Cleveland Orchestra Christmas Concerts @ Severance Hall 12/12

With sing-alongs, Santa & silliness reigning, don't come expecting a serious concert experience. But that's exactly the point. From the opening strains of O Come, All Ye Faithful by the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, illuminated by brilliant cool blue lights, and conducted by Chorus Director (and admitted "shameless self-promoter") Robert Porco, everyone in the room knew this was a special program for a special time of year.

Musically impeccable as usual (we have come to expect so much in Cleveland, and for good reason), the blending of the magnificent Cleveland Orchestra Chorus with the full Cleveland Orchestra, augmented with organ, percussion, horn sections and special effects, was a treat for the ears. The awesome stereo effects on Gabrielli's Canzona in double echo was a tutorial in tuning up your ears. Highly recommended for anyone who's had a iPod jammed into their ear buds all week.

Ever the affable host, Porco's brief introductions to each selection were informative and educational. Whether conducting a sing-along on Hark! the Herald Angels Sing to directing audience vocal solos (!) during the key line in The Twelve Days of Christmas, (for which one woman apparently won $1000 from her friends for volunteering), Porco, who has big shoes to fill (Robert Shaw, Robert Page...), not only navigated the lengthy program with exhilarating tempi and nary a missed beat (most numbers began before the applause from the previous selection died down), he brought out the best in the Chorus and the Orchestra members with finesse and a firm hand.

My wish is that more kids would fill the seats, although on opening night of this 2-week run, the blue hairs were, for the most part, in hiding, with many non-subscribers tapping and humming along. Families will enjoy the little touches, such as the subtle but delightful lighting, the visit from Santa, the handbell interlude on I Saw Three Ships, and the seamless flow of the evening. Even the new program guide is more accessible. At two hours, including 2 encores, the concert flies by, reminding us that any night spent in the company of The Cleveland Orchestra is, if not a silent night, a good night indeed.

The Cleveland Orchestra Christmas Concerts run through Sun 12/21. 216-231-1111 http://www.ClevelandOrchestra.com

from Cool Cleveland's Thomas Mulready InfoATCoolCleveland.com

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