Most of us instantly recognize the first few notes of songs from many Academy Award winning films.
The melancholy longing of Moon River as Audrey Hepburn's "Holly Go Lightly" stares into a Tiffany window display after a night out, not wanting to go home. Somewhere Over The Rainbow where Dorothy dreams about a world far beyond her Kansas farm. The first few notes of the theme song from Chariots of Fire has played through everyone's head at one time or another.....instantly recognizable and quietly uplifting.
Many of these beautiful compositions were brought to life by the Las Vegas Philharmonic last Saturday night at Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, their resident venue for a year now. It was a one night only event. I like these. They can be very special because there is certainly no trace of monotony in the performance like there can be in long running shows. This orchestra did not disappoint!
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| A few of the members of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Courtesy of Jennifer Scott. |
For me, two of the best of the night were Let The River Run, from "Working Girl", and the Theme from Rocky, (every underdog's victory anthem). I forget how amazing this composition is on its own even without the visual of Sylvester Stallone running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
However, the tears came quickly to Unchained Melody and My Heart Will Go On, thinking of the recent loss of my mother, and my father's daily struggle to carry on without her as the date for their 50th anniversary approaches.
Nat Chandler and Teri Dale Hansen rounded out the experience with superior vocals. The songs varied greatly in style and era, and on top of that Reynolds Hall is huge, so that's no easy feat!
The final event of the Las Vegas Philharmonic season is "Celestial Bodies", May 4.
POPS IV
Lights, Camera, The Oscars!
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| Guest Conductor Randall Craig Fleischer |
Guest artists:Teri Dale Hansen, Soprano
Nat Chandler, Baritone
Tara's Theme, Gone With The Wind............................Max Steiner, Arr. Frank Campbell
The Trolley Song, Meet Me in St. Louis.......................Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin, Arr. Wayne Barker
The Way You Look Tonight, Swing Time......................Jerome Kern, Arr. Wayne Barker
I've Got You Under My Skin, Born to Dance................Cole Porter, Arr. Wayne Barker
Over the Rainbow, Wizard of Oz..................................Harold Arlen, Arr. Richard Hayman
Evita Highlights............................................................Andrew Lloyd Weber, Arr. Calvin Custer
Don't Rain on My Parade, Funny Girl..........................Jule Styne, Arr. Richard Hayman
Gigi, from Gigi.............................................................Frederick Lowe, Arr. John Russo
A Whole New World, Aladdin.......................................Alan Menken, Arr. Danny Troob
Let The River Run, Working Girl.................................Carly Simon, Arr. Rick Bassett
Tribute to John Williams...(Star Wars/Jaws/Superman/Harry Potter).......John Williams
Moon River, Breakfast at Tiffany's...............................Henry Mancini, Arr. Wayne Barker
The Days of Wine and Roses, (song same)................Henry Mancini, Arr. Richard Hayman
Victor Victoria Medley..................................................Henry Mancini
Chariots of Fire...........................................................Vengelis, Arr. Jim Riley
Rocky Highlights..........................................................Bill Conti, Arr. Robert Lowden
Unchained Melody, Ghost...........................................Alex North, Hy Zaret, Arr. Eric Walton
My Heart Will Go On, Titanic.......................................James Horner, Arr. Wayne Barker
(I've Had) The Time of my Life, Dirty Dancing.............Previte, DeNicola, Markowitz, Arr. Joseph Joubert
Presented by Friends of the Las Vegas Philharmonic
Las Vegas Philharmonic Fanfare 2012...
Sampler from YouTube Channel lvphilvideos
Sampler from YouTube Channel lvphilvideos
All photos provided by the Las Vegas Philharmonic
Excerpt from LVPhil.org below
About Us
On July 4th, 1998, the Las Vegas Philharmonic launched its classical
music presence in Southern Nevada, bringing a refined new cultural
dimension to the city. The presentation of five Masterworks Series
concerts and four Pops Series concerts in Reynolds Hall at The Smith
Center for the Performing Arts October 2012 through May 2013 will be the
orchestra's first full season in the new venue, which opened in March
2012, as its resident orchestra, and connotes another important
milestone in the continued growth of the organization.
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