REVIEW Guest conductor, vocalists liven up event at Stambaugh

The second half of the concert was filled with Broadway tunes.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- A gala event was held at Stambaugh Auditorium on Sunday to celebrate the newly restored and refurbished concert hall. The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra was conducted by guest artist Randall Craig Fleischer, and joined by three nationally renowned vocalists to present "The Big Sounds of Broadway."
The first half of the program consisted of light classical music, which, Maestro Fleischer explained, greatly influenced the development of Broadway music. His opening remarks included praise for the beautiful hall and wonderful symphony. The audience was charmed by Fleischer's wit and warmth and his masterful command of the orchestra.
Though he resides in California, his parents live in Canton and were present for the festivities, along with his wife and young daughter. Fleischer said he is considering the possibility of being a candidate for the position of music director of the orchestra. Isaiah Jackson is completing his final season as director of the Youngstown Symphony.
Because America is a melting pot of cultures, Fleischer chose classical music that represented different nationalities for this program.
"Hoedown," from the ballet "Rodeo" by American composer Aaron Copland, was the rousing opening piece, representing folk music and its influence on Broadway. Next, the overture from the opera "Carmen" by French composer Georges Bizet provided an example of the ties between opera and Broadway.
Contrast
A tender and gentle performance of Austrian composer Johann Strauss' "Blue Danube Waltz" followed, contrasting with the high energy "Russian Sailor's Dance" by Reinhold Gli & egrave;re. This dirge-like piece featured the cellos and basses in a dark Russian melody, brightening as the high strings and other instruments were added.
This piece also prompted Fleischer to share his touching experience at Red Square in Moscow, during the presidency of Boris Yeltsin. He conducted Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," played by two 80-piece Russian national bands and Washington's National Symphony Orchestra, surrounded by an audience of 80,000. He said tears streamed down his eyes as he shouted the command, and bells in all the churches in Moscow began to ring.
After the Gli & egrave;re, a jiglike piece with a nice string fugal section followed. "Irish Washerwoman" by LeRoy Anderson bridged the gap between classical and Broadway. This American composer is known for his work with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops.
Audience excitement continued to build and toes were tapping as the orchestra finished the first half of the concert with the rockabilly sound of "Rock This Town" by Stray Cats.
Second half
During the second half of the concert, the audience enjoyed a variety of Broadway tunes, made more delightful by the humor and energy of the three vocalists who sang together, and in duets and solos. Stephen Buntrock, who is the current Phantom (in "Phantom of the Opera") sang a passionate rendition of Lloyd-Webber's "Music of the Night." His numerous credits include his role as Curly in the recent Broadway revival of "Oklahoma," and his performance of "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" was heartwarming.
Jodi Benson's long list of credits include voices of animated characters for Disney, Warner Brothers and others. Her best-known role, however, is that of Ariel in "The Little Mermaid." The audience was thrilled to hear her sing "Part of Your World" from that film.
The flirty and vivacious Debbie Gravitte has appeared in numerous Broadway productions, and has sung with orchestras all over the world. She won a Tony Award for "Jerome Robbin's Broadway." She delighted the crowd with "Defying Gravity" from the current Broadway hit "Wicked" and her duet with Buntrock, "Anything You Can Do," was witty and humorous. The orchestra also performed the overture from "West Side Story" by Bernstein, with whom Fleischer studied in 1989.
XFor a list of all musical events at Stambaugh this season, call (330) 743- 2717.