Patrons at the Philharmonic’s annual holiday concert weren’t sure what to expect—conductor David Itkin kept the entire program under wraps until performance time on Saturday and Sunday. “I wanted the audience to be surprised,” said Itkin, “and not be concerned about what’s coming next.”
And surprised they were. This was the first annual Holiday Pops concert. The more classical programming from years past has been replaced by familiar carols and holiday songs remixed and rearranged, often by Itkin himself. The opening medley “Christmas Overture 2000” (arranged by Itkin) set the stage for the breadth of the programming, with its clever interweaving of tunes like a peppy “We Need a Little Christmas,” through the “Waltz of the Flowers,” to a rockin’ Bach.
One holiday tradition that did remain was the inclusion of the Las Vegas Master Singers, led by Jocelyn Kay Jensen. Their cheerful opening selection, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and a rendition of “Silver Bells,” showcased the group’s clear, precise enunciation and tight blend. Three engaging vocal soloists also joined the orchestra: soprano Athena Mertes, mezzo-soprano Leslie Harper and tenor Matthew Newman.
Annual Holiday Concert
*** 1/2
Las Vegas Philharmonic
December 8-9, Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, UNLV
There were standout performances by various orchestra members, including the klezmer-infused woodwinds in a sprightly Hanukkah pastiche and a fiendishly difficult, Itkin-arranged “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” skillfully played by principal trumpet Tom Wright. The entire percussion section was called into action, too, especially in Itkin’s quirky arrangement of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” An audience favorite, it incorporated strains of Swan Lake (seven swans), “La Marseillaise” (three French hens) and duck calls (four calling birds), culminating in major drum action for the “12 drummers drumming.”
The final surprise came when Itkin, channeling his inner Mandy Patinkin, sat at the piano and sang an effective “In the Bleak Midwinter.” The audience would not have considered it an indulgence if he had chosen to sing a few more selections.