LOS ANGELES, CA -
West Coast Singer's seasonal offering "Evergreen: Hope and Renewal for the Holidays" was a festive reminder
of the indulgences that make this time of year so
popular.
With but a few exceptions, the evening's repertoire
steered clear of traditional holiday music and instead
presented several new works and lesser known pieces.
In his sophomore turn as West Coast Singer's Artistic
Director, Karlan Judd continues to challenge this group with dynamic results.
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Starting off the evening was the darkly festive
"Masters In This Hall" which immediately set the bar and tone for a promising concert. Composer David Frank Long
was introduced out of the audience before the men performed his arrangement of "A New December."
In showbiz there is an old adage warning against performing opposite scene stealing children or animals.
Well, perhaps snow should be added to that list. Snow lightly falling directly behind the chorus during "The
Snow Begins To Fall" was a wonderful effect and even some of the singers later commented that they had to
fight the urge to turn around and watch the snow themselves.
Written specifically for the West Coast Singers, "What A Gay Ol' Christmas Tree" was a fun look at guilty
pleasures. Narrator, Mark Packer, led the song with the youthful and polished savvy of Mickey Rooney.
Performed in the second half of this concert was a haunting piece which simply enchanted. "Sacred Places",
an three part women's arrangement, was executed with such exquisite power that it truly held the audience in
its spell.
An easy favorite was "Parking Spaces" or the trials and rewards of hunting down a parking spot during the
holiday season. Assistant Director and Accompanist, Patty Breitag, put
together an excellent quartet to accompany the Singers during the show. Their solid performance only added to
what was already an excellent evening. - Ruston Harker
Visit the
West Coast Singers' website.
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