www.facebook.com/groups/160024457441608/permalink/1562230807220959/By Len Rausch
This past weekend, at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center in Dayton, OH, I was both thrilled, and honored, to be present for both of Jackie’s wonderful performances. As I left my home in VA last Thursday, for the 6-hour drive to Dayton, I was in full anticipation that Jackie’s performance with a full orchestra was going to be very special, indeed. And I couldn’t have been more correct, as Jackie ultimately proceeded to “bring the house down” during each of her fabulous shows.
The Meade Theatre at the Schuster Center, which seats ~ 2300, is by far, one of the most beautiful venues where I have been privileged to see Jackie perform. With three balcony levels above the orchestra floor, including private boxes along the perimeter, it is a marvel to experience. And Jackie brought out an impressive audience of at least 75-80% of capacity, by my best estimation, on both nights. My photos can easily confirm this. Under the baton of Maestro Neal Gittleman, now a 20 year veteran of the DPO, who BTW studied under Mlle. Nadia Boulanger at her school in Fontainebleau, France and at her home in Paris. The maestro announced, at the beginning of the program, that Jackie had been very gracious in offering to share the evening with the orchestra, and that they would be performing four independent pieces. It was noted that this was very much appreciated, bc most guest artists prefer to keep the entire evening only about themselves. Anyone, who has followed Jackie, found this kind offer from her to be exactly what would have been expected.
A few comments and observations:
- Jackie’s pianist and musical director, Peter Kiesewalter, was not present for these performances, as the DPO had their own pianist and the maestro fulfilled the music director role.
- The stage was decorated with a mix of floral arrangements, including a lovely massive vase of pink roses placed on Jackie’s water table.
- Dresses:
- 1st set - Basic black, full length gown w/ red floral pattern.
- 2nd set - Dazzling gold, full length gown, which always generates a response from the audience. (Jackie first wore this dress during the private, fund raising, concert in Key Largo, earlier this year.)
- While engaging the local patrons around me in conversation about Jackie, a few notable reactions were:
- “This is my first time to hear Jackie in person, and she is the totally “the real deal”!”
- “I cried throughout “How Great Thou Art!”
- “We attend concerts here regularly, and believe us, it is very rare that a performer receives even a single standing ovation!” (Jackie received at least four during each of her performances!)
- The gentleman sitting behind me was so excited at the end of one concert, that he started “High Fiving” me, in celebration. This was a first for me at a concert, but it was so much fun.
- During breakfast at the hotel on Sunday morning, the restaurant manager and waitress were both so excited to hear about Jackie, and all the details of her concert(s), that I was ~ 1 hour late in leaving the hotel. (BTW, they are now both very happy owners of their own “Two Hearts” CD’s.)
1st Set Song List:
- DPO Overture
- Lovers (Dream With Me CD)
- Somewhere (DWM CD)
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Songs From The Silver Screen CD)
- Ave Maria (Awakening CD)
- DPO Overture (“Mambo” from West Side Story)
> Included audience participation!
- When You Wish Upon a Star (From DWM CD)
- How Great Thou Art (Two Hearts CD)
> Standing O! (Lasted an extremely long time; wish I had actually timed it!)
- Think of Me (Awakening CD)
> Standing O!2nd Set Song List:
- DPO Overture (John Williams)
- Pure Imagination (SFTSS CD)
- Ombra mai fu (DWM CD)
- Imaginer (DWM CD)
- DPO Overture (Georges Bizet)
- The Way We Were (TH CD)
- The Music of The Night (SFTSS CD)
> Standing O!- O Mio Babbino Caro (DWM CD)
- Nessun Dorma (DWM CD)
> Standing O!> As always, the “Vincero” high note at the end sent the audience into a total frenzy!
Encore:
- The Lord’s Prayer (DWM CD)
> Standing O!In summary, Jackie’s performance with the full orchestra was so perfect, in all aspects, that it was as if they had been performing together for years! Shouts of "We love you, Jackie!" and “Bravo, Jackie!” could be heard from throughout the theatre, as Jackie made her final exit from the stage. And then, in what always seems like the blink of an eye, another exquisite evening of listening to Jackie’s amazing voice, in person, had come to an end. It was now time to reflect on what we had just experienced, and to begin dreaming about when that next concert opportunity might present itself. 😀
Thank you, and may God continue to bless you, Jackie!
Edit: I forgot to mark another Standing O!