An Evening on Broadway with the MSO Review (Melbourne Arts Centre)
Summary: An Evening on Broadway with the MSO is a beautiful amalgam of singing and orchestra
5
Beautiful amalgam
An Evening on Broadway, presented by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) under the baton of Jessica Gethin, joined forces with soprano Amy Manford (The Phantom of the Opera, Disney in Concert Live) and tenor Josh Piterman (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Phantom of the Opera) to deliver a sweeping journey through the golden songbook of Broadway. It was a performance made in orchestra-and-Broadway heaven as this collective of powerhouses brought these classics to life at Hamer Hall. Best of all, each facet of the performers got to shine—whether Amy, Josh, or Jessica and the MSO—both the voices and the instruments had their moments throughout An Evening on Broadway, which really made you appreciate their talent.
Photo credits: Laura Manariti
Undeniably, the performance opened with a medley of Broadway showstoppers, a sparkling overture that set the tone for what was to come. From the brassy exuberance of Cabaret to the timeless charm of There’s No Business Like Show Business, the MSO played with both precision and flair, reminding the audience that Broadway’s magic lies as much in its orchestrations as in its lyrics. There was also great on-stage chemistry between the trio, including playful banter and reminiscing. Josh informed the audience that he had just missed out on co-starring with Amy in The Phantom of the Opera, who had just finished her tenure as Christine. However, when all “four” Christines were unwell, Amy returned to the Opera for four weeks to co-star with Josh—saving the show indeed.
Amy Manford’s first solo, As If We Never Said Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard, showcased her crystalline soprano, soaring effortlessly above the orchestra while capturing the aching nostalgia of Norma Desmond. Piterman followed with Bring Him Home from Les Misérables, a performance marked by warmth and restraint, his voice carrying both intimacy and power. Together, the pair brought tenderness to People Will Say We’re in Love and playful chemistry to I Could Have Danced All Night.
If Act One was about breadth and “wow” moments, Act Two was about depth. The MSO’s lush strings and brass gave Don’t Cry for Me Argentina a grandeur that filled the hall, while Manford’s interpretation balanced regal poise with vulnerability as she sang from one of the balconies. Piterman’s This is the Moment earlier in the evening had already demonstrated his ability to command a stage, but it was his turn as the Phantom in the climactic sequence that truly resonated with the audience.
The Phantom of the Opera suite—Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, The Music of the Night, and All I Ask of You—was the emotional centerpiece of the night. Manford and Piterman, who have shared these roles internationally, brought their chemistry to the stage again, elevating the performance beyond a concert into something theatrical and deeply moving. Their voices intertwined with natural ease, the orchestra swelling beneath them in a way that made Hamer Hall feel, for a moment, like the West End itself.
Then there was Jessica Gethin’s (Australia’s greatest Maestro?) spectacular conducting, which was like watching the greatest magician of Hogwarts as she wove invisible threads together. She was also a joy to watch. Broadway scores demand both symphonic discipline and theatrical flair, and she navigated that balance with elegance. The MSO responded with vitality: woodwinds danced through Bernstein’s Tonight, strings shimmered in Carousel, and percussion drove Fiddler on the Roof with infectious energy. Again, one of the many “wow” moments of An Evening on Broadway. Adding to the atmosphere was the spectacular lighting that went hand-in-hand with the music, particularly “that” famous number from Phantom of the Opera, complete with on-stage smoke, which was definitely a hit with the audience.
Final Thoughts?
What made An Evening on Broadway so compelling was not just the star power of its soloists or the virtuosity of the orchestra, but the sense of storytelling woven through the program. Each song was treated not as a standalone showpiece but as part of a larger narrative about love, loss, hope, and resilience—themes that have always defined Broadway at its best. By the time the final notes of All I Ask of You faded into silence, the audience rose in a standing ovation, not just for the performers but for the enduring magic of Broadway itself. It was, as Jessica Gethin promised, more than a concert—it was a journey through the heart of musical theatre, and a reminder that the best of Broadway is an amalgam of words and music. The performance also ended with a surprise rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone… powerful and emotional.
ACT ONE
Broadway Showstoppers
Music: Arthur Schwartz (That’s Entertainment), John Kander (Cabaret), Irving Berlin (There’s No Business Like Show Business); Arrangement: Charles Sayre
Tonight from West Side Story
Music: Leonard Bernstein; Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
As If We Never Said Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics: Don Black, Christopher Hampton & Amy Powers
Sunset Boulevard
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics: Don Black & Christopher Hampton
I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady
Music: Frederick Loewe; Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner
People Will Say We’re in Love from Oklahoma!
Music: Richard Rodgers; Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Bring Him Home from Les Misérables
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg; Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer & Alain Boublil
The Jellicle Ball from Cats
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics: T.S. Eliot
This is the Moment from Jekyll & Hyde
Music: Frank Wildhorn; Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse
Getting to Know You from The King and I
Music: Richard Rodgers; Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
If I Loved You from Carousel
Music: Richard Rodgers; Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
ACT TWO
Don’t Cry for Me Argentina from Evita
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics: Tim Rice
Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific
Music: Richard Rodgers; Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
No One is Alone from Into the Woods
Music and lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
I Have Confidence in Me from The Sound of Music (1965 film)
Music and lyrics: Richard Rodgers
Symphonic Dances from Fiddler on the Roof Tradition – Wedding Dance No.1 (Bottle Dance) – Perchik and Hodel – To Life
Music: Jerry Bock; Arrangement: Ira Hearshen
Luck Be a Lady from Guys and Dolls
Music and lyrics: Frank Loesser
The Phantom of the Opera
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics: Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe
Introduction
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
The Music of the Night
All I Ask of You
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