Songs of Bernadette
(first published in the Cincinnati Enquirer)
Guest artist with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, she brought Louise (“Gypsy”), Sally (“Follies”), Nellie (“South Pacific”), Carrie (“Carousel”) and Little Red Ridinghood (“Into the Woods”) with her, along with a songbook from the Great White Way.
Conductor John Morris Russell led the Pops-only first half, with selections that were thematic, seasonal, timely and just downright clever, including an “arrangement” of Leroy Anderson’s “The Typewriter” for laptop computer.
Peters was introduced by her longtime conductor/collaborator, Marvin Laird, who led the Pops from the piano. She emerged, mike in hand, in a sparkly, slit-up-the-front violet gown, drawing a big hand from the crowd. Then it was one deftly painted lyric after another, whether cast in soft confidential tones, as in “No One is Alone” (“Into the Woods”) – kudos to Pops cellist Dan Culnan for his eloquent solos -- or full belt, as in “Being Alive” (“Company”).
Many of her numbers were presented like scenes from a theatrical production. She sang “There is Nothing Like a Dame” (“South Pacific”) coolly at first, then broke into full throttle jazz under bright, hot lights. She made a flirty excursion into the audience via steps at the edge of the stage, then returned center stage, where she ended the song by taking her voice from low and guttural (well beneath her range) to topmost high, capped by a bright orange flash of light. “Johanna” (“Sweeney Todd”) began under blood-red lighting, with a dramatic introduction by the Pops’ Julie Spangler at the organ, and there were shafts of brilliant yellow light as Peters sang of Johanna’s “yellow hair.”
In addition to Sondheim (with whom Peters is closely identified), Peters sang selections from Rodgers and Hammerstein, Walt Disney and Little Willie John. She was an engaging Carrie Pipperidge in “Mr. Snow” (“Carousel”) and Jiminy Cricket and Cinderella in “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” (“Pinocchio” and “Cinderella”). Little Willie John’s hit song “Fever” (immortalized by Peggy Lee) was sung reclining sexily on Laird’s grand piano, with the Pops’ Matt Zory providing a slinky accompaniment on double bass.
There was virtuosity in what Peters sang, exemplified spectacularly by “You Would Drive a Person Crazy” (“Company”), a patter song, with interpolated hoots and gargles. There was also touching simplicity, as in “Children Will Listen” (“Into the Woods”), sung under cool, blue-green lighting, with Laird at the piano. She got one of the biggest hands of the evening with “It’s Like I’m Losing My Mind” (“Follies”), sung at a hyper-emotional pitch, with soaring high notes.
After a big finish on Sondheim’s “Being Alive,” she encored with her own “Kramer’s Song,” a lullaby written for her children’s book “Broadway Barks,” honoring her dog Kramer.
Russell, who has the Pops performing at the top of its game, opened the first half with a Gershwin medley. He furthered the Broadway theme -- and also honored Dick Clark, who died April 18 -- with Symphonic Impressions from Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man.” He positioned the brasses in the middle of the orchestra (with the woodwinds on the right, behind the violas and cellos) to achieve a glowing, unified brass sound. There was “Morning” from Grieg’s “Peer Gynt” in honor of Earth Day (April 22) and a “world record” “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Rimsky-Korsakov, taken at supersonic speed. Russell “played” a laptop, complete with cyber sounds and great mugging, and to close the first half, he led a lovely, Celtic-flavored performance of “My Heart Will Go On” in honor of the musicians who died on the Titanic (100 years ago April 15).
The concert repeats at 8 p.m. tonight, 2 p.m. Sunday at Music Hall. Tickets begin at $25 for adults. Students and children are $20. Call (513) 381-3300, or visit www.cincinnatipops.org