Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Springfield, MA
February 13, 2016
by Eric Sutter
The celebration of the music of “Ol' Blue Eyes” was a huge
success. Sharp dressed vocalist Steve Lippia treated a fun audience to the
music of Frank Sinatra, under the direction of guest conductor Steve Sigmund. A
dramatic instrumental overture of Sinatra classics set the mood. The prelude of
strings, woodwinds, and horn section built a triad of sound to create a relaxed ambiance, bringing forth Lippia in fine form for "All or Nothing at
All."
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra was up to the task of
accompaniment for "I'll Be Seeing You" and "I'll Never Smile
Again." "Without A Song" had a galvanic effect as the horn
section gave it a blast. Lippia possessed a smooth flow and cool mannerism
while sharing interesting tidbits of information about Sinatra along the way.
His deep baritone commanded mightily on "One For My Baby", while the
genteel piano of Jeff Holmes played an enlivening compliment. A beautiful
rendition of "Old Man River" showcased the string section, producing
a swelling, layered effect of string sound, staggered in succession. Nice job!
Act 2 began with the familiar "I've Got You Under My
Skin,” featuring a crescendo of stringed gusto. The audience swooned to
"Summer Wind" and "Strangers In The Night" due to Lippia's
spot on vocals. The moody "Softly As I Leave You" delivered a
harmonic connection. Shifting sounds, the horn section hit hard in the middle
portion of "Fly Me To The Moon", as the woodwinds and percussion
competed to show their stuff. A suave treatment of Billy Joel's masterpiece
"Just the Way You Are" was met with approval, highlighting nice
changes in tempo and timbre. Conductor Sigmund conjured up perfectly timed horn
blasts for "Luck Be A Lady" to noticeable audience satisfaction. The
obligatory "My Way" was alive with Sinatra magic while a robust
"New York, New York" made for a light, playful finale.
