It was a night of inclusion as the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah kicked off its summer music festival Saturday, June 17, with Broadway legend Audra McDonald offering selections from the Great American Songbook of pop standards familiar and less so.
The soprano”™s ability to adapt her rich, supple, essentially operatic voice to the idioms of jazz and pop is unparalleled. But McDonald ”“ who said she lives a short commute away in Croton-on-Hudson ”“ also charmed with self-deprecating stories about growing up in Fresno, California (and singing a song from “Funny Girl” way beyond her 14 years that won her a Reno Jazz Festival competition) and about her four children, who are not exactly fans of her singing.
The theme of her set, however, was a serious one as she appealed for understanding of those we might find “other” in numbers like Jerry Herman”™s “I Am What I Am” from “La Cage aux Folles,” which she opened with; to Mel Tormé blended arrangement of “Children Will Listen” from Stephen Sondheim”™s “Into the Woods” and “You”™ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” from Richard Rodger and Oscar Hammerstein”™s “South Pacific”; to the finale ”“ the title song from John Kander and Fred Ebb”™s “Cabaret.”
Her sense of inclusivity was such that she asked the audience members to join her in a rousing rendition of “I Could Have Danced All Night” from Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe”™s “My Fair Lady” ”“ which they did. It was a magical moment.
The audience responded to her powerhouse performance with a standing ovation led by former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Congresswoman Nita Lowey and domestic doyenne Martha Stewart.
Hillary Clinton wore an ensemble that teased CaramoorӪs signature blue and orange hues, which interior designer Ned Kelly picked up on in his playful gala dinner d̩cor. The 450 guests enjoyed a savory meal by Great Performances that included an array of cold soups; ribbons of cucumber salad; a main course of short ribs, peas, peppercorn potatoes and shallot salad; and a creamsicle semifreddo. The repast was accompanied by wines from Peter Kend, vice chair of CaramoorӪs board of trustees, who with wife Kate was honored for their fundraising commitment to the arts center.
For the full schedule of concerts, visit caramoor.org.
