Cabaret Scenes Review - Willy Falk & Melissa Zapin http://www.cabaretscenes.org/cabaret_reviews/2011/jun11/falk...
Willy Falk & Melissa Zapin Boheme to Broadway
Feisntein's at Loews Regency New York, NY
Since Willy Falk and Melissa Zapin are both known for performing opera and songs from Broadway, it was probably inevitable that they would eventually meet and do a show together. Although Falk made his Broadway debut in Marilyn: An American Fable, it was his spectacular performance in Miss Saigon that earned him a Tony Award nomination in 1991. Zapin is primarily an acclaimed opera singer whose exceptional voice once carried her to the Miss America pageant, placing her in the top ten.
Falk, clad in a stylish tuxedo, and Zapin, wearing a stunning black gown, ascended to the stage with all the charm and grace of seasoned Hollywood presenters. They opened with a fast-paced “Tonight” from West Side Story (Bernstein/Sondheim), a good choice for a program of mostly ballads. Zapin added the evocative “Somewhere” from the same musical, an appropriate song for a singer with her ability. After a minor glitch at the very beginning, she quickly recovered and delivered the beautiful anthem with all the heartfelt feeling it deserves.
The show was well balanced among arias from Puccini operas, such as Gianni Schicci and Turandot, Andrew Lloyd Webber/Charles Hart's The Phantom of the Opera, and Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, both by Claude- Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil. Falk sang “Non Ti Scordar di Me” (Never forget about me) written by Roberto Casalino and Tiziano Ferro, one of two modern Italian popular songs, the other “Time to Say Goodbye” (Francesco Sartori & Lucio Quarantotto) as a duet with Zapin. Falk's voice was rich and resonant in expressing the sadly romantic lyrics about parting and Zapin's gorgeous soprano was an effective counterpoint.
Falk's solos included “Bring Him Home,” the expressive hymn from Les Misérables, his voice a flawless falsetto, and “Why God Why?” his signature number from Miss Saigon, a gut-wrenching song in which he dramatically evoked the raw emotions of his character. Zapin knows how to perform a beautiful aria with great skill and sparkles in her upper range. This was most evident in Puccini's “O Mio Babbino Caro,” the song a rite of passage for every aspiring soprano. While Lloyd Webber's tunes lack the complexity of his inspirer, Zapin infused “Think of Me” with depth and warmth, elevating the song as one might expect of a classically trained singer.
“Nessun Dorma,” a Puccini masterwork, is almost always guaranteed to provoke a feeling of euphoria and Falk and Zapin's treatment was no exception. Without a doubt it was a lynch-pin in the program and challenged the singers toward excellence. Fittingly, one of the finest duets was “All I Ask of You,” arguably an example of Lloyd Webber's best moments.
One must acknowledge Musical Director Christopher Denny for supplying strong support. His experience as an accompanist to many stars of theater, cabaret and opera—including Karen Mason, Julie Wilson, Lauren Bacall and Dorothy Loudon—made it look easy. Denny's talent hasn't gone unnoticed; he's the winner of two Back Stage Bistro and four MAC Awards.
The excellent show suggested that some of the greatest Broadway songs can be included in the company of world-renowned arias and still shine. Willy Falk and Melissa Zapin are surely among a select few who can operate fluently in both spheres.
Jerry Osterberg Cabaret Scenes June 22, 2011 www.cabaretscenes.org
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