OBSERVER: An Evening on Broadway
In what was a thoroughly entertaining celebration of the Broadway musical, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s An Evening on Broadway at Hamer Hall was a resounding success.
Consisting of two halves, the first act had 10 musical theatre pieces followed by a second act consisting of nine pieces. Each half consisted of a mix of instrumental works accompanied by crowd favourites from a wide range of musicals mixed with some lesser known songs.
The list of famous composers and lyricists showcased on the evening included such luminaries as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Sondheim, Lloyd Webber and Lerner and Loewe while musicals such as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Evita and Cats, among others, were featured.
There were three purely instrumental pieces when the orchestra itself shone; otherwise the evening saw solos and duets sung by two Australian shining lights of the genre.
Those two shining lights were the magnificent Amy Manford (soprano) and Josh Piterman (tenor). Both world-class singers who have performed as principals in The Phantom of the Opera in London’s West End, they were clear evidence of the depth of talent Australia has.
In particular, Piterman, when he sang Bring Him Home from Les Miserables and Manford, when she sang Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from The Phantom of the Opera, touched hearts in the appreciative audience.
Critical to the success of the evening was the work of Jessica Gethin, credited as conductor and music director. She conducted the orchestra in a masterful way on the night. In addition, she made a significant contribution to the overall success of the concert through her curation of the works performed, proving herself to have a keen eye for a Broadway song.
A definitive crowd pleaser, An Evening on Broadway successfully demonstrated the MSO’s commitment to broaden the scope of its work and engage and delight a broader demographic of the Melbourne citizenry.
Review by Peter Murphy