Beautifully Performed, but Commissioned Work Flawed
by JT on 3/27/23Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker - Ft LauderdaleRating: 5 out of 5This was a wonderful concert. The chorus's sound has improved greatly since Gabe became music director.
The "Songs of the Phoenix" was beautifully performed, and had some thrilling moments with especially wonderful soloists. But I felt the whole song cycle didn't fit together as a cohesive whole. Too many different ideas (stars, trees, mothers, empanadas, flags, etc.). No arc from beginning to end. Not the fault of the chorus. Rev. Watkins was a great choice as narrator.
Tropical Wave was greatly improved from their Holiday performance at the Hard Rock. In fact, I think "Like a River in My Soul" was my favorite piece of the concert.
"I Dream of Time" should have been the final piece, swapped with "Come Together". The latter ended strangely sudden and the audience didn't know the piece had ended.
P.S. Mark needs to keep his pre-concert comments short. Five minutes tops.