Saturday, December 11, 1999
Pops, local talent delight in spirited holiday show
BY JANELLE GELFAND
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It seems like only yesterday when Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops packed Music Hall's stage with an abundance of local talent for a Thanksgiving show.
Although the music and most of the acts have changed, the formula worked for Mr. Kunzel's holiday extravaganza Friday night. The Thanksgiving show became a PBS-TV special; this one is slated to be Mr. Kunzel's second Christmas album for Telarc.
With a near-capacity audience decked in holiday attire and Music Hall grand in its greenery, it was a festive and traditional evening. The hall became a wonderland of sparkly lights during the music to “O' Tannenbaum” — but it was the Indiana University Singing Hoosiers who put real sparkle into this show with their exuberant singing and dancing.
The Singing Hoosiers, directed by Michael Schwartzkopf, are old friends of the Pops, having made five albums with Mr. Kunzel. They are remarkably professional, singing with a wonderful blend and hoofing their way through intricate steps with perfect timing.
They flanked the orchestra on divided risers, and a dance ensemble waltzed and swirled through numbers such as “Hail to Christmas” from Babes in Toyland, or “We Need a Little Christmas” from Mame. In their most entertaining moments, they danced a roaring-'20s routine while singing “It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” and whooped it up in a roof-raising, gospel-style “Go Tell It On the Mountain.”
In the first half, a medley of carols was the vehicle for the School for Creative and Performing Arts Children's Choir (directed by Laurie Wyant) and the Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church Handbell Choir (directed by Richard Bowen).
The handbells chimed gently, while the Children's Choir excelled at jazzing things up — causing them go out of synch with the orchestra a few times. They charmed in “Precious Moments” from Home Alone. Charlie Brown's “Christmas Time is Here” was also winning, and Mr. Kunzel added swagger to the Vince Guaraldi tune.
In between vocal numbers, the Pops sounded top-notch. Trumpeter Chris Kiradjieff shone in a Hanukkah medley that opened the show.
Two soloists joined the Pops (although they'll be replaced on the CD by Peabo Bryson and others). IU grad Steven Morgan, soloist in “Silver Bells,” impressed with his range and a voice perfectly suited to the theater. Baritone Michael Gough, unfortunately failed to communicate any sense of style in Mel Torme's “The Christmas Song,” and slid off-key in other numbers.
It wouldn't be a Pops show without the Cincinnati Studio Cloggers. Dressed in green sequins, they brought down the house of 3,226 with an energetic “Jingle Bell Rock.”
The Pops repeats at 8 p.m. tonight. Tickets: 381-3300.
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