By Joan Anderman
Boston Globe Staff
The Boston Pops kicked off its 123d season last night with a truncated tribute to Massachusetts' native son Leonard Bernstein, who would have turned 90 this year, and a guest appearance by singer Natalie Cole, whose lengthy set list required that two-thirds of the Bernstein celebration be canceled at the last minute.
It's a shame, because Bernstein's suite from the 1954 film "On the Waterfront" was glorious — a perfect aesthetic fit for the Pops, and conductor Keith Lockhart led the orchestra through a beautifully tempered read of the composer's haunted score. A montage of movie stills featuring a smoldering Brando and gorgeous Eva Marie Saint made it a feast for the eyes as well. Happily, Pops-goers in the coming weeks will have the chance to hear the overture to "Candide" and watch a new film by "Evening at Pops" producer Susan Dangel, accompanied by a live performance of John Williams's "For Lenny," during the season-long tribute to Bernstein.
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