YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY Concert celebrates various holidays

Included are sacred and secular songs.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Isaiah Jackson, will present a concert to celebrate the season. "Bravo Holidays!" features three well-known Broadway stars as guest vocalists, and lots of familiar tunes.
"What I like about this concert is that it combines music from so many traditions: Christmas, both sacred and secular, Hanukkah, and Western art music," he said. "And many of these pieces bring back particularly fond memories from my childhood."
"O, Holy Night" is both a well-known sacred and classical tune. "My consciousness and understanding of this song has grown over a period of decades since I have been performing it," said Jackson. "It comes from the French Catholic tradition -- that dotted/triplet rhythm -- and evokes the essence of midnight and magic of the season."
As for secular favorites, Jackson cites "White Christmas" and memories of visiting his aunt in New York's Greenwich Village. "Half a century ago, we would visit her at Christmas," Jackson said. "There was an old movie theater there, similar to Powers. I saw the movie 'White Christmas' there and thought it was most beautiful. It filled a particular niche for me when I was just a little guy."
Hanukkah music
Included in the concert will be a song called "O, Hanukkah," and Jackson said he has always had a particular interest in this holiday from the Judeo-Christian tradition that many people share. "What is interesting is that in every culture, including pagan, there has always been a festival celebrating the return of light," he said.
Some of the classical pieces included in the concert are "Trepak" from "The Nutcracker," and "Troika," from Prokofiev's "Lt. Kije." (A troika is a type of Russian carriage drawn by three horses.) Other pieces on the program include "Let it Snow," "Winter Wonderland," "Sleigh Ride" and selections from some musicals.
Vocalists
The three guest vocalists all have impressive credentials.
Jan Horvath was part of the original Broadway production of "The Phantom of the Opera," along with numerous other hits. She also played Grizabella in the National Touring Company of "Cats." She has performed as soloist with over 100 orchestras, in addition to working with stars such as Marvin Hamlisch and Doc Severinsen.
Doug LaBrecque has performed many leading and featured roles on and off Broadway, including the "Oscar Hammerstein's 100th Birthday Celebration," and a national tour of "Les Mis & eacute;rables." He also appeared in the world premiere of Harnick and Raposo's "A Wonderful Life." In addition, he has performed with numerous national and international orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra and the Korean National Symphony.
Michael McGuire has a widely varied and successful career, as a TV actor, soloist -- he sung with over 120 orchestras -- and even as a former Wall Street broker. He won a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Theater World Award for his role in the original Broadway production of "Les Mis & eacute;rables," as Enjolras. He will narrate "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" at the YSO concert.
The concert takes place at Powers Auditorium at 8 p.m. Saturday. For tickets, call (330) 744-0264.