Fred and Ginger finesse

Puttin’ on the Ritz”, Halle, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, by Marina Berry

AS far as tributes go, Saturday’s celebration of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers was pretty near-perfect.

The latest offering in the Halle Orchestra’s season of pops concerts shows it has its finger well and truly on the pulse of its audience.

The musicians brought some of the finest Fred and Ginger music to life, under the baton of charismatic conductor John Wilson, with the help of vocalists Kim Creswell and Gary Williams.

Kim blasted out her songs with true skill, capturing the spirit of each piece — from playful and aloof to innocent and cutey-pie.

Cruise ship crooner Gary Williams was a great Astaire, with an easy manner which put him right at home with the songs plucked from the musical and dance hero’s incredible 76-year career in stage and film.

And conductor John Wilson, as ever the perfectionist, injected everyone with his infectious enthusiasm as he gathered the orchestra in his hands and led them on a wonderful journey which explored no fewer than 13 of Astair’s films.

A true feel-good concert, it was delivered with the finesse we have come to expect from Wilson and the world-class Halle orchestra — all looking suitably dapper on Saturday with the men wearing tails and the women looking lovely in long black evening dresses.

Songs included “Flying down to Rio”, “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails”, “Cheek to Cheek”, “The Continental”, “A Couple of Swells” and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me”.

A splendid clarinet solo of “Promenade” conjured up wonderful pictures of Fred and Ginger walking their dogs on board ship in the film “Shall We Dance”.

The concert was like a breath of fresh air, and was a UK premiere in as much as it followed the original film scores. Not to be missed.