Review: AUDRA McDONALD SINGS BROADWAY with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Is A Stunning Interpretation Of Beautiful Music
By: Jade Kops Nov. 07, 2015
Friday 6 November, 8pm, Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Sydney audiences were treated to a wonderful selection of music from shows from 1922 to 2010 as AUDRA McDONALD SINGS BROADWAY with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. With a repertoire ranging from sweet lullabies, powerful love songs, heart wrenching ballads, and comical compositions McDonald shares her own stories and connection to each of the carefully selected works.
Supported by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and McDonald's own band of Brian Hertz (Piano), Mark Vanderpoel (Bass) and Gene Lewin (Drums), under the baton of the energetic Musical Director, Andy Einhorn, Sydney's iconic concert hall is filled with music from the Great American Songbook to more modern works, including a piece by Australian Kate Miller-Heidke. The musical arrangements provide a wonderful backdrop to the vocals, and range from full orchestra to a piano duet from Einhorn and Hertz accompanying Rogers and Hart's I Wish I Were In Love Again and a Ukulele band supporting Porter's Let's Not Talk About Love.
Whilst the Programme sets out a song list, McDonald advises that this should be considered a 'suggestion' and it is clear that the changes have been made to best showcase her voice on the night. It also allows the McDonald to honour the WWII War Veteran she heard singing Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn's 1922 My Buddy. McDonald provides a personal connection for the inclusion most songs in the set list ensuring that this is more than just a "I'm going to sing a nice song" show. The audience get to see that McDonald is a Mother that worries that her career has made her miss moments with her daughter; understands love and relationships; is just like anyone else in the way she has been moved by world events; and is active in her support of changes to society. She also shares a playful nature with comic songs and rapid fire lyrics including an adaptation that honours her love of an American fast food chain. Most of the songs stand-alone outside of the musicals they are known for but for the ones that need context, McDonald provides a succinct background of musicals that aren't as well known.
It is refreshing to see that McDonald knows she does not need to resort to dress changes or gimmicks to keep the audience engaged, remaining on stage for the duration of the two acts, either standing or seated at the microphone. The emotion, warmth and texture that is injected into every work means that, whilst dressed elegantly in black, McDonald could be wearing a hessian bag and have the audience eating out of her hand. Well known standards have been given new arrangements to change tempo and phrasing and McDonald's breath control, restraint and choice 'float' phrases that are normally 'belted' gives the works a new meaning and allows them to be truly hers. She captures the hope, joy, suspense, mystique, yearning, longing and passion of the diverse song selection with an honesty and truth without any need to overact.
This is a fabulous night out where the audience is treated to beautiful music, enlightening stories and the sense that they have spent an evening with a new friend. Whilst this tour has completed, when Ms McDonald graces our shores again, definitely get a ticket.
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