Paulo Szot charmed his audience with Broadway and Brazilian rhythms in a welcome return to 54 Below and a show that perfectly showcased his remarkable talents. One of today’s most versatile performers, Szot is an acclaimed operatic baritone and accomplished actor, equally at home on the opera stage and on Broadway. Fresh from reprising his celebrated role as Emile de Becque in South Pacific at The Muny in St. Louis, he is returning to Broadway in & Juliet.
From the moment he entered the room singing Kander and Ebb’s “All I Care About Is Love,” Szot commanded the audience’s attention. Rather than beginning onstage, he made his entrance through the bar, strolling through the audience, impeccably dressed with a devilish smile beneath his signature mustache. With more than a hint of Clark Gable’s debonair charm, he immediately established an intimate connection with the crowd.
The evening’s repertoire was perfectly suited to his rich, expressive baritone while also reflecting his Brazilian heritage. Szot infused several Broadway standards with subtle bossa nova rhythms, giving familiar songs a fresh and distinctive flavor. His magnificent voice soared in “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha (Mitch Leigh, Joe Darion), while his stirring rendition of “This Is the Moment” from Jekyll & Hyde (Frank Wildhorn, Leslie Bricusse, Steve Cuden) was the undeniable highlight of the evening. Earlier in the show, he delighted the audience with a heartfelt South Pacific medley by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, reminding everyone why the role has become one of his signature performances. For his encore, Szot delivered a moving rendition of “Some Enchanted Evening,” bringing the audience to its feet in a well-deserved standing ovation.
A major contributor to the evening’s success was the outstanding eight-piece band whose lush orchestration beautifully complemented Szot’s commanding vocals. Under musical director-pianist Luke Frazier, musicians included Robert Morris (guitar,) Greg Watkins (bass) and Steven Picataggio (drums), with violinists Dilyana Tsenov, Ina Paris and Laura Sacks, and cellist Maria Jeffers—the strings adding warmth and elegance to the arrangements.
