Chanti-CLEEEER!!!

Last night, I was invited by Mr. Magic to a concert viewing hosted by the Library of Congress. The LoC was celebrating its Founders Day celebration with a concert performance by Chanticleer. If you don't know about this group, the singers are a male vocale ensemble performing as an "orchestra of voices."

We were running late, so the night didn't start very well. We ended up 10 to 15 minutes late for the performance. We decided to park our cars near Union Station, approx. 20 minutes away from the LoC building. When we arrived at the building, we were held in the overflow room. We watched the performance in that room for the next few songs. I have to admit that I was a little bored listening to the group from a flat scan TV, and my mood wasn't set for a concert.

While we were waiting to gain access to the main theatre, one of the ushers was flossing his teeth and smacking. Another usher told us that we could go into the main room after the first selection (between songs). When there was a break between songs, I waited for Mr Magic to move forward.

I thought that we were going into the theatre, but he didn't budge. Not even an inch.

So, until after another couple of attendees arrived later, did we finally move into the theatre.

I have to tell you that this group is worth listening after a difficult day at work or running late to a performance.

My immediate responses to their selections for this concert:

* Much more experimental than I thought.
* Too many selections (and choir members) focusing on the soprano parts of the selections.
* I liked the experimental selections more than the standards.
* I was disappointed that they only sung one encore song, a negro spiritual, which included the voice of musical director, Joseph Jennings.
* The addition of humorous body movements and interspersed sounds got the audience to chuckle at various times during the concert.

I could not argue with the technical performance throughout the night. The last song was a tribute song on Psalm 86, sung in Hebrew. It was a precious piece to end the main performance.

technorati tags: Chanticleer; Library of Congress; performance