Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

@qcccincy, headlined by principal artists Sarah Folsom and Matthew Umphreys, brought a wonderful dose of Christmas cheer to @thecarnegie in Covington this evening as they brought back their show A Cozy Christmas, drawing inspiration from Christmas TV specials by artists such as Judy Garland, Andy Williams and Perry Como.
Many of the most well-loved Christmas songs were featured, such as Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Blue Christmas and Sleigh Ride, as well as some new or otherwise lesser-known songs brought wonderfully to life by a fantastic lineup of guest artists.
The comedy duo Eileen Earnest and Alison Rampa (performing under the collective Two Sketchy Dames), enlivened the evening with excellent vocals in a duet of Sisters and several improv comedy/based party games, even if some of the routines did make the program slightly longer than expected. Two musical theater students from @uc_ccm, Grace Baker and Edin Kedebe, have outstanding performances of tunes like Grown-Up Christmas List (Kedebe’s vocals reminiscent of Cynthia Erivo), What Christmas Means to Me and Stardust.
Perhaps the most enjoyable and unique aspects of the concert came through songs performed by Cincinnati-based baritone Eric Heatley. His voice was warm and inviting while not being overpowering and with the right amount of dramatic weight, showcased in tunes like Snow and You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch. As a creative repertoire choice, Folsom, Baker and Kedebe along with guitarist Niko Kordalis performed an acoustic version of the carol Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming, and Matthew Umphreys gave a rare opportunity to hear a piano solo through his own medley of tunes from Christmas movies like Home Alone, The Polar Express and The Muppet Christmas Carol.
A pleasant surprise came through the appearance of Elaine Diehl, longtime announcer for 90.9 WGUC as she provided a pre-recorded introduction, gave a reading of The Night Before Christmas and showed off her surprisingly pleasant singing voice in a trio performance of the song May You Always. Members of the Young Professionals Choral Collective contributed fine performance of traditional carols interspersed throughout the program.
Bravi