Symphony’s Yule: Great music, poor staging

For a few years now, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s "Yuletide Celebration’
has been presided over by Sandi Patty, who fit right into the mix of sacred and secular holiday music. Her costume changes
seemed to outnumber the reindeer on Santa’s sleigh. Her local connection made the banter seem close to sincere. And her gospel
street cred eased the show’s jarring transitions from Santa to sacred.

This year’s headliner/host, jazz/cabaret great Ann Hampton Callaway, is equally acclaimed in her field — and in equally
strong
voice here. But the show doesn’t seem to have been adjusted to fit her talents.

That isn’t to say there aren’t wonderful musical moments. Capital Quartet has a jolly time with a horn version of familiar
"Nutcracker" music and lets loose a terrific "Winter Wonderland." It’s a shame that the curtain was closed
to cover a scene
change, because the ISO was integral to the number.

The ISO players, curtain open this time, beautifully rendered the melancholy "Sussex Mummers’ Carol" (courtesy of
Raymond Leppard’s
arrangement). Callaway had fun at the piano with a signature bit of hers — creating an original song out of audience
suggestions — although
the orchestra didn’t seem ready to play along despite her prodding. And a soaring mix of "Have Yourself a Merry Little
Christmas"
and "The Christmas Song" brought appropriate chills thanks to Callaway and guest vocalist Daniel Okulitch (from
the Broadway
cast of Baz Luhrmann’s "La Boheme" and the world premiere of the opera "The Fly").

Unfortunately, the isn’t-Indy-wonderful
opening shtick felt stale right out of the box, as did the perhaps-ready-for-a-rest "Twas the Night Before Christmas"
sequence.
Okulitch and the orchestra seemed to be set against each other rather than joining forces on a hesitant "O Holy Night."
The
cluttered choreography with the sizable cast of dancers occasionally made the case that bigger isn’t always better. And too
often there was the feeling of Callaway being trapped in a ’70s TV variety show.

The last few numbers entered midnight mass territory, with Callaway outfitted like royalty and the company offering straight-up
spirituality. The sound was impeccable. But forgive me if this sounds like Mr. Potter: Its ultimate effect was making me want
to hear Callaway, Okulitch and the ISO let loose in their more natural elements.

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