Jan. 30, 2019 | Xiaohua Li
Harrisburg, Pa
The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra was drumming up its pops series with a concert performance to salute the two most successful Broadway composers Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Forum Auditorium Jan. 26, 2019, joined with three star vocalists to sing mega-hit songs.
The three Broadway vocalists were Debbie Gravitte, Hugh Panaro and Scarlett Strallen. They sang 14 songs in turns, or pairs or altogether from 8:10 p.m. up till 10:03 p.m.
As the only male vocalist, Hugh Panaro constantly went on stage to perform during the show. His strength and solid performance won the most enthusiastic applause from the audience.
In the music industry, Panaro is best known for having played the Phantom in Broadway’s “The Phantom of the Opera” over 2,000 times, including the 25th Anniversary production.
Gravitte is one of Broadway’s biggest personalities. She won the prestigious Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Strallen has starred in productions on Broadway, London’s West End, and is a frequent soloist on the concert stage. During the concert, she announced her pregnancy with happiness, the audience responded with applause and blessings.
A giant spotlight hit the stage, precisely fell onto the three Broadway vocalists singing with a microphone while rushing into the scene.
The light was blinding, and the audience was perfectly attracted to it. People staring at the stage, listening and watching the three vocalists as the spotlight followed them from time to time throughout the show.
“Since I was a young boy, I've always loved music of Broadway, and our January Pops presents the very best of two of the greatest Broadway songwriters, from America, Stephen Sondheim and the other side of the Atlantic, Andrew Lloyd Webber"
"These two gentlemen combine incredible songs and incredible shows like Memory from ‘Cats’ or Send In the Clowns from ‘A Little Night Music’,” Malina said.
The concert was held at 8 p.m. The weather was cold and dry, with chilly gusts of wind and a dull sky. Starting from 7:30 p.m. at the empty streets next to the Forum, guests held hands, strolled to the auditorium before an usher dressed as a five-star-hotel doorman greeted them to the warm entrance hall and lobby.
The show was sold out. The seating capacity was over 1,700 for all three levels inside the auditorium. When looked into the stands, blurred figures filled up to the highest seats. Some phones raised, taking picture after picture. The sound of greetings and excitement was magnified in the huge space.
The HSO musicians were already on the stage, with their instruments, love of music and skills. They were eagerly practicing and tuning up for tonight’s performance. Purple and red beams shoot over, the show started at 8:02 p.m.
The Pops series performed at the Forum has four concerts throughout the season, and each concert is performed twice. The Pops series brings contemporary and popular works to the symphony.
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