YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY Christmas Pops show proves far from ordinary

Three guest artists worked well with the orchestra.
By JERRY STEPHENS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Christmas carols, "The Messiah," "Frosty the Snowman" -- the choices of music for Christmas concert programs seem unlimited. So much is out there that one could drop the titles into a hat, then take out enough at random to fill out the program. This is a problem that those creating a Christmas Pops program face. Something is needed to keep it from being ordinary.
Saturday's Christmas Pops program by Isaiah Jackson and the Youngstown Orchestra started out being ordinary. The orchestra's playing was up to its usual high standards, but the first four numbers played were, with the exception of "Troika" from Prokofiev's "Lt. Kije Suite," standard holiday fare.
Then the guest artists came on stage (accompanied by squeaking hinges), and the commonplace ceased being ordinary. These were the Broadway stars Jan Horvath, who is able to sing in both the Broadway and the concert/opera styles, Michael Maguire and Doug LeBrecque.
These artists have worked with the Youngstown Symphony before, and, in many little ways, it showed. They meshed with the orchestra so well that one could believe they were regular members rather than guest artists.
They started with a trio rendition of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," and with them in charge, it was. It may appear impossible to maintain a continuous high throughout an entire program, but they did just that. Naturally, there were quiet moments, but there were no low spots. The program was a good mix of both the familiar and the not so familiar. All were well done, but "O Holy Night" seemed to be over-arranged.
More than music
Not all of the show was singing. There was a reading of Clement Clarke Moore's "Twas the Night Before Christmas" (A Visit from St. Nicholas) in the original version with all the verses. This was done to a musical tone poem background that set it off very well.
In another mood, there was a real groaner, a "shaggy dog" introduction to "Winter Wonderland." The claim was presented in a serious mode that this was a recently discovered work by Mozart. The introduction was in a Classical Period quasi-Mozartian style, which then segued into a Mozartian rendition of "Winter Wonderland."
Gifts for audience
Other features included "Our Broadway Gift." In this, which was the artist's gift to the Youngstown audience, each sang a selection from his or her favorite shows. This was followed by an audience sing-along.
Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without Santa Claus. The "Jolly Old Elf" appeared after the intermission and talked to some young children. Then Horvath came onstage singing "Santa Baby." One could wish to be Santa Claus in that situation.
The program concluded with what could be the highlight of the evening, a hot Christmas number titled "Children Go Where I Send Thee," which was done by all three. It would seem that any encore to that would be anticlimactic, but it wasn't. It was "Let There be Peace on Earth," again done by all three.
When writing about such a concert, it is all too easy to fall into an "and then they sang or played this" mode. It was an evening well spent just listening to the ordinary being so exciting, and one could wish that there had been more "and then they sang."