WASHINGTON, IL --- The Heartland Festival Orchestra never fails to amaze by coming up with different and classy shows. This time its traditional New Years concert on Jan. 11 at Five Points auditorium focused on the best of Broadway musicals, spiced with three terrific, professional soloists.
Morgan James, a beautiful woman with a fabulous voice wowed the audience. Don Domenech was also fine, as was LaKisha Jones. Their renditions of familiar show tunes, backed by a full orchestra, made for lush sounds and an entertaining concert.
Is the music from The Phantom of the Opera as good as the music of Bach or Beethoven? Probably not, but it's fun when performed by a strong orchestra and soloists that can handle it.
The traditional concluding number this time was Age of Aquarius from Hair, with the soloists in '60s costumes, backed by a chorus, also dressed for the song. Then down came the balloons, another tradition of this concert.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Comments