Review: Jessica Vosk Conquers Boston in Symphony Hall Debut

With irrepressible charm, a supple belt, and impeccable musicianship, Jessica Vosk wowed a Symphony Hall audience on Sunday in her Boston debut, sponsored by the Celebrity Series of Boston. At first, she was awed by the hall, joking about the lighted statuary that lines the room's perimeter and saying that she was so amazed by its grandeur that she never wanted to leave. By the end of the concert, the audience felt the same about her.

Vosk called the show "My Golden Age," referring to not only the great songwriters from Broadway's past (Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter), but also those female songwriters she grew up with, including Carole King and Joni Mitchell. Her well-curated set reflected both; but leaned more towards those "bad ass boss ladies."

Dressed in casual black, Vosk treated the Symphony Hall stage like a playground, often falling to the floor or resting on the low speakers before her. She may be the most ambulatory performer ever to appear on this storied hall's stage, often running from one side to the other. She is also one of the most chatty, peppering her set with funny stories about her career, which included being dwarfed by others while auditioning to become one of Bette Midler's Harlettes (she didn't get the gig). Nothing appeared to faze her. One anecdote dealt with her role as a "swing" in the recent revival of "Fiddler on the Roof." "Swings," she explained, are meant to cover numerous roles and could be called on to go on at any moment. When an actress was injured at the end of the first act, she was told to go on as the female lead, Golde. Arriving on stage for the number, star Danny Burstein looked at her and asked: "Who are you?" She treated such moments with a blend of humor and humility, reflecting on her great luck of having been able to put her Wall Street career behind to become a Broadway performer.

Vosk sings with such a ringing belt it is understandable that she would excel as "Wicked's" green-faced witch Elphaba, which she did on the road and on Broadway. But her voice is also rich in subtlety. She sang Cole Porter's "I Still Got My Health" with an extroverted punch that echoed Ethel Merman, who originated the song. But she can also touchingly capture the nuances of Joni Mitchell's "Both Side Now," something a singer like Merman never could do.

A story about meeting Tony-winning Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown led to an exquisite combination of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" and the poignant "Still Hurting" from his musical "The Last Five Years." She was joined onstage by the remarkable Marissa Rosen for an unconventional song choice that she was told to leave off her first album – Melanie's "Brand New Key," and made a case for the novelty song. The big-voiced Rosen would appear later for a knock-out "Son of a Preacher Man" as a solo.

What made the concert so enjoyable was not only Vosk's funny banter and her genuine rapport with the audience, but also the shrewd musicianship, led by her long-time collaborator Mary Mitchell Campbell on piano. Her musical choices were surprising and delightful – where else could there be a mashup that included the pop hit "Different Drum," Andrew Lloyd Webber's "I Don't Know How To Love Him" and Stephen Sondheim's "Everybody's Says Don't?" Vosk not only made it work, but made it appear the songs were born to be performed in this medley.

An anecdote about having sung the national anthem at Fenway Park led to her covering the park's anthem, Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," after which she marveled on how well the audience harmonized with her. For fans of her performance in "Wicked," she offered a ringing "The Wizard and I" joined with the pensive "I'm Not That Girl." And for Taylor Swift fans (and there appeared to be many), there was a spot-on "Anti-Hero." Towards the end of the concert, she reflected on how life has changed since the pandemic with a stirring "Back to Before," in which she also honored the late Broadway star Marin Mazzie, who introduced this feminist anthem in "Ragtime."

From the "Hey, Mr. 'Funny Girl' Producer" Dept. came Vosk 's knock-out "Don't Rain on My Parade," just in case they're looking for an actress to helm the road company of the current hit revival. She ended the concert with a heartfelt "Your Song," Elton John's classic, before returning for two encores that paid tribute to Judy Garland: a beautifully sung "Get Happy" (with a touch of "Happy Days Are Here Again") done a capella and without a microphone, followed by a beautiful "Over the Rainbow" which brought to an end a smashing Boston debut for this delightful performer.

For more on Jessica Vosk's current tour, click here.

For more on The Celebrity Series of Boston, click here.