News you can use

The Sound of Music is only part of their repertoire

It would not be an exaggeration to say that I have seen "The Sound of Music" at least 30 times, enjoying it with my mother, my children, by myself and with various friends over the years. The need to see it again was finally out of my system, or so I thought, until the von Trapp children performed at Havre High School auditorium on June 20. I was once again captivated by the memories of the beautiful story and music of Capt. Georg and Maria von Trapp and their family.

After a heartwarming introduction by the children's parents, Annie and Stefan von Trapp, the concert began with the three girls of the family, who are the great-grandchildren of Georg and Maria von Trapp, nonchalantly walking onto stage, where they stood in front of three microphones, with one shorter microphone standing alone. The girls Sofia, 13, Melanie, 11, and Amanda, 10, sang in unison as they opened with "Amazing Grace." Oh, "how sweet the sound" when their gentle voices, with no hesitation, broke into a three-part harmony. I sat in awe as I listened to these three young voices sing "The Sound of Music" with an incredible and unique style, especially for children so young.

On the third song, the shorter microphone became occupied and the girls were joined by brother, Justin, 7, whose animated personality sent the audience into giggles of delight. Since I couldn't pick out his voice in "The Lonely Goatherder," I assumed he was too young and immature to add much to the girls' sounds. "They probably have his microphone turned way down so as to not distract from the lovely sounds of the girls," I thought to myself. Wrong. Justin, later in the concert, soloed to "Where is Love," and I was once again pleased by the sounds I heard. Justin's microphone was definitely on, and so was he as he sang every note to perfection.

Delighted is an understatement as to my reaction to their casual demeanor on stage, unpolished but incredibly pleasing, especially considering their youth. I could go on and on, song by song, but I won't. But their rendition of "Johnny Angel" brought a totally new dimension to their repertoire of songs, and the audience was once again enlightened by the sounds we heard. Never heard that song in "The Sound of Music." What a great contrast to expound on their versatility.

The von Trapp family donated the proceeds from the concert to the newly created Boys and Girls Club, as did the Northern Showcase. Many thanks to the organizers of this wonderful event and if you love "The Sound of Music" and good, wholesome entertainment and you didn't attend this one, you truly missed out. We all left the concert want-ing more. I am going to rent "The Sound of Music" this weekend.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/10/2024 04:12