Presented with polish, colour and an evident love of the repertoire, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s An Evening on Broadway was a fitting celebration of musical theatre that fused symphonic brilliance with world-class vocal artistry.
Under the baton of the dynamic Jessica Gethin, the MSO brought vitality to some of Broadway’s most beloved scores, while Amy Manford and Josh Piterman lit up the stage with voices that soared, shimmered, and thrilled in equal measure.
Beginning with a spirited medley of That’s Entertainment, Cabaret and There’s No Business Like Show Business, the orchestra immediately set a celebratory tone for the evening. What followed was a carefully curated sequence of solos, duets and orchestral highlights that surveyed the great Broadway songbook.
Piterman and Manford’s first duet, Tonight from West Side Story, was an effective scene-setter, their voices blending with ease. Shaped with clean phrasing and clear tone, Manford followed with As If We Never Said Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard.
Manford was equally at home in the buoyant My Fair Lady classic I Could Have Danced All Night, while her partnership with Piterman in People Will Say We’re in Love from Oklahoma! was marked by an unaffected warmth and some cheeky ad libs.
Piterman proved a versatile counterpart. Bring Him Home from Les Misérables was delivered with restraint and control, contrasting with the dramatic sweep of This Is the Moment from Jekyll & Hyde. His Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific highlighted the depth of his lower register, while No One is Alone from Into the Woods, sung with only piano accompaniment, stood out for its contemplative simplicity.
The orchestra, meanwhile, relished its chance to step into the spotlight. The Jellicle Ball from Cats had rhythmic drive and playfulness, and Jerry Bock’s Symphonic Dances from Fiddler on the Roof was given a strong, characterful reading, moving from earthy folk rhythms of Tradition to tightly controlled momentum in the Bottle Dance. The overture from The Phantom of the Opera saw Gethin draw out its menace and grandeur with well-judged pacing.
Manford opened Act two with one of the evening’s most striking moments Don’t Cry for Me Argentina from EVITA, sung from the choir balcony. Her voice projected clearly over the orchestra, the staging lending the number a sense of distance and authority. Later, she brought buoyant optimism to I Have Confidence from The Sound of Music, while Piterman found ardour in Luck Be a Lady from Guys and Dolls.
The program built towards a closing sequence from The Phantom of the Opera. Manford sang Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again with delicacy and poise, Piterman gave The Music of the Night a dark seductive edge, and together, blending beautifully in All I Ask of You. The encore, You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel, provided a restrained but effective conclusion.
An Evening on Broadway
Hamer Hall – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Performance: Wednesday 24 September 2025
Season continues to 26 September 2025
Information and Bookings: www.mso.com.au
Image: Amy Manford and Josh Piterman – photo by Laura Manariti
Review: Rohan Shearn