Arlo Guthrie
Symphony Hall
Springfield
November 17
By Eric Sutter
The opening Springfield Pops concert with Arlo Guthrie and the Symphony Orchestra was well done with the help of guest conductor John Nardolillo who recorded with Guthrie on his 2006 CD, "In Times Like These" with the University of Kentucky's Symphony Orchestra. Nardolillo opened with a lush Gershwin's "American in Paris" to great effect. The Symphony added new dimensions to Guthrie's songs providing appropriate shadows or light to the folk gospel "Last Train" and the harmonica and guitar based, "Darkest Hour." They strolled through a traditional reading of "St. James Infirmary" with a horn drenched funeral march and Guthrie's ragtimey fingerpicking guitar. The ballad, "Last To Leave" featured Guthrie on piano and majestic swelling chords for maximum impact. The strings of the orchestra complemented his folk-pop style admirably. He finished the first half with the ticklish delight of a nameless ragtime piano piece.
After a brief intermission, Guthrie opened with his epic song, "Alice's Restaurant" the classic anti-Establishment folk song that helped define the Woodstock era and launched him to the forefront of the anti-war movement. The year 2007 officially marks the 40th anniversary of the "Alice's Restaurant" recording and has become not only and anti-war anthem but a Thanksgiving anthem as well. With Guthrie on piano, the "City of New Orleans" was performed, happily it's rails made new with brass and strings from the orchestra. His love ballad to his wife of 39 years, "You Are The Song" was rendered with affection. With an accompanied monologue, he followed with the title cut of his latest CD, "In Times Like These" which is about the Katrina disaster. The inevitable "This Land is Your Land" became an audience sing-a-long. Woody Guthrie's "My Peace" was in good hands with Arlo's cover. Guthrie shared a heartfelt childhood story about his father's friend, Lead Belly which set up the finale, an audience sing-a-long "Good Night Irene."
Springfield
November 17
By Eric Sutter
The opening Springfield Pops concert with Arlo Guthrie and the Symphony Orchestra was well done with the help of guest conductor John Nardolillo who recorded with Guthrie on his 2006 CD, "In Times Like These" with the University of Kentucky's Symphony Orchestra. Nardolillo opened with a lush Gershwin's "American in Paris" to great effect. The Symphony added new dimensions to Guthrie's songs providing appropriate shadows or light to the folk gospel "Last Train" and the harmonica and guitar based, "Darkest Hour." They strolled through a traditional reading of "St. James Infirmary" with a horn drenched funeral march and Guthrie's ragtimey fingerpicking guitar. The ballad, "Last To Leave" featured Guthrie on piano and majestic swelling chords for maximum impact. The strings of the orchestra complemented his folk-pop style admirably. He finished the first half with the ticklish delight of a nameless ragtime piano piece.
After a brief intermission, Guthrie opened with his epic song, "Alice's Restaurant" the classic anti-Establishment folk song that helped define the Woodstock era and launched him to the forefront of the anti-war movement. The year 2007 officially marks the 40th anniversary of the "Alice's Restaurant" recording and has become not only and anti-war anthem but a Thanksgiving anthem as well. With Guthrie on piano, the "City of New Orleans" was performed, happily it's rails made new with brass and strings from the orchestra. His love ballad to his wife of 39 years, "You Are The Song" was rendered with affection. With an accompanied monologue, he followed with the title cut of his latest CD, "In Times Like These" which is about the Katrina disaster. The inevitable "This Land is Your Land" became an audience sing-a-long. Woody Guthrie's "My Peace" was in good hands with Arlo's cover. Guthrie shared a heartfelt childhood story about his father's friend, Lead Belly which set up the finale, an audience sing-a-long "Good Night Irene."
Labels: arlo guthrie, greater springfield, music, symphony hall
