A RODGERS and Hammerstein concert with enough songs to please everyone. Their genius-Richard Rodgers wrote the music, Oscar Hammerstein ll penned the lyrics-for musical plays are timeless.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the South Pacific production in Bristol last year and though here the ‘cast’ totalled just four voices, they showed their true colours as wonderfully talented artists in every number-too many to list-so I’ll pick a few highlights.
The BSO’s adaptability is always impressive and with conductor Pete Harrison’s lucidly set scenarios we had Annie Skates beautiful, heartfelt rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel, also placing plenty of emotion into the title song from The Sound of Music.
Scaling the heights from the same show with a rock-solid performance, Janet Mooney’s Climb Ev’ry Mountain was as magnificent as Mr Snow, from Carousel, was cute.
The lads-James Spilling and Stephen Weller- caught the comic core of South Pacific’s There is Nothin’ Like a Dame to perfection with a roving eye on those two beauties opposite! And as solos, Spilling’s Soliloquy from Carousel was touchingly sung; Weller’s smoothly attained high notes aptly evincing Oklahoma’s Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’.
Songs also from The King and I, a charming orchestral medley from the BSO along with superbly supportive playing, and one song from the film State Fair; It’s a Grand Night for Singing. That it was.
