BWW Reviews: GOTTA DANCE at SF Symphony

San Francisco announced its new season recently, including the continuation of its film series with another John Williams favorite, ET, the reprise of Vertigo, and two Christmas classics - one a musical - Nightmare Before Christmas and It's A Wonderful Life. But Saturday night saw something more familiar to BroadwayWorld's favorite subject: musical theatre

With only one film concert left next month, the Symphony brought the sound of tap dancing and the silence of outer space to Davies Symphony Hall. Host John Goberman took his audience through the golden age of film and song, providing fun facts about featured movies Singin' in the Rain - the rain is laced with milk for visibility - and Gershwin's American in Paris. No one seemed to mind Gene Kelly's strong presence throughout many of the concert's clips. No doubt, the actor's charisma played a major role in Hollywood's golden age.

Other selections included the Broadway musical-based Brigadoon and the overture of My Fair Lady, while non-musical highlights included the original and fast-paced waltz from Madame Bovary, as well as the "Waltz of the Spaceships" from 2001: Space Odyssey. With the concert titled "Gotta Dance," the latter two unconventional pieces made for an even more exciting and unexpected evening.

The true highlight of the performance, however, was young and good-looking conductor Joshua Gersen's passionate lead of a fairly stiff symphony. One can only hope to see more of him in San Francisco's future.

The Symphony concludes its film concert season April 25 with the unique scores of Tan Dun from martial arts films Hero, The Banquet and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Give the drama and cultural ties of these selections, audiences can expect a treat that will likely include new instruments and a stretch in style for the artists on stage. Learn more at www.sfsymphony.org.

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