Modesto symphony delves into the Great American Songbook

Being a vocalist for a symphony orchestra means knowing you’re glorified window dressing.

Such is the lot of vocalists Sarah Uriarte Berry and Doug LaBrecque, who will perform with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra on Friday, March 11, at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

“It’s interesting when you’re singing a symphony concert the focus is on the symphony,” Berry said. “As a vocalist for a pops concert, the symphony is the star and we’re the decorative icing to make the symphony shine.”

But then, there’s also no rule that says window dressing can’t be impressive in its own right.

Los Angeles-based performer Berry has starred in five Broadway shows and three Broadway national tours including “Les Misérables,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Next To Normal.” New York singer LaBrecque has performed with prestigious symphony orchestras around the world and starred on Broadway in “Show Boat.”

The two will be the featured vocalists for the Modesto Symphony’s pops series concert highlighting the Great American Songbook. The show will feature popular music from Broadway and Hollywood from the 1920s to 1960s. It will spotlight legendary composers including Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers and more.

Tony Award-nominated composer and conductor Larry Blank will guest conduct the show. His work spans film, television and Broadway and includes the orchestration for the Broadway shows “Catch Me If You Can,” “White Christmas” and “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

Berry and LaBrecque have performed together in concerts in the past, and LaBrecque said they have a good rapport on stage. Both also are intimately familiar with the music from the Great American Songbook.

Berry has created her own one-woman show, “For the Love of Judy,” celebrating the music and life of Judy Garland. LaBrecque made his Carnegie Hall debut as a soloist in a tribute to the work of Rodgers.

LaBrecque said the quality of the songwriting from this era was extraordinary.

“This catalog of material was just so extraordinarily well-crafted. The craftsmanship and skill of the writing is just timeless,” he said. “If you look at a lot of these songs, each song is like a one-act play. There is a beginning, middle and end.”

The concert will include familiar numbers such as “Over the Rainbow” and “I Got Rhythm.”

Berry said symphony shows always place an emphasis on the music above all else. For Broadway performers, that means placing less focus on character and story. But, she said, that background can also bring something extra to the production.

“Well, I think it’s always fun to see a symphonic concert that is performed by singers who have had Broadway careers as well,” she said. “It brings a lot of acting and storytelling into the songs. It does make for a good evening. And Doug and I have a blast together.”

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Modesto symphony delves into the Great American Songbook."