Younger than springtime

It was, as the French say, a coup de foudre - a genuine 14-carat bolt of musical lightning that struck Richard Marrett's heart and mind from somewhere high above the third row from the stage at New York's Lincoln Centre.

Blame it on Rodgers and Hammerstein, the atmosphere or the sound of a 35-piece symphony orchestra playing the overture to South Pacific, but from that moment on, the Christchurch musical director knew that he had to create a similar feeling in Christchurch.

Tomorrow Marrett's dream becomes a reality when he conducts a concert tribute to 20th century musical theatre's two presiding geniuses. Together with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, an 80-voice chorus drawn from NASDA students and guests including Jennine Bailey, Ali Harper and Michael Lee Porter, Marrett will present a potent reprise of the inimitable music and lyrics of Mr R and Mr H. From the opening bars of the overture to, naturally, South Pacific to the pas de deux from Carousel danced by Christchurch's Glen Harris and Lucy Wells, it will be, according to Marrett, some enchanted evening - but one not without surprises. Harris, currently Southern Ballet's senior school tutor, performed the ballet 300 times during the 1994 Broadway revival of Carousel while many of the soloists add their own unique touch to songs which have become classics in their own right.

All of which stemmed from that visit to see the revival of South Pacific at the Lincoln Centre.

"As the overture began, I began to feel, as an audience member, the extraordinary effect of this wonderful music. I knew immediately why it enjoys such popularity even today. As the music continued the Lincoln Centre's very large stage moved back on hydraulics and more and more glorious music swelled into the room. The effect was so overwhelming that I was moved to tears. Such is the power of a Richard Rodgers score. That was the moment that this concert was born," he says.

"Christchurch has always had a strong audience for musical theatre. They support it so well but this doesn't always translate to the CSO. We did Broadway Broads last year which was very well received. I then suggested that the CSO could perform a couple of tribute concerts - including Rodgers and Hammerstein. Their contribution is still unparalleled." For such a richly productive partnership, the relationship between the composer (Rodgers) and lyricist (Hammerstein) was a curious one. The pair worked separately, barely communicated and outside the workroom, rarely socialised. But somehow the creative spark united them in a series of productions which largely defined 20th century musical theatre.

"It was an amazing synergy in which the lyrics came first. With other people it's the other way around. But therein lies the whole mastery of melody - Rodgers was the complete melodist. When the Court Theatre asked me to work with South Pacific in 2002, I wondered whether anyone would come. It was old hat. But I didn't really know it and soon discovered one of the richest experiences of my life."

For the CSO concert, Marrett decided to avoid the faithful, period replica performances in favour of balancing nine performers with different specialities.

"Jennine Bailey will sing Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered from Pal Joey in a tribute to Richard Rodgers. I heard her singing it in a jazz concert and it was stunning. Several songs will receive a different treatment, but the spirit is always there."CHRISTOPHER MOORE

Rodgers and Hammerstein - A Tribute. The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Richard Marrett, with guest singers Juliet Reynolds-Midgley, Angela Johnson, Ali Harper, Jennine Bailey, Michael Lee Porter, Ravil Atlas and Nic Kyle. Tomorrow, 8pm, Douglas Lilburn Auditorium, Christchurch Town Hall. Book at Ticketek.

- © Fairfax NZ News