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| JOHNNY MATHIS CHRISTMAS CONCERT DECEMBER 18, 2004 ROSEMONT THEATRE |
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Yes, indeed, Johnny's Christmas concert with the Chicagoland Pops Symphony Orchestra was every Mathisonians dream. However, the weather in the Chicago area was a nightmare---even to an Illinois native, like myself. Early plans were made for Johnny's concert at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, Illinois which is just a few miles from Chicago's western border. In September, I had purchased concert tickets for myself and my daughter, Melinda. We settled for lousy seating, and I also made room reservations for the concert night at the Crowne Plaza/Holiday Inn directly across the street from the theatre, in anticipation of the snowy chill and confusion that would surely surround the theater that night. |
| OH! THE WEATHER OUTSIDE WAS FRIGHTFUL BUT JOHNNY WAS SO-O-O DELIGHTFUL |
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| An extra added treat on the day of the concert, was meeting up with the Detroit Metro Mathis Connection (fan club). I met them shortly after checking into the hotel---along with members of the Mathis Music Messengers. MDMC showed up sporting red sweatshirts with a giant silhouette of Johnny (in his 70's sideburns) on the front. How exciting it was to meet and talk to people who all shared my fondness for Johnny Mathis and his music. Everyone shared such great stories of their personal contact with Johnny Mathis. I am now convinced that I am the only person in the world who has not met and/or talked to Johnny Mathis. Oh, well!!! What would I say anyway. Pictures were taken with both groups, and, as the day progressed, we all prepared ourselves for a night of Mathis Christmas magic. The trek across the street to the theater was chilling,with the predicted cold front moving into the area fast. As we walked into the lobby of the Rosemont theatre, we were greeted with Christmas music by Andy Williams (How sacrilegious!!). I advised one of the theater assistants of my displeasure at this outrage, who merely shrugged at my comment (What do you want me to do, lady? I don't own this place). Johnny's concert was a sellout. For the first half of the show, the Chicagoland Pops Symphony Orchestra played Christmas tunes, treating the audience to snowy theater affects as a surprise addition to the holiday scenery. Johnny Mathis appeared after the intermission looking very debonair in black suit and bowtie. Johnny added a nice selection of Christmas tunes to his regular lineup of songs, including MERRY CHRISTMAS, IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS, CAROLING CAROLING, TOYLAND, (and many others). Johnny mesmerized the audience when he sang "A Stranger In Paradise", accompanied by the resonating violin and cello sections of the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra. The sound was the best I've heard at any of Mathis' concerts. Response from the audience was somewhat dry, and very uncharacteristic of Chicago theater goers. Author Tony Jasper shares in his autobiography of Johnny Mathis that "a Mathis performance is something for silent appreciation rather than an evening of excitement or hysteria." Nevertheless, I just couldn't keep still when Johnny sang "BRAZIL", and my favorite Mathis Christmas song "IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR." After the last encore, I did the "frozen toe hobble" toward the stage and presented Johnny with a bouquet of roses. He, then, motioned a kiss to me with his lips---and I haven't stopped smiling yet. |
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| click lips for pics |
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| MERRY CHRISTMAS-have a very very Merry Christmas-dream about your hearts desire Christmas Eve when you retire- Santa Claus will stop-and I know he'll drop exactly what you wanted-from your chimney top--So be jolly-have a holiday as gay as holly--May the ones you love be near you-with the laugh of friends to cheer you when the church bells ring- like the angel sing-and you hear the joyful hymn they chime Hang a wish for me on your Christmas tree for a very merry Christimastime. |
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