What’s better than music? Music for a good cause!
The 9th annual Concert of Hope was held on May 24th at First Baptist Church. Subtitled the “Best of Broadway and Opera” it featured a number of broadway hits and classical opera pieces that really blew me away by the end of the evening. More importantly though, the proceeds from the concert went towards Compassion, a child development organization who aims to end poverty in the lives of children and their families. All in all, it was an incredible concert and I would definitely watch them again.
The Music
Under the musical direction of Jason Erhardt, the performances consisted of a combination of the orchestra, choir and local soloists. The program was quite extensive, with over 16 pieces, all performed with great musicality and emotional depth. What I particularly enjoyed was the contrast of the slow, virtuoso operatic singing versus the upbeat, energetic singing in the broadway pieces. In this way, there was something for everyone. Opera isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but those people can also get a chance to indulge in some broadway later on.
Among my favorites peformances were “Casta diva” from Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma and “Singin’ in the Rain” by Arthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown. By far the most powerful was the finale though. The orchestra, choir and all the soloists joined together for a rousing rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein. There’s something amazing about hearing the whole hall filled with music and literally feeling the ground rumbling beneath your feet. That’s what I love about live music because it’s such a more immersive experience than say, listening to it on headphones. Everyone was up on their feet, clapping and cheering long after the last chord rung through the air.
Here’s BBC Proms 2012 rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”
The Presentation
Besides the spectacular music, I also found the presentation of the concert to be entertaining. The host for the night was Jorge Aviles, who I have to say looks fabulous in that pink tutu. Compared to some concerts where there is only a serious atmosphere, this concert had an atmosphere that was still professional but it was clear that they were also having fun. Right from the opening piece, “The Anvil Chorus” from Verdi’s Il Trovatore, an audience member was invited to the stage to play the anvil part. Yes, they had an actual anvil and it was quite amusing to see someone hammering away to the beat of the music.
All of the soloists also had fantastic stage presence. Even though they’re only one person, their voices were more than powerful enough. I really liked how they showcased individual talent. Each soloist had one or more pieces to themselves and it was interesting to see the different flair that they each performer brought. Below is a picture of soloist Barb Thorson singing “My Man”. It was clear that she was putting her whole soul into it and I could feel that passion.
The Cause
As previously mentioned, the proceeds from the concert all went towards Compassion. More specifically though, the money was going towards a project in Nicaragua. The project aims to prevent child abuse through parent education. Parents will attend workshops put on by psychologists about how to have a healthy home environment and relationships. Kristi Jacobson recounted her first-hand experience being in Nicaragua and shared some sobering statistics about child abuse. The University of Leon in Nicaragua found that 27% of women and 19% of men were sexually abused as a child and 68% of this abuse happened at home.
(For more information, click here)
The goal for the concert was to raise $10,000. However, all expectations were surpassed when it turned out that they raised their highest amount in 9 years, a grand total of $19,359! That’s really impressive and a big congratulations for their success! I also learned that the musicians were not being paid for this performance, so they were all essentially volunteering to support this cause. I find that especially touching, because it’s certainly no easy task to prepare for concerts of this caliber. It shows that music means a lot more than just entertainment, it can also have an positive impact on the global community.
The Concert of Hope was amazing and it instilled in me a hope for a better world where everyone can enjoy a happy life regardless of their circumstances.