THE BASICS: Starring in television’s “Glee” as high school music teacher “Mr. Schue,” Matthew Morrison sang from the “Great American Songbook” accompanied by a jazz combo, including pianist Brad Ellis, embedded in the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on stage at Kleinhans Music Hall, one night only, Saturday, September
REVIEW: The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s Pops Season got off to a high energy start with John Morris Russell bounding on stage to face the audience from the podium as he conducted the Canadian national anthem followed by “The Star Spangled Banner.” Then the energy started to drain with a fanfare called “The Launch” written by Hollywood composer Pete Anthony to commemorate Maestro Russell’s taking over the prestigious job as conductor of the legendary Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Unfortunately, it was rather predictable in form and thin in orchestration and certainly a third rate effort compared to great fanfares composed by, say, John Williams, John Adams, or Aaron Copland.
Once that was done, Matthew Morrison introduced himself, offstage, while using the microphone as if he were the late, great SNL announcer Don Pardo. Like most of Morrison’s shtick/patter/routine it was almost there, but not quite. About a year ago PBS broadcast a one-man special with Matthew Morrison, and the live show at Kleinhans seemed like Déjà vu all over again. The talk in between the songs went on too long, seemed unfocused and rambling, and too many times Morrison lowered the mic so that most of us couldn’t really hear what he was saying to either Russell or Ellis.
However, the singing and dancing, which are the important elements, were at a very high level. Morrison is very thin and very lithe and can move around and even off the stage with cat-like grace. He won the audience over right away with Rodgers and Hart’s “The Lady is a Tramp” (from the 1937 “Babes in Arms”) changing some lyrics to recognize the Buffalo Bills and Jim Kelly. And, yes, when he said that he had been to the Anchor Bar he said he ate “wings” and not “Buffalo wings” which is the shibboleth of the outsider.
Lerner and Loewe’s “On the Street Where You Live” and “As Long as (S)he Needs Me” from Oliver! were passable. The low points of the evening were not Morrison’s fault, though. After a fairly good introduction to a medley from “West Side Story” in which Morrison confessed that while he had been cast as gang member Arab, he yearned to be Riff, or Tony, or even Anita, the orchestration was not just thin and repetitive, it was downright annoying. This happened again after intermission with “Luck Be a Lady Tonight.” Folks, when you’ve got the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra as your back up band, give them something good to play.
The concert finally redeemed itself at the end with a superb rendition of Ellington’s “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” which had the brilliant Brad Ellis introduce the song on the piano, quickly joined by the BPO’s top-of-their-game trombone section. Things picked up for a few more songs, ending with Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” as the encore.
The audience seemed happy and they wanted that encore, but only one. There were many younger people (I’d say under 16 years old) in the audience, no doubt attracted by the television show, but I wonder what affinity they have for the “Great American Songbook.” I can say this: the orchestra seemed to enjoy the concert. Those folks in the tuxedos are hardened professionals. If they don’t like you, they play the music like the pros they are, but they put on their stone faces. That wasn’t the case here. They were smiling and applauding (or waving their violin bows, which is orchestra speak for applause).
The next BPO pops concerts are entitled “The Hit Men: Former Members of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons” and those concerts are Friday Morning, October 24th at 10:30am and Saturday evening, October 25th at 8:00pm.