SYMPHONY REVIEW Musical theater comes to Powers

The Broadway divas gave a special Valentine's gift.
By JERRY STEPHENS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- Good things coming in threes? In the world of music, that's very often true.
Some of the best compositions are scored for three solo instruments. This idea has been carried over into concerts done by three singers. That really started with the very popular "Three Tenors" concerts of the past several years, and it was tried with limited success by other singers. Most of those acts didn't really last, but there was a winner Saturday at Edward W. Powers Auditorium.
These were three outstanding artists brought to Powers to sing with the Youngstown Symphony as a special Valentine's Day gift to the people of Youngstown. They were the Three Broadway Divas. Their names: Christiane Noll, Jan Horvath and Debbie Gravitte.
They are true stars with a set of impeccable Broadway musical credentials. Their vocal styles were those of the best traditions of the musical theater, and each one's style was well matched to her stage personality.
Acting abilities
The quality of their acting ability was noticeable even in a recital-type situation. In addition to the superb singing, their diction was very good. This is a definite plus, and it proved that good diction and good musical phrasing are not incompatible.
Two of the "divas" were trained at nearby institutions: Noll received her training at Carnegie Mellon University, and Horvath at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
I must confess that I lost touch with the Broadway musical scene after the 1960s, so some of what they sang was new to me.
The songs included "Let Me Entertain You" and "Some People" from Gypsy, Sweet Charity's "Hey Big Spender," "So In Love" from Kiss Me Kate, "All That Jazz" from Chicago and a new Andrew Lloyd Webber love trio, "Love Changes Everything," "Unexpected Song" and "I Don't Know How To Love Him."
Even though there were changes in the styles of the music reflecting the tastes of the times when the show was premiered, the theatrical techniques haven't really changed much at all.
Wide range
The musical numbers presented were from shows ranging from the 1930s to today. All were very good choices, and there wasn't anything that was less than outstanding. This music truly belongs to the people. The modern musical has taken the place of the "grand" opera of the 19th century, a time when composers such as Rossini and Verdi really concerned themselves with what would make a good theatrical presentation.
Did I have any favorites? Possibly those by Leonard Bernstein and Andrew Lloyd Weber. Bernstein's "West Side Story" has already appeared in the repertoire of some European opera houses. Lloyd Weber's works have suffered from overexposure and excessive popularity, but in time, they could gain the same respect as Bernstein's.
The Youngstown Symphony performed at its usual high level. I have heard, and have seen for myself, that it is one of the most adaptable ensembles to be found. The musicians were under the direction of guest conductor Donald Pippen, who is very experienced in the direction of musical theater orchestras. Those conductors usually work in obscurity, yet their skills are very important to the success of a production.