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Post by robinb on Feb 1, 2019 23:21:50 GMT -5
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Post by dfwtexan42 on Feb 2, 2019 0:09:16 GMT -5
Just got back from the after concert get together with Mike and James. The deserts were great and Jackies concert even better! She opened strong with "Lovers" from House of Flying Daggers. The show was mostly the standard fare, with a medley and a few selections from "The Debut" The crowd was a bit restrained, but she got two standing ovations for the last number "Music of the Night, and encore, "Nessum Dorma". I had the honor of sitting next to a young couple new to Jackies career. They were suitably impressed and not at all surprised Jackie was heading in a Broadway direction. They definitely though she had the chops for it.
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Post by yellowstone2014 on Feb 2, 2019 3:20:05 GMT -5
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Post by yellowstone2014 on Feb 2, 2019 3:21:37 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 10:47:23 GMT -5
Nice review, but it's usually older men doing the reviews. It would be nice to see more women doing those reviews.
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Post by jamesn on Feb 2, 2019 10:48:44 GMT -5
Well, it's now the morning after, and before we hit the road for our next destination, I thought I'd write a brief rundown of events here in the Sunny South. Thursday started off cloudy, overcast, and cool but not really cold with temperatures in the 50's and 60's as Mike and I made the approximately three-hour drive from my home in northeast Texas south to Lufkin. Yesterday started off similarly cloudy but by afternoon it had cleared to glorious blue skies and for the first time in several days the sun shone forth and temperatures actually reached into the low 70's - perfect no doubt for snowbirds like Jackie & Company!
We joined Jerry (dfwtexan42) at Ralph & Kacoo's where we also met another old Jackie fan whose name I unfortunately do not now recall. (He joined us from his nearby table around the middle of our meal.) Around 6:45 we headed over to the venue which was filling up nicely. As curtain time approached we scanned the crowd for familiar faces, but alas saw no others; even the ubiquitous Len was absent and for the first time in memory there were NO flowers gracing Jackie's stage. As usual of late, Peter's piano was stage right directly in front of our new seats in A 20 & 21 with raised platforms across the back for a string octet that appeared to be made up of college students. There was also NO slide projection above the stage, only curtains featuring a red, white, and blue lighting pattern.
As time drew nigh Mike E. was plainly seen standing at either side of the stage. (When she appeared Jackie thanked him, her "best friend" - whose name I've unfortunately forgotten - and her NEW "friend" who was a male - wonder if that indicates a little Romance in the air?) The auditorium appeared to be nearly full, probably 90%, though as usual the crowd was mainly older folks like ourselves. Jerry had also moved from the balcony to about halfway down the lower level orchestra; I don't know where our other friend was. As usual there was an introduction and we learned the concert and in fact their whole season had been sponsored by local businesses.
Jackie appeared very casually and seemed quite at ease throughout. As usual there was a costume change between acts: for the first half she wore an apparently conservatively cut but short-skirted sparkly silver dress that was revealed to be BACKLESS coming down to her waist. Like the next one, it was covered in sequins (reminiscent of THE Dress of old) that changed colors under the lighting giving it a silver/red glow that was very stunning. During the twenty-minute intermission she changed to a long-sleeved but also tight-fitting apparently dark green sequined dress (Edit: seen in the photo above) that also looked glittery though darker under the lighting. (Both short dresses nicely showed off the curves Jackie supposedly feels uncomfortable with!) With the silvery first one, she wore black stiletto heels, while striking gold strappy heels were worn with the green.
As for the performance, unfortunately I didn't make a set list, so will confine myself to my overall impressions. As usual, the halves were broken by Peter's renditions of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro Overture, which in my estimation was the real show-stopper; and the Bizet Carmen piece. I was especially watching the two student violinists across from me who seemed to be having a great time, the young man sawing enthusiastically in the Mozart piece while his Asian-American partner smiled and laughed throughout! Unfortunately Peter's piano blocked the next two violinists but the others and the two cellists were basically dead-pan throughout the evening. Peter was his usual sartorially elegant self, wearing expensive tennis shoes, tight jeans, a tight-fitting shirt, loose-fitting vest, and topped off with a silly-looking porkpie hat he wore throughout.
The most interesting thing about the program was the inclusion of no less than three NEW numbers from the upcoming album; unfortunately I didn't get the names of the songs, but according to Jackie's introduction, one was from an adaptation of the movie Anastasia. Predictably, because I was pre-disposed to dislike it, the one I liked least was from Hamilton and is a sort of lament sung by Hamilton's daughter. Other than that one, I can assure Rick - though I realize it won't do any good! - that the other two are worthy to stand along with her other songs we treasure.
Speaking of that, the program opened with old favorites like Lovers, with Peter and the octet filling out the usual recorded background music, and soon included snippets from OMBC, WYWUAS, and others. The real surprise was the inclusion of Your Love from Awakening, the first time I believe I've heard it since Longwood. Unfortunately this geriatric crowd gave no SO's, not even to HGTA, though in true Texas fashion there was after it a LOT of appreciative yelling, whistling, and stomping as though we were attending a rodeo instead! Impossible Dream finished out the first set, dedicated as usual to Lisa. Other numbers given full-length treatment included Vincent/Starry, Starry Night, Over the Rainbow, and three from Phantom, Think of Me, WYWSHA again dedicated to Mike, and of course MOTN which closed the show, except for the encore of ND which was great as usual!
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Post by johnnyb on Feb 2, 2019 11:26:18 GMT -5
Thanks Jamesn, great honest review of the concert and much appreciated.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 14:16:02 GMT -5
A very good review Jamesn! Sounds like you had a great time! I actually gave you a WOW to boot which I rarely do.
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Post by jamesn on Feb 2, 2019 16:34:49 GMT -5
There are 2 violinist's in the thelufkinmews photo, so my assumption is a string Octet or Sextet. I have enough to make a WAG about the set list. Please reply if any corrections needed!
2019/02/01 - 17th Concert of Two Hearts Tour Conductor: Peter Kiesewalter - Piano and Keyboard Orchestra: String Octet (4 Violins, 2 Violas, 2 Cellos)
Lufkin, TX 7:30 PM CST Angelina Arts Alliance Temple Theater Set List: 01 Orchestra: Jackie's Intro 02. Lovers 03. Think Of Me 04. Medley of Jackie's Greatest Hits A. O Mio Babbino Caro B. Con Te Partiro C. Somewhere D. When You Wish Upon A Star E. The Prayer 05. Orchestra: Overture from Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" 06. Once Upon A December 07. All Of The Stars 08. The Impossible Dream Intermission 09. Burn (From Hamilton) 10. The Way We Were 11. Somewhere Over The Rainbow 12. Your Love 13. Orchestra: Interlude from Bizet's "Carmen" 14. How Great Thou Art 15. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again 16. Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) 17. Music Of The Night (SO) 18. Encore: Nessun Dorma (SO)
Edit: NOTE - According to the latest track list, she sang 3 songs from The Debut! 1. Burn (from Hamilton) 2. A Million Dreams (from Greatest Showman) 3. Falling Slowly (from Once) 4. Somewhere (from Westside Story) 5. Requiem (from Dear Evan Hansen) 6. Once Upon A December (from Anastasia) 7. I'm Not That Girl (from Wicked) 8. She Used To Be Mine (from Waitress) 9. Whispering (from Spring Awakening) 10.Another Day / No Day But Today (from Rent)
The only problem I see is All of the Stars which wasn't included; all the rest is I believe okay.
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Post by yellowstone2014 on Feb 2, 2019 16:49:57 GMT -5
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Post by Willyiam on Feb 2, 2019 18:49:54 GMT -5
There are 2 violinist's in the thelufkinmews photo, so my assumption is a string Octet or Sextet. I have enough to make a WAG about the set list. Please reply if any corrections needed!
2019/02/01 - 17th Concert of Two Hearts Tour Conductor: Peter Kiesewalter - Piano and Keyboard Orchestra: String Octet (4 Violins, 2 Violas, 2 Cellos)
Lufkin, TX 7:30 PM CST Angelina Arts Alliance Temple Theater Set List: 01 Orchestra: Jackie's Intro 02. Lovers 03. Think Of Me 04. Medley of Jackie's Greatest Hits A. O Mio Babbino Caro B. Con Te Partiro C. Somewhere D. When You Wish Upon A Star E. The Prayer 05. Orchestra: Overture from Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" 06. Once Upon A December 07. The Impossible Dream Intermission 08. Burn (From Hamilton) 09. The Way We Were 10. Somewhere Over The Rainbow 11. Your Love 12. Orchestra: Interlude from Bizet's "Carmen" 13. How Great Thou Art 14. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again 15. Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) 16. Music Of The Night (SO) 17. Encore: Nessun Dorma (SO)
Edit: NOTE - According to the latest track list, she sang 3 songs from The Debut! 1. Burn (from Hamilton) 2. A Million Dreams (from Greatest Showman) 3. Falling Slowly (from Once) 4. Somewhere (from Westside Story) 5. Requiem (from Dear Evan Hansen) 6. Once Upon A December (from Anastasia) 7. I'm Not That Girl (from Wicked) 8. She Used To Be Mine (from Waitress) 9. Whispering (from Spring Awakening) 10.Another Day / No Day But Today (from Rent)
All Of The Stars removed per jamesn!
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Post by jamesn on Feb 2, 2019 20:19:11 GMT -5
One aspect of Jackie's performance I meant to mention earlier was her increased use of emotive gestures and facial expressions, more appropriate to the interpretation of most of the songs she's now singing. There have also been slight changes of vocal emphasis on some words in familiar numbers. Of course her singing remains as excellent as ever, but there is a greater attempt at showing the emotion and power behind many numbers; rather than "mere" beautiful singing she seems to be reaching for something more appropriate for Broadway.
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Post by bastet on Feb 2, 2019 21:27:36 GMT -5
She has sung 'Somewhere' and 'Once upon a December' before at concerts.
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Post by yellowstone2014 on Feb 3, 2019 1:47:02 GMT -5
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Post by yellowstone2014 on Feb 3, 2019 3:18:23 GMT -5
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