days may be cloudy or sunny

What a treat! Before the concert this evening, but after the late afternoon concert, there was a a talk with the three vocalists of the cabaret show, "Come Rain or Come Shine".
I know what you're thinking. "That sounds like a logistical nightmare! How to get in the early birds there for the evening show so they can hear the talk? Then, after the talk, how to separate the legitimate evening guests from those lingering from the afternoon?"
Not an issue, fortunately! Most of the afternoon showgoers opted to not stay for the talk. Can you believe it? And there weren't so many folks there early to cause a problem with intermingling.
What a relief!
So, as good fortune would have it, I was able to enjoy that talk and learned about this exciting new program, developed with Carnegie Hall's (!!!) Weill Music Institute!!! The purpose of Musical Explorers is to introduce different music genres, featuring local talent (!!!) to our youngest school-aged children. WOW!!!
In the photo I took, Jenny Woodruff, the Education Director for SMF, is asking the questions. Joining her are Kurt Ollmann, Rebecca Flaherty, and JJ Hobbs. Part of the reason for the Q&A is Rebecca's direct involvement with Musical Explorers, having been tagged to introduce opera to the five- to seven-year-olds in the program.
So nice to learn something new!
As for the cabaret show, I had a fabulous spot by the front door! I was able to stand there and jiggle around to my heart's content!
(smile!)
The songs? They all dealt with the flavors of love! Some were done by just one artist, some were duets, and a few at the end featured the trio. All were accompanied by talented local pianist, Eddie Wilson.
"Lucky To Be Me" was Kurt's opener, followed by JJ's souful "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man". Excellent! Rebecca had a misstep, in my book, with the Arlen-Mercer tune, "Blues In The Night". That's a favorite of mine, so I'm a bit particular about how it's sung. Perhaps, as an operatic soprano, she had not yet shifted gears from her earlier performance today as The Monitress in "Suor Angelica"? I'm willing to write that as the reason why she tried to turn that blues number into an aria...this time.
(smile!)
Back to some fun! Kurt's rendition of "Hard-Hearted Hannah" was spot on, vampy and extravagant! JJ's turn, with the old Rodgers & Harn "To Keep My Love Alive" and the new Jason Robert Brown's "Just One Step", featured flirty women with strong wills. Images of Mae West danced in my head and my heart!
Kurt and JJ than had a very nice series of duets! "People Will Say We're In Love", "I Cain't Say No", "Some Enchanted Evening", "If I Loved You" - beautiful!
More songs intervened before the title song at the end of the show. How appropriate on this drizzly day! Then we all filed out, singing along with them to The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" - it's impossible to think of it now and not whistle the tune!