BPO makes the Beatles classically fun

Posted: 12 Jun 2010 03:47 AM PDT

The idea of combining orchestras and tribute acts has an undeniable fiscal symmetry based on nostalgia and the need to generate cash. Orchestras bring people into their venues who wouldn't normally attend one of their classical concerts, and tribute acts get to add a high-class cultural line to their promotional material. The orchestra sells tickets, the visitors sell trinkets and, provided the show satisfies the folks who filled the seats, everybody goes home happy.

Kleinhans Music Hall was filled to the max Friday night as the "Classical Mystery Tour," with its package of Beatles' arrangements, came to Buffalo and, since it was a well-produced and -performed undertaking, the audience was demonstrably pleased. That translates into financial and psychic happiness for all concerned parties.

It was a good, solidly enjoyable evening celebrating one of the most important and influential rock groups of the 20th century.

The arrangements, the orchestrations behind the band, were really quite good. They weren't just sonic filler; they were sonic enhancers in line with the George Martin string, brass and wind productions that made "Rubber Soul" and "Sgt. Pepper" such ground-breaking pop albums. Martin Herman, normally a creator of experimental music and installations whose work would not be out of line on a June in Buffalo program, crafted an opening instrumental medley that was remarkable for the clarity of its voicings and the way that snippets of Beatles melodies seamlessly segued into one another.

Matthew Kraemer, the BPO's associate conductor, kept up a steady pulse and, when called upon, the orchestra played marvelously.

The band members aping John (Jim Owen), Paul (Tony Kishman), George (John Brosnan) and Ringo (Chris Camilleri) weren't spot-on, but they were close enough and the sound of the group and the orchestra was well balanced.

While it was mildly disconcerting to see "Paul" playing his bass right handed, the costume changes were handled well.

The flow of songs from the set list was entirely logical and really, when you get right down to it, that is what matters in this kind of concert.

There were early songs ("Hard Day's Night," "I Should Have Known Better" and "Got To Get You Into My Life"), a whole slew of tunes from "Sergeant Pepper" that showcased the stunning mesh of band and orchestra, and later classics from the Beatles' final years ("I Am the Walrus," "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Yellow Submarine").

If Ringo originally sang "With a Little Help From My Friends," Camilleri sang it in the show. Ditto for songs associated with John, Paul and George and covered by the other doppelgangers on the "Classical Mystery Tour."

It wasn't the Beatles but, for the most part, it was close enough.

Concert Review

Buffalo Philharmonic

Orchestra

"Classical Mystery Tour." Part of the Pops Series, Friday evening in Kleinhans Music Hall.

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The Beatles

Saturday, June 12, 2010