Once again the array of talent in the survey was extraordinary. With songs from every year and choice performers to interpret them, I naturally enjoyed some turns more than others (no slights intended). Here are some of the highlights from my perspective:

A coup was getting Lorraine Serabian, who sang the role of The Leader in the 1968 Broadway production of “Zorba.” Having just seen Marin Mazzie do the part the night before, I was especially interested in what Serabian could do with “Life Is.” She proved to be terrific and in powerful voice after all those years, and the audience interrupted to applaud her vigorously during the number.

Kevin Earley turned on his vocal force to sing “Molasses to Rum” from the 1969 musical “1776,” a song blasting the north for hypocrisy in view of its facilitating the slave trade. Any time Carole J. Bufford sings is an occasion. This time she slipped into the mood for “Grease” (1972), turning up the volume and adopting the perfect style of that period hit to sing “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.”

Patrick Page came on stage with a fake nose, posing sideways to give the audience best views and then sang—you guessed it—“Cyrano’s Nose” from the 1973 “Cyrano.” The rush of fast-paced lyrics was a challenge, but Page met it in grand, entertaining style, then, taking his bow, he pulled off the fake proboscis and tossed it into the audience.

William Blake has an exceptionally beautiful voice, and he gave us an example singing “Home” from “The Wiz” (1975). Gabrielle Stravelli did a touching rendition of “Time Heals Everything” from the underrated “Mack & Mabel” (1974), and to close the first act, sang with expert dancer Noah Racey strutting his stuff with his own choreography for a spirited “Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now’” from the 1978 “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”

In the second act, Mary Lane Haskill turned up the heat signing “Lullaby of Broadway,” included in producer David Merrick’s 1980 hit “42nd Street.” Bobby Steggert possesses one of the most appealing voices of contemporary performers plus the dramatic ability to unassumingly give meaning to lyrics, and it was sheer joy to hear him do justice to “Not a Day Goes By,” from the 1981 “Merrily We Roll Along.”

Danny Gardner, who like Racey, is an exceptional tap dancer and choreographer, teamed with Brent McBeth and Drew Humphrey for a song-and dance number that Gardner choreographed—“Nice Work If You Can Get It” from “My One and Only” (1983).

“The Look of Love” from “Leader of the Pack” (1985) is one of those high volume numbers that typify a particular trend of the time, and Mary Testa rose to the occasion, varying from soft patches to soaring belting.

It is always pleasurable when Ross Patterson, musical director of the series, and his Little Big Band get a spotlight of their own so we can just listen to them playing (Patterson at the piano, Tom Hubbard on bass and Jamie Eblen on drums). On this occasion the group performed “Stop in the Name of Love” from “Uptown…It’s Hot” (1986), and the result was gratifying. Earlier, a major audience pleaser was Patterson’s talented and adorable young son Mercer, commanding the spotlight to sing “Mama, a Rainbow” from “Minnie’s Boys” (1970). Mercer took repeated bows in response to persistent applause and amusingly didn’t seem to want to leave the stage.

“Bring Him Home” remains one of the loveliest, most moving songs from the enduring hit “Les Miserables” (1987) and Bob Stillman thrillingly achieved the number’s beauty and nuances. “Chess” (1988) was a show that didn’t succeed on Broadway, although it was a hit in London. “Nobody’s Side” from that show was sung by Jessica Hendy and The Broadway by the Year Chorus.

The concert finished strong with Danny Gardner, Sean Harkness and the entire company joining in “Oh, Boy!” from “Buddy--The Buddy Holly Story.” Seeing everybody onstage at once underscored the array of excellent talent contributing to the evening, including Jenny Powers, Jason Gotay, Jamison Stern, Julie Reyburn, Daniel Everidge, Michele Ragusa, Alex Birnie, Christopher Johnstone and all the members of the Chorus--Paula Buresh, Madeline Hamlet, Mary Lane Haskell, Emily Iaquinta, Ryan Scoble, Courtney Simmons and Matt Weinstein, with Scott Coulter as the Chorus director.