Cleveland Pops Orchestra delivers a Broadway blast
"Orchestral musicians arent in the habit of smiling, especially wind and brass players, whose faces usually are busy elsewhere. They play their parts, do the conductors bidding and adhere as closely as possible to the composers wishes.
But many members of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra seemed downright giddy during the first concert of their 11th season Friday at Severance Hall. And they had good reason: they were teaming with a trio of captivating singers, the so-called "Broadway Divas", who scaled the musical-theater heights whether they were singing for their supper or going Lloyd Webber crazy.
The guests were Debbie Gravitte, Jan Horvath and Christiane Noll, veterans of Broadway shows and each the possessor of a distinctive voice perfectly suited to the material of the night. They sang their hearts and heads out as singular sensations, duettists and in threesomes that confirmed the wisdom of the Pops decision to highlight them on opening night...
...Together, the singers had cheeky fun with "Big Spender" ("Sweet Charity") and "Mamma Mia!", while deftly negotiating the vocal puzzles of "Sing for Your Supper" ("The Boys from Syracuse") and maintaining straight faces through the sappy sentiments of a Lloyd Webber medley.
The evening was a Broadway blast even when the divas were backstage changing gowns. Topilow, with clarinet charismatically set to lips, and his orchestra were jubilant champions of a snazzy arrangement of tunes from "42nd Street" by their principal trombone, Paul Ferguson. And after hearing the Pops play the delicious overture to Leroy Andersons "Goldilocks," wont someone please consider giving this 1958 flop another chance?" -Cleveland Pops Orchestra
Divas deliver a dazzling performance
It was a sad moment in Walt Disney9s "The Little Mermaid" when Ursula stole Ariels voice, leaving her with less than a croak. No such disasters occurred Friday night, when Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel, sang during the Utah Symphony Orchestras pops presentation, Three Divas of Broadway.
Christiane Noll, who created the role of Emma in "Jekyll and Hyde," and Tony award winner Debbie Gravitte joined Benson for 20 selections from The Great White Way. It was one of the most well-rounded, and technically and musically satisfying pops concerts in memory.
Much of the credit belongs to Utah Symphony associate conductor Scott ONeil and the orchestra, whose seamless, well-paced work gave the performance momentum and class. The technical crew contributed well-mixed sound and on-target lighting cues.
But it was the singers everyone came to hear, and they delivered. The sumptuous trios, saucy duets and spotlighted solos were tailored to highlight each diva9s vocal virtuosity and charismatic charm. And let9s not forget the frequent costume changes, beginning with scarlet gowns and ending in cool shades of blue and bronze
Bottom line: A trio of Broadway veterans delighted listeners with a well-produced evening of showstoppers. Utah Symphony Orchestra
Symphony, 3 'Broadway Divas' Entertain
"We not only have a classical symphony orchestra in Pueblo, we have a "pops" orchestra as well. Move over Boston and Cincinnati, and make room for "The Pueblo Pops." The guest artists, Jodi Benson, Susan Egan and Jan Horvath, billed as "the Broadway Divas," wowed us Saturday night at Hoag Hall on the campus of CSU-Pueblo, accompanied by our "Pops" orchestra under the direction of Dr. Jacob Chi. All this for a sellout crowd to start off the new concert season with a bang
After a spirited version of the overture to "Phantom of the Opera," the three guest artists took command of the stage with "Let Me Entertain You," from "Gypsy." And entertain they did. Ms. Egan belted out "Don't Rain On My Parade," followed by Ms. Horvath with her sparkling version of "I Could Have Danced All Night," from "My Fair Lady." Then rounding out the trio's medley, Ms. Benson gave us a notable performance of "Johnny One Note"
A great finale began with Ms. Horvath's rendition of "Love Changes Everything" and in a seamless fashion, Ms. Benson joined in, followed by Ms. Egan, rounding out a medley of love songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The three earned a spontaneous standing ovation. The three divas, each wearing a bright blue boa, blasted out an encore, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," made famous by The Supremes.
All in all, the three Broadway divas and the Pueblo "Pops" Orchestra provided us with a highly entertaining evening." Pueblo Symphony Orchestra