A Sleigh Ride Through the Great American Songbook
Shana Farr and Steve Ross at St. John’s in the Village – Father Graham Napier
It’s “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Farr and Ross sing in the brightest of spirit. It’s the hap-happiest season of all… (George Pyle/ Edward Pola). At a time overflowing with seasonal concerts, this one may be the most sophisticated and urbane.
“There are stories,” Ross begins… One hot August day in Los Angeles, Sammy Cahn wanted to go to the beach. Collaborator Jule Styne said, “I have a better idea, let’s write a Christmas song.” The result? “Let It Snow.”
Irving Berlin stayed up all night to write perhaps the most iconic holiday song of all. In the morning, he called his secretary, “I’ve just written the best song I’ve ever written. No, I take that back, I’ve just written the best song anyone’s ever written.” Farr’s rendition of “White Christmas” is nostalgic, beguiling. Ross’s octave changes add piquancy. Piano triples like dappled light.
“Being a girl from Missoura,” introduces Farr’s “Department Stores Mean Christmas to Me” (David Cameron Anderson/Steven Landau): The season gets its start in late October/ Plastic wreaths keep plastic pumpkins company/ With less than 62 more shopping days ’till Christmas/ Department stores mean Christmas to me!.. Tongue firmly in cheek, she nonetheless delivers by way of elegant soprano. “But New York still has it, doesn’t it Steve?” presents his “New York Coloring Book” (Michael McWhinney/Jerry Powell) performed with great affection to a harpsichord-like arrangement.
A gossamer “Winter in Manhattan” (Larry Kerchner) follows, then three by “One of the few men who raised waspness to an art form – Sir Noel Coward,” Ross notes. A duet of “A Room With a View” is earnest and light with not a hint of camp. In Farr’s hands, “Sail Away” arrives like good advice. “I like to think of this as leaving the pack behind and looking forward to what’s ahead.” She tells us about her six year-old’s concern for Santa during lockdown warning “Children Will Listen” (Stephen Sondheim). The vocalist is invested.
Farr and Ross duet an infectiously dancy “We Need a Little Christmas” (Jerry Herman): For I’ve grown a little leaner, grown a little colder/Grown a little sadder, grown a little older – which rings unusually true. Piano seems to sled with a whoosh, shush, zoom. Then, a two-part “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (Frank Loesser). Ross’s “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” (Irving Berlin) offers dashing instrumental and iconoclastic phrasing: Off—-with my overcoat—-Off—with my glove…
“Steve, lest we drown in a morass of nostalgia and sentiment…” prefaces Fred Silver’s irrepressibly wry “Twelve Days After Christmas”: The third day after Christmas/My mother caught the croup/I had to use the three French hens/To make some chicken soup… Cozy and full of heart, “It’s Almost Christmas Eve” is as timeless as any standard (Ken Hirsch & Rosey Casey/ Steve Ross adapted from Frederic Chopin).
Farr would be singing “O Holy Night” in a small Missouri church were she not kept from home by the pandemic. She looks to the heavens ardent, joyous, her soprano made gift. (Placide Capeau translated by John Sullivan/Adolphe Adam.) The evening ends with both singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (Hugh Martin/Ralph Blane). It’s almost familial.
A splendid concert.
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Produced by Musae In association with St. John’s and Denise Marsa Productions, this concert will be broadcast live in both HD and 360° Virtual Reality so audiences can enjoy a completely immersive experience.
