Brazilian baritone Paulo Szot performs at the Allen Room.
Presented by Lincoln Center American Songbook. Musical direction, Fred Lassen.
Band: Andrew Sterman, Barry Danielian, Alan Ferber, Louise Owen, Summer Boggess, Gregory Jones, Manny Moreira, Rogerio Boccato, Howard Joines. Reviewed Jan. 24, 2009.
Brazilian operatic baritone Paulo Szot turned heads in New York with his performance in the smashing 2008 revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific," earning himself a lead actor Tony and more than enough fans to fill the Allen Room many times over. Those fortunate to score a ticket for his one-night-only Lincoln Center American Songbook concert were not disappointed; Szot's voice and personality more than filled the soaring space.
Looking considerably younger than his 39 years, Szot easily charmed the crowd despite a lineup that seemed determined to place obstacles between singer and audience. Stepping out to warm applause, the singer announced he was going to perform "my favorite songs from the
South American Songbook."
While there's no reason a popular, foreign-born singer shouldn't sing 40 minutes in Portuguese, the language bar seemed to keep the assembled Szot fans somewhat cool. The only selections that truly landed were the more familiar items in the group, Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Samba de uma nota so" (known locally as "One Note Samba") and the Spanish-language "Besame Mucho."
Thirteen South American songs -- featuring bossa nova, samba and tango -- were respectfully received, after which Szot retired for a break. The 10-piece band took over with "Recado Bossa Nova," earning the biggest reaction of the evening up to that point. (The highly accomplished group, led by Fred Lassen at the piano, played extremely well throughout despite several less-than-effective musical arrangements.)
Szot then reappeared and proceeded -- in American parlance -- to knock 'em out of the ballpark. He started the evening's second half with a stunning rendition of Jacques Brel's "La chanson des vieux amants," playing his own solo-piano arrangement and demonstrating that he's the kind of performer who can hold the house rapt even with his back to half the audience. He followed the French song with one in Polish, no less, Grzegorz Turnau and Ewa Lipska's "Krotka bajka."
Next came a rendition of "How High the Moon" interlaced with excerpts from three "South Pacific" songs. This exercise that didn't quite work -- why mix that song with "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair"? -- but was a wild hit with the crowd. This was topped by a resoundingly successful "If Ever I Would Leave You" -- perhaps the perfect match of song and singer. Szot then stepped down into the audience to sing Maury Yeston's "Only with You," choosing two women and one man to serenade and demonstrating that he's ideal casting should anyone be looking to revive "Nine."
Szot closed the evening by topping himself with "This Nearly Was Mine," giving the audience a reminder of his unforgettable performance up the street in "South Pacific."
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Date in print: Tue., Jan. 27, 2009