Linda Eder and the Boston Pops

I attended last night's performance at Radio City Music Hall and it was excellent. Ms Eder has a powerful voice and can rattle the rafters with it. She was particularly outstanding with "Don't Rain On My Parade" and "I Am What I Am". She also sand a few songs from the upcoming musical that Frank Wildhorne has written for her. Forgive me if I can't provide names, but the Music Hall's "program" didn't list the musical numbers or provide biographies of the artists: it was little more than hype for their upcoming events.

The Boston Pops Orchestra played magnificently under Keith Lockhart's baton, and Mestro Lockhart seems to grow handsomer by the day! The program consisted of all Broadway or New Yoprked themed music. There was a splendid medley of tunes associated with Jerome Robbins and a show-stopping rendition of "New York, New York"--all sounding terrific when played by a 100 piece orchestra. Of course, it wouldn't be a Pops concert unless the final encore was Sousa's "Stars and Stipes Forever" and the unfurling of the American Flag.

It was an excpetional night of music. I pity those who were unable to attend.

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Did she sing VIENNA? Thats one of my favorites :)

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What numbers did she sing for her encore(s) ?

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I went. Linda was good. She has such a beautiful voice, and the Boston Pops are a fantastic group; However, I was not overly impressed by the concert. I read on Linda's message board how some people (people who have seen her in concert many times before) were "Shaking" during certain parts, or crying...but I certainly wasn't moved that much. I've seen/heard Linda sing much better than she did on Saturday. She can't hit that last note in Man of La Mancha anymore, which is really dissapointing. I had such hopes that she would hit it on Saturday, but she didn't. Also, she moves the microphone away from her mouth way too often. Linda is a great singer, but performer she is not.
I might as well just listen to her cd's. Her performances are so scripted.
The songs she did sing though (other than the fact that she moves the microphone too much) sounded great! :) I would never credit her as not being an excellent singer.

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Updated On: 2/9/04 at 10:50 AM

If it were *my* RCMH debut, I'd be a little nervous too!

She was fabulous, as always. I've always sort of liked that pulling the mic away thing. I've never seen her do it when she was *not* belting the hell out of something, so to me, it always came off as more of knowing her own strenght and not wnting to have to hold back in order to spare the crowd's hearing (if she never pulled the mic away I would be likely be rather deaf by now). I've noticed several belters do that in concerts.

"she seems to "wisk the mike to the side" in such a way that it cuts the word and note off"

Exactly! Sometimes I can't hear the words at all. When a person is belting a song, and they move the mic away, you are still supposed to be able to hear them in a normal way.

Perfect example: Christina Aguilera at the Grammy's the other night...or anytime for that matter. When she pulls the mic away from her face (but still in front of her face), it's because her voice is getting noticably louder; therefore, you can still hear every word the same way you've been hearing it.
What Linda does is she tries to be dramatic, and she ends up cutting off entire words from the song(s).
Linda has a great voice. She just needs to work on her stage presence.

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That's good Jon. I'm certainly not trying to sway people's opinions of Linda. Just offering my opinion and some constructive criticism. I love her too...I just don't believe she's perfect (nor do I think anyone is perfect).

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I didn't think you were being rude. I hope you didn't think I was either. I know a lot of peple on this message board can be sarcastic, but I wasn't. I honestly think it's a great thing that Linda has a nice, dedicated fan like you (and I know you're not the only one...she has many). :) and she is a very nice person.

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Dolly- were you reading my mind? You are soooo absolutely right!!! I love her though!

Yes, Linda Eder has a wonderful voice to LISTEN to--actually her career is made for recordings where she doesn't have to be WATCHED while she sings.

Now, did anyone notice what a pleasure it wa sto WATCH Keith Lockhart while he was conducting? The music actually seems to flow out of him! (ANd he's incredibly handsome!)

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I thought Keith was scrumptiously adorable.
He was having so much fun up there, and that made it fun for the audience. lol I loved when he just stopped conducting, walked away while the orchestra was still playing, sat down leaving only the flute section to be distinct in sound, and then walked back over and brought everyone back up to speed and sound with one wave of a batan (sp?).

I found myself watching Keith even while Linda was on stage singing.

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Updated On: 2/11/04 at 09:14 AM

Conducting is a very complex job, much harder than people would imagine! I've not seen Keith, but heard great things.

I can say that Peter Nero, conductor for the Philly Pops is also very "entertaining" as well as an excellent conductor. He plays into the audience like a cast member of a fun show. The thought of "canned music" in light of this talent just floors me!

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Keith Lockhart has nicer buns than Marvin Laird. That's a fact!

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