Presented by ATA Allstars Artists Pty Ltd and Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed 19 June 2015
I can think of only one word to describe the Glenn Miller Orchestra – class, they are all class. The performance was smooth from the very beginning and while listening to some of the classics, which remain old favourites, you could almost imagine the great man was there himself waving that baton. Of course I never saw Glenn Miller, he died three years before I was born, but I grew up with his music. My big brother was an ardent fan and played all the hits, and there were many.
The orchestra gave us In the Mood, String of Pearls, Little Brown Jug, and with audience participation Pennsylvania 6-5000. They looked splendid in their tuxedos and the sound was tight. They were lead by Rick Gerber who also played trombone and who introduced the singers Wendy Smith and Mark Kopitzke. Smith looked like she had just stepped out of a 1940’s photograph and sang with soulful clarity in songs like I Know Why and proved she could belt a good tune along with the rest.
Kopitzke had the frame and the look of a young Sinatra and tackled a few of “Ole Blue Eye’s” best and more than did them justice. A definite hush fell over the audience when he gave us his rendition of A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square. Their voices blended well in the couple of duets like Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree. A colourful addition were the Broadway Swing Dancers who apparently hail from Sydney. Bright appropriate costumes and energetic choreography gave the performance some zing in numbers like American Patrol and other toe tapping numbers.
The orchestra added a few extra tunes to mark the anniversary of the Anzacs. They did a couple of World War I tunes and even gave a rendition of Waltzing Matilda, which the audience were happy to sing along with. There were may smiles to be seen as the audience left the theatre: a large dose of nostalgia will do that. But seldom is nostalgia served in such a classy packet.
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @franeds
Rating (out of 5): 5
Venue: The Space, Adelaide Festival Theatre
Season: Ended
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