Shirley Ritenour is blessed with a dramatic soprano that just pours out of her. She dedicated her concert to Eileen Farrell, the be-loved American soprano. Like Farrell, Ms. Ritenour is able to sing both classical and popular fare.

The first half of the program opened with “Dich, Teure Halle” (“Dear Hall, I Greet You Again”), from Tannhauser, with a blast of sound. She demonstrated dramatic abilities in arias from La Gioconda and Cavalleria Rusticana and Menotti’s The Consul. The first half was rounded out with the waltzy “Let My Song Fill Your Heart” (Ernest Charles) and the traditional “Danny Boy.”

When Ms. Ritenour doffed her gown for a pantsuit and picked up a microphone, she sang standards of American songwriting, some using Eileen Farrell’s arrangements and bringing out surprising qualities of these oft-sung tunes. She swung “Old Devil Moon” and was introspective on “He Was Too Good to Me.” Her “Just in Time” rollicked and she was lushly romantic on “My Romance.” She included a premiere of a torch song, “The Dream Is Done,” with music by Robert Farnon and lyrics by her director, Barry Kleinbort. She sounded eerily like Ms. Farrell, who loved her torchy ballads. She ended the show with a soaring “Over the Rainbow” and, as an encore, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

Director Kleinbort brought naturalness to the proceedings. Ted Taylor, her Musical Director and pianist, was the backbone of her second act ensemble which included “Sweet” Sue Terry (winds), John Redsecker (percussion) and Bill Ellison (bass).

Joel Benjamin
Cabaret Scenes
December 5, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org