Songs from musical theater and film are slated for Southwest Symphony Orchestra’s next concert.
An Afternoon of Lerner & Loewe on April 10 at Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Chapel Auditorium in Palos Heights features soprano Dana Campbell, baritone Brad Jungwirth and Moraine Valley Chorale, which is directed by Nicholas Thomas, from Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills.
“I’m looking forward to doing this finally after two years because I know that David (Crane) is extremely excited to be doing it,” said Campbell. Southwest Symphony Orchestra music director David Crane, who conducts the concert originally scheduled for March 2020.
“I’m looking forward to singing with Brad. I’m looking forward to meeting the orchestra and putting on a good show for their audience.”
Campbell, who performs some duets with Jungwirth in An Afternoon of Lerner & Loewe, said they had received the music but had not rehearsed with the orchestra before the 2020 concert was postponed due to measures to mitigate coronavirus.
An Afternoon of Lerner & Loewe, which features pieces by the late librettist and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and the late composer Frederick Loewe, was rescheduled for April 2021 but Southwest Symphony Orchestra ended up canceling its 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s essentially the same program as was planned two years ago,” said Campbell, who is making her Southwest Symphony Orchestra debut.
Jungwirth, who was a guest soloist for Southwest Symphony Orchestra’s An Afternoon of Rodgers & Hammerstein in 2017, helped Campbell to be booked for An Afternoon of Lerner & Loewe.
“We went to grad school together,” said Campbell, who met Jungwirth at Roosevelt University.
“We also sing together at Christ Church of Oak Brook. He mentioned to me that he was doing this concert and they were looking for soprano soloists. He recommended me. Then I was contacted by Southwest Symphony Orchestra.”
An Afternoon of Lerner & Loewe includes Campbell and Jungwirth duetting on “What Do the Simple Folk Do?” from the Tony Award-winning musical “Camelot,” which opened in 1960 on Broadway, and “Almost Like Being in Love” from the musical “Brigadoon,” which opened in 1947 on Broadway.
“It’s always fun to perform with Brad,” said Campbell, who has performed with him at some of Christ Church’s pops concerts.
“He is a very good performer. I’m pleased to see and thrilled to hear how his voice has changed and matured. It’s a really beautiful voice for a baritone. He’s got a beautiful top end to his voice that can be quite moving especially with the right music.”
Campbell also is featured in “The Rain in Spain,” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Show Me” and Wouldn’t It Be Lovely?” from “My Fair Lady,” which opened in 1956 on Broadway and won several Tonys, including best musical.
“I’m looking forward to ‘Say a Prayer for Me Tonight’ and ‘How Can I Wait?’ but I know the real reason people are coming is to hear ‘I Could Have Danced All Night.’ That’s one of Lerner and Loewe’s greatest songs for soprano,” said Campbell of Chicago’s South Shore community.
“Say a Prayer for Me Tonight” is from the 1958 film “Gigi,” which won several Academy Awards, including best picture, and stars Leslie Caron, the late Maurice Chevalier and the late Louis Jordan.
“I like that song a lot. It’s a beautiful melody and it’s a moment of vulnerability for Gigi in the film,” Campbell said.
“How Can I Wait?” is from the musical “Paint Your Wagon,” which opened in 1951 on Broadway.
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“The song’s high-energy. I like the energy. I like the lyrics. It’s that moment in love when you just can’t wait to see that person again,” Campbell said.
She has been seen in several capacities including as soprano chorister for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2008 and 2014 productions of “Porgy and Bess,” guest artist for Kenosha Symphony Orchestra in Wisconsin, and frequent performer with South Shore Opera Company of Chicago.
Campbell most recently was the understudy for the role of Krystyna Zywulska in the Chicago premiere of “Two Remain (Out of Darkness)” presented by Chicago Fringe Opera at The Edge Theater in Chicago and was called upon to appear on March 26.
An Afternoon of Lerner & Loewe
When: 4 p.m. April 10
Where: Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Chapel Auditorium, 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights
Tickets: $23-$28 adults; $18-$23 ages 65 and older; $7 students; free ages 10 and younger
Information: 708-802-0686; southwestsymphony.com
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.