Singers steal the concert limelight

West End Spectacular, Halle Orchestra, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

THE world-famous Halle Orchestra brought the West End to Manchester on Saturday with some of the best-loved songs from the world of stage.

Unusually for a pops concert, which aims to tempt new listeners to live orchestra, there was little chance to hear the musicians give their trademark flawless best unhampered by the sounds of vocals.

They played only a couple of pieces with no singer, making them almost a backing orchestra, instead of being the main attraction in the accoustically-sweet Bridgewater Hall.

Vocalists Jacqui Scott and Tim Howar trooped on and off the stage for the bulk of the concert, singing songs from everything from the old classics of “Oliver,” “Grease,” and “Les Miserables,” to more up-to-date musicals such as “Spamalot,” “Wicked” and “Hairspray.”

Jacqui did a great job with her wonderfully melodious voice, cheeky sense of humour and natural command of the stage.

What Tim lacked in lung power for some of the “biggies” Jacqui more than made up for with lungs enough for both. That said, the pair worked well together, and Tim gave voice to the two best-performed songs of the evening and probably two of the most taxing.

He stepped up several gears from the rest of his performance to give wonderful renditions of “Bring Him Home”, from “Les Miserables”, and “The Music of the Night”, from “Phantom of the Opera”, which were pure pleasure to listen to.

Overall, the concert went down well, and the finale of a handful of songs from “Mamma Mia”, had a fair few people out of their chairs and singing and dancing along. Personally, I would have liked to have heard a little more of the superb Halle playing without vocalists taking the attention away from these top-class musicians.

Presuming the audience are the new-to-the-Halle group it set out to attract, an introduction to the music and the anecdotes which often go along with them from the conductor are not only entertaining but informative too.

The Halle pops season is nearing its close for the summer, but there is still chance to get one last glimpse of this magnificent orchestra in “Espana” at the Bridgewater Hall on May 15.