Gateway Festival Orchestra - Broadway to Bel Canto

The very entertaining and personable Christopher Kelts returns to conduct the Gateway Festival Orchestra for a program that has some fun showcasing the continuum of music and song ranging from Broadway musical to opera. With all the vocals being accompanied with the full orchestra.

Things to Know
This early evening concert is outdoors, in the Brookings Quadrangle at Washington University. The concert is free. No tickets are required. It will almost certainly be warm. However, shade will spread across the quad as we approach concert time. There will be Ted Drewes frozen custard and drinks available for purchase on site. We are welcomed to bring our own food, refreshments, chairs and blankets. And I recommend bug spray, just in case.

There will be free parking available in the university's lighted garage underneath Brookings Hall. There are elevators to help get you up to the quadrangle level. You can also park on the street or in selected spaces in the university's surface lots.

The Gateway Festival Orchestra's concerts in the WashU Quadrangle are particularly relaxed, family friendly and welcoming. If you are interested in the particulars of the concert music, composers and performers, there will be a gathering before the concert, in the shade around 7:10, for a presentation called 'Notes to Munch On' that will offer some fun insights.

The Musical Program
Where Showtunes Meet Opera's Greatest Hits

Dr. Kelts, the orchestra, and tenor Seokho Park will guide us through this extraordinary musical landscape, from Verdi and Puccini to the melodies of Rodgers & Hammerstein and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Part I: The Classics & A Phantom’s Whisper

• Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Richard Wagner)
• The Scene: Imagine a grand festival, a celebration of art and tradition! Wagner’s majestic prelude instantly immerses you in a world where craftsmanship and passion intertwine – a perfect start to an evening honoring musical artistry.
• “Lunge da lei… De’ miei bollenti spiriti” from La traviata (Giuseppe Verdi)
• The Young Lover’s Heart: Tenor Seokho Park steps into the role of Alfredo, deeply in love and full of hope. This aria is a passionate outburst, capturing the exhilarating feeling of pure, unadulterated romance. It’s the kind of fervent declaration that makes both opera and Broadway shine!
• Selections from The Sound of Music (Richard Rodgers / Oscar Hammerstein II)
• Beloved Melodies: From the Austrian Alps to the St. Louis stage, these iconic tunes need no introduction! Get ready to hum along to the familiar, heartwarming melodies that have charmed generations and remain a cornerstone of American musical theatre. It’s pure joy.
• Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana (Pietro Mascagni)
• A Moment of Serenity: After the vibrant energy, Mascagni’s famous Intermezzo offers a moment of lush, instrumental beauty. It’s a sweeping, romantic respite that speaks volumes without a single word – a testament to the orchestra’s power.
• “The Phantom of the Opera” selections (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
• Broadway’s Dark Romance: Tenor Seokho Park commands the stage as the mysterious Phantom, bringing to life the dramatic, haunting melodies that have captivated millions. This is the ultimate crossover hit, blending operatic scale with Broadway spectacle – a true fusion piece!

— INTERMISSION —
Part II: Dreams, Dances & A Tenor’s Triumphs

• Salute to Broadway (arr. Carl Strommen)
• A Theatrical Overture: The GFO orchestra lights up the stage with a vibrant medley of Broadway’s greatest hits. This high-energy piece will have you tapping your feet and recalling countless nights under the stage lights!
• “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha (Mitch Leigh / Joe Darion)
• The Power of Hope: Tenor Seokho Park delivers one of Broadway’s most enduring and inspirational anthems. This song is a rallying cry for anyone who dares to dream, to fight for what’s right, and to reach for the stars – a universal message of resilience.
• “Maria” from West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim)
• First Love in the City: What happens when a soaring operatic voice meets a gritty New York City street? You get “Maria.” Seokho Park brings the exquisite tenderness and explosive joy of Tony’s iconic declaration of love to life. It’s a moment of pure, romantic bliss.
• Highlights from West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim)
• The Urban Epic: Experience the electrifying energy and dramatic sweep of Bernstein’s masterpiece! From the rhythmic clashes to the lyrical beauty, these orchestral highlights showcase why West Side Story is a landmark work that bridges classical sophistication with Broadway grit.
• “Nessun dorma” from Turandot (Giacomo Puccini)
• The Ultimate High Note: And for our grand finale, the aria that defines the heroic tenor! Tenor Seokho Park will deliver the powerful, soul-stirring “Nessun dorma.” This is opera at its most glorious – a moment of pure triumph that will send shivers down your spine and leave you breathless. If you know one opera song, it’s likely this one!