The Trailblazing Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King & Carly Simon took place at The Mann Center on June 22nd with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Like many orchestras, it seems to take on a lighter fare in their summer home. This production, conceived by Broadway and orchestral conductor, Ted Sperling, appealed to those who fondly remember the music of this era. This package was funded by The Mann Center, Ravinia in Chicago, and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Sperling told me that this is a particularly expensive production with the additional use of vocalists as well as other musicians to fill in, such as guitarists. He said that this was the first time these vocalists had performed with an orchestra this size, and pointed out that one of the vocalists, Melody Betts, was a last-minute addition.
Ted Sperling was the host of the evening and gave some background of the songs as well as some interesting stories associated with them. The reason why these women were trailblazers is that they were singer-songwriters when that title didn’t exist. Instead of talking about just love and break-ups, these women poured their heart and soul into their songs and shared some of their personal journeys.
The arrangements were terrific and creative, feeling distinct from the versions we know from the past. One of the highlights was “Both Sides Now,” written by Joni Mitchell, but made popular by Judy Collins. The orchestration started out acapella, bringing the musicians in as the song went along. The three vocalists were Melody Betts, as mentioned, Broadway veteran Aisha de Hass, and Morgan James. Both Aisha de Hass and Melody Betts gave the songs a soul version, while Morgan James has more of a jazz style. All three were incredibly talented and worked well with each other on the harmonies, though in some moments it seemed evident that their timing with the orchestra lacked rehearsal.
Overall, it was a great evening of songs that bring many back to an different era of personal expression. The real star of the night was Ted Sperling, who conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra beautifully and gave remarkable commentary to make the evening a joy.