no more glitches than would be expected in a first season. It can be expected to attract and thrill tourists for many seasons to come. Sullivan County has arrived.