ASO concert this afternoon

If you have tickets to the first concert in the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra's Axiom pops series this afternoon at 3 p.m. at Robinson Center Music Hall in Little Rock for Halloween Spookfest, I suggest you use them. If you don't have tickets yet, there are still tickets available at the box office.
The concert is a must see. Last night the hall was filled with spooks, ghost, goblins and so much more. The music was heartfelt and fun. The hall was decorated for Halloween. The ushers and orchestra members, and patrons of all ages were dressed in Halloween costumes.
There were costume contests, surprising guests and the best orchestral finale I have ever seen.
The music was drawn from our favorite frightening films. Some of it composed by long gone masters, such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Camille Saint Saens, some by contemporary masters such as John Williams and Andrew Lloyd Webber. All of the music was well executed, but there was so much more.
Eyes were wide all across the hall trying to take in all the costumes. In the orchestra alone I saw witches, fairies, goblins, the cat in the hat, Scooby Doo and his human sidekick, a train conductor, a UPS delivery man, a mad scientist, a Viking, Zorro, a farmer, It from the Addams Family, hillbillies, a prisoner, Dorothy with Toto, a sailor and much, much more.
Conductor Philip Mann was making his pops debut and the short film welcoming Mann to Arkansas, available on the ASO website, was shown before he crept on stage with his skeletal costume. The website is www.arkansassymphony.org . Mann is a showman all the way. He plunked a bone off of his costume to conduct Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. As a prelude to the next number he asked for something more fitting to conduct the piece. One of the children in the audience was so excited when he heard the opening phrase of the music he yelled out Harry Potter. Then, there was Harry Potter demonstrating his conducting abilities with his wand, giving Mann the opportunity to change into something a little more elegant. He reappeared in James Bond attire, complete with a martini glass.
Can you feel the fun yet? There was also the frightening, with the classic score from Psycho. Although I love Hitchcock thrillers, this one scare me still.
The guest vocalist for the Phantom of the Opera music was a big surprise. He was not mentioned in the program or on the website. His interpretation of the music was more than satisfactory. I loved his gravelly low notes. Too bad his name was only mentioned once and these old ears did not catch it. I would like to hear more from him.
After intermission Mann reappeared as Luke Skywalker and attempted to conduct with his light saber. There were lots of laughs this half, too. I have to say I almost sang the words to the Addams Family when it came around.
Mann delivered snappy patter between each number and gave the stories behind the classical pieces. He pointed out phrases in the music to listen for. A good educational experience as well as entertaining. The orchestra responds well to Mann's conducting. Watching him conduct is like watching a very energetic dance. The orchestra feeds off that energy making a delightful sound.
I giggled like a little girl when orchestra members held up signs reminiscent of the screen flash words on Batman while they played the score. Bang! Zonk!, etc.
Spiderman running around the hall during his theme music left me kind of cold. I have never been a big Spiderman fan, just give me Batman. Maybe there should have been a vote for the best superhero.
The best surprise of the evening was the finale, Theme from E.T, the Extraterrestrial. The film screen was lowered and the audience watched the last few minutes of the film as the orchestra played. I teared up just like I did 28 years ago when I saw the film the first time. My only complaint was I didn't have the time rolling credits provide to wipe my face before the lights came up.
If you get the chance to go today, do, you won't regret it.