A tribute to the musicals

Halle Orchestra, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

BRITAIN has produced some fabulous musicals over the decades, and it fell to the Halle Orchestra to bring some of the best-loved tunes to life under the baton of Carl Davis.

This larger-than-life conductor, who likes to dazzle and sparkle in his trademark outlandish jackets, led the musicians on a romp through stage shows with their roots set firmly in our nation, or with some kind of link — such as “West Side Story” being based on “Romeo and Juliet”.

The result was an evening of fabulous music, made richer by the voices of soprano Elizabeth Cragg and baritone Richard Burkhard.

The programme ranged from the patriotic, with Ivor Novello’s “We’ll Gather Lilacs” and “Keep the Home Fires Burning”, to a medley of Abba music from “Mamma Mia”, a hit British show now seen by more than 40 million people around the world.

There were also expected contributions from stage blockbusters “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables”.

The evening ended with a medley from “My Fair Lady”.