Maestro Muspratt proves: the beauty of music will save the world
“Beauty will save the world,” said famous Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky. I would rephrase it: the beauty of music will save the world. I feel this way after attending a brilliant performance by the New Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Muspratt, a great musician, conductor and persona. Joined by Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus and soloists Alisa Jordheim (lyric coloratura soprano), Jesse Donner (tenor), Kate Tombaugh (mezzo-soprano) and Thomas Meglioranza (baritone), this great orchestra presented a delightful concert program called “The Best of Broadway” on Saturday, October 21 and on Sunday, October 22 at the spectacular McAninch Arts Center (MAC) in Glen Ellyn.
Founded in 1977, the New Philharmonic is the MAC’s own professional orchestra and the only professional orchestra based in DuPage County. It numbers approximately sixty players and performs for audiences of one thousand five hundred people per engagement in the beautiful McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. Under the direction of music director and conductor Kirk Muspratt, the New Philharmonic Orchestra has been named the recipient of the 2017 Illinois Council of Orchestras’ “Professional Orchestra of the Year” Award. This is the orchestra’s second award of this kind.
“The Best of Broadway” concert program demonstrated all the beauty and harmony of a carefully chosen ensemble of the orchestra, conductor, chorus and the soloists. Musicals are thought to be a light and entertaining genre, but each of the songs of this concert’s repertoire was deep and meaningful. The singers, the chorus and the orchestra members impressed the audience with their high professionalism and bright emotions that reflected the mood of each piece.
At first, “The Carousel Waltz” from Rodgers and Hammerstein's “Carousel” swirled the audience on the waves of its beautiful melody. The men from the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus added some humor to this concert program by performing “There is nothin’ like a dame” from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific”. Then the sounds of Alisa Jordheim’s voice delighted the audience. Her tender lyric coloratura soprano embraced the audience while she was performing the song “Wonderful Guy” from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific”. Baritone Thomas Meglioranza swathed everyone’s heart with the velvet tones of his voice performing “Some enchanted evening” also from “South Pacific”.
The song “I Have Dreamed” from “The King and I” became another gem of that evening of musicals. Presented by mezzo-soprano Kate Tombaugh and baritone Thomas Meglioranza, it demonstrates all the beauty of this duet – Kate’s solid and beautiful voice complemented the strong, yet tender voice of Thomas. Another highlight of this concert program became the song “Climb every mountain” from “Sound of Music” where all four soloists and the chorus impressed the audience not only with the powerful words of this song, but also with their brilliant presentation of it.
The tenderness of the soprano and tenor duet performing “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful” from Rodgers and Hammerstein's “Cinderella” warmed up the hearts of the audience members. Alisa Jordheim and Jesse Donner sounded great together. The song “Oklahoma!” from the musical of the same title performed by all four soloists, orchestra and chorus ended the first part of that beautiful concert program.
The second half of the concert presented the music of famous English composer and impresario of musical theatre Andrew Lloyd Webber. The sincere and emotional performance of “Don’t cry for me, Argentina” presented by mezzo-soprano Kate Tombaugh touched everyone’s heart. “Starlight Sequence” from “Starlight Express” demonstrated all the beauty of a male duet – tenor Jesse Donner and baritone Thomas Meglioranza. These two highly professional and skillful singers showed the depth and the strength of their voices, which complemented each other and pleased the audience with their tender and sincere notes.
Several more masterpieces of this great British composer delighted the public during this unforgettable concert program with the beloved sounds of everyone’s favorites. Each of them was warmly welcomed by the audience and followed by a round of applause. These iconic songs from well-loved musicals brought together these extraordinary guest vocalists, the one hundred-voice chorus and the orchestra under the brilliant direction of Maestro Muspratt. The magic of music lit up that rainy October weekend with the sounds of love, happiness and hope.
After attending this concert program presented by Maestro Muspratt I feel that the world is in good hands. If people like Maestro Muspratt, the members of the New Philharmonic Orchestra, the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus and talented soloists Alisa Jordheim, Jesse Donner, Kate Tombaugh and Thomas Meglioranza could come together and present to the world this beauty, it means we still have hope. Hope that the beauty of music will save the world.
Natalia Dagenhart