Last weekend, Hamer Hall was brimmed with warm nostalgia as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra delivered an excellent tribute to legendary American composer and songwriter Burt Bacharach.
When the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra arrived at Hamer Hall to perform What The World Needs Now last weekend, they delivered a remarkable show that brought audiences back to the pleasant times of American pop music that thrived in the latter half of the 20th Century.
Presented by Ryman Healthcare, this tribute to the one and only Burt Bacharach was a performance that the legendary composer and songwriter himself would have been proud to see.
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From the get-go, the hall was met with magic when the orchestra played a beautiful overture to begin act one of the show. Conductor Leonard Weiss was in the podium for the evening, replacing Benjamin Northey who couldn’t make it due to illness. He and the rest of the band showcased brilliant synergy in blending woodwinds, percussion, keys and strings for an arrangement that perfectly prepared the audience for what was to come.
Afterwards, the stage was met with one sublime performance after another of Burt’s greatest hits that he composed with lyricist Hal David, as well as many other great musicians of their time, including songs like Always There To Remind Me, Alfie and Only Love Can Break A Heart.
One outstanding performance in particular was led by vocalists David Campbell and Caroline O’Connor who showcased a brilliant duet of I’ll Never Fall In Love Again. The two singers’ contrasting vocals were a great combo as they moved melodies with class and flair on top of a lively rendition of the instrumental played by the orchestra.
Another high point of the first act was Jess Hitchcock’s performance of Wives & Lovers. Jess stepped in to replace Emma Pask who was unable to perform due to illness. The Indigenous singer had no problem whatsoever connecting with the band, showcasing an impressive mezzo-soprano voice that brilliantly encapsulates the emotion of Hal David’s lyrics.
After the interval, David Campbell and the band brought out the second act with a powerful and heart-wrenching cover of God Give Me Strength. It would turn out to be a fitting beginning to a climactic latter half of the show.
Outside of the music itself, something worth mentioning is the stage presence that the cast members brought throughout the whole show. Clever banter, short anecdotes and intriguing facts about the American musician always had the crowd laughing and engaged between transitions to the next song.
This especially applies to vocalist Chantelle Ormandy, who revealed she had shared moments with Burt himself on several occasions. Her story ended up being a great precursor to an amazing duet with Caroline O’Connor of One Less Bell to Answer / A House is Not a Home. It was a gorgeous sight to behold, as both singers exchanged immaculate melodies and harmonies in the finest way possible.
The rest of the second act that followed was marvellous, as the crew and the orchestra carried the momentum and brought even more magic to renditions of Burt’s other hits such as On My Own, Falling Out Of Love and You’ll Never Get To Heaven If You Break My Heart.
Yet another memorable moment from the evening was the performance of Close To You by Thndo. Her stunning dress and a lush instrumental from the band were fitting pillars for an extraordinary vocal demonstration from the singer. Full of burning passion and emotion, it was majestic from start to finish!
In the end, everything culminated into glorious final when all 4 main vocalists took the stage together for one last time and did a harmonious triple sing along to What The World Needs Now Is Love, That’s What Friends Are For and Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head. Everyone on stage were given their credits, before the orchestra gorgeously crescendoed to a stinger that wonderfully concluded the evening.
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