OCEAN CITY – A capacity crowd in Ocean City Music Pier was treated to an evening of beloved music Sunday from the composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Twenty-eight songs were included; remarkably, every one of them was familiar.
Will Hammerstein spoke of the life and work of his grandfather, Oscar Hammerstein II. The fascinating biographical material was generously sampled in music from the Pops Orchestra and two soloists, soprano Aubry Ballaro and tenor Angel Raii Gomez. Ballaro and Gomez have each appeared with Maestro Vince Lee and the Pops for four years.
Lee conducted from the piano and played an important part in the orchestra’s selections — similar to what Peter Nero did with the Philly Pops. The reduced-sized orchestra had stand-alone moments, opening the evening with a medley from “The King and I” and beginning the second half with “It’s a Grand Night for Singing.” The medley featured each division of the orchestra: woodwinds cheerfully marching and dancing, gorgeous violin phrasing for “Getting to Know You,” and an oboe solo on “I Loved You Once in Silence.” A medley from “South Pacific” featured flute, clarinet, trombone, and the woodwind sections.
Will told the story of Oscar’s life from childhood in a home immersed in the theater to his intersection with “Dick” Rodgers at Columbia University Varsity Shows to his trail-blazing books and lyrics which he developed with Rodgers over the years. When the partnership of Rodgers and Kern ended, the connection with Oscar was firmly established.
Oscar was offered an adaptation of Lynn Riggs’ “Green Grow the Lilacs,” which became “Oklahoma.” Oscar was now living on a farm in Bucks County (the mention drew applause from the Pennsylvania contingent in the audience). Gomez sang “O What a Beautiful Morning,” demonstrating his control of a gentle style. Ballaro took the lead on “People Will Say We’re in Love,” with both harmonizing the ending.
Will described Oscar’s commitment to world peace, citing “South Pacific,” “The King and I,” and “Showboat.” But, he “wouldn’t do a cause show” and never got on a soapbox. Ballaro sang “Cockeyed Optimist” to reflect that side of Oscar.
According to Will, Oscar had a low opinion of critics who particularly disliked “Edelweiss,” which Gomez then sang, using only Lee’s tender piano accompaniment. “Carousel” opened new possibilities with the combination of speaking and singing. The singers demonstrated with “If I Loved You,” the orchestra’s woodwinds responding over string sustained chords. The full high ending pleased the crowd. Another dramatic ending came with Ballaro’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” which she appropriately called “a classic.” Gomez’s “Some Enchanted Evening” featured a French horn counter melody.
The evening ended with a duet on the inspirational near-hymn “Climb Every Mountain.” All four— Vince Lee and the orchestra, Hammerstein, Ballaro and Gomez — were sent off with a standing ovation.
– STORY and PHOTO by RICHARD STANISLAW/For the Sentinel