June 10th, 2010

Rodgers, Kern, Hammerstein, & Hart: American Masters Light Up Season Finale

It was a grand night for singing, Saturday, June 5, and the Duke Ellington Theatre in Georgetown reverberated with the sound of music as the Congressional Chorus and the American Youth Chorus concluded their 2009-10 season with a joint performance of choral works from American masters of the Broadway musical: Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers, and Lorenz Hart. The concert was made possible through the generous financial support of Bob Lemon.

The choruses thrilled an audience of parents, friends, and Broadway-musical lovers with songs from our best-loved Broadway shows and Hollywood films, including State Fair, Showboat, South Pacific, The King & I, Carousel, Oklahoma!, and The Sound of Music.  Well-known songs from lesser-known shows –  “They Didn’t Believe Me,” “With a Song in My Heart,” “All the Things You Are” – demonstrated the staying power of these perennial favorites.

In the two years since its founding, the American Youth Chorus has grown remarkably in musical ability and professional manner. The Junior Division charmed the audience with their renditions of “Dites-Moi,” from South Pacific, and “Getting to Know You,” from The King & I. The Senior Division presented an exuberant “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over,” from Carousel, as well as edgy, harmonic renditions of “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” from Roberta, and “My Funny Valentine,” from Babes in Arms.

A combined Youth Chorus performed a contrapuntal “Do-Re-Mi,” from The Sound of Music, that garnered cheers of appreciation, and Artistic Director David Simmons proudly announced that soloist Sarah Rosenberg has been selected to attend the Duke Ellington School of the Arts next term as a freshman.

Simmons also praised the Congressional Chorus for its remarkable versatility.  In the fall, the chorus performed dramatic contemporary arrangements of American folksongs and spirituals, in the spring staged a fully choreographed and costumed cabaret of pop tunes from the 1960s, and for this concert performed show-tune arrangements that included a gospel version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the lyric flights of “It Might As Well Be Spring,” and the triumphant sonorities of “Climb Every Mountain.”

Maestro Simmons thanked the audience for supporting the choruses at full houses and sold-out performances throughout the season, and reminded chorus and audience members alike that in parlous times of international crisis and economic uncertainly, such as we are experiencing currently, we are united by our love of singing and appreciation for the sound of music.