From the moment that members of the Pink Martini ensemble stepped out onto the stage on Monday evening (June 1), the standing-room only audience of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert gave them and the members of the Oregon Symphony a city-wide group hug. This was the second in three nights of sold-out performances, and the festive atmosphere bathed the concert in a glow that made the added mood lighting unnecessary.
I came to this concert with some skepticism, because I had heard a Pink Martini concert with another orchestra (on or near Valentine’s Day) a few years ago and came away unimpressed. This time, however, Thomas Lauderdale and his sophisticated lounge ensemble were on top of their game. Another problematic element are orchestral arrangements, because they can make the whole thing sluggish, but to my delight, from the get-go at the top of the program with the first notes of “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás” (“Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps”) by Cuban composer Osvaldo Farrés, Pink Martini and the Oregon Symphony knocked the music out of the ballpark. And they continued to do so with each number on the program, highlighting the singing of China Forbes, the playing of instrumentalists in the 12-member ensemble, and the playing of the orchestra, including some featured spots for several principal orchestra members.
Continue reading Pink Martini and Oregon Symphony wow audience at live-recording concert
Gathering Note 