Symphony gigs a fave for Idina Menzel
“All I ever wanted was to make a living singing,” says Idina Menzel, the Tony-winning singer-actress renowned for her roles in the landmark Broadway hits Wicked and Rent
“When I was 15, that meant singing at weddings and bar mitzvahs. Now I get to sing with an 80-piece orchestra in beautiful concert halls. When people want to buy a ticket and spend 90 minutes listening to you, especially in this economy, that’s a gift.”
Menzel’s army of adoring fans – multiplying because of her recurring role in TV’s hugely popular Glee – more likely will think the chance to hear her sing with the Houston Symphony this weekend at Jones Hall is their gift.
Though concerts and recordings have been part of Menzel’s repertoire for more than a decade, her concert schedule kicked into high gear when she began collaborating with symphony orchestras last year. She’s presented her symphonic program in 40 cities – last weekend at London’s Royal Albert Hall, with the Royal Philharmonic led by legendary stage and screen music man Marvin Hamlisch.
“It’s a real mix, very eclectic,” Menzel says of the set she’ll perform under Houston Symphony associate conductor Robert Franz. “There are the songs you’d expect, from shows I’ve been in. There are songs I grew up singing, classic show tunes and pop songs – as well as newer ones.”
Menzel’s Glee role as Shelby Corcoran, coach of a rival choir and birth mother of series lead Rachel (Lea Michele), will be prominent in several episodes this season.
“We’re shooting on Glee today, so I was up at 6:15 and spent as much time with my little boy as possible.” Menzel and actor husband Taye Diggs, who met while doing Rent, are the parents of 2-year-old Walker. “When I’m on an episode, they’re good about rolling all my work into a few days, so I can go do my concert schedule.”
Though performing live in theater and concerts is her first love, Menzel says she’s thrilled and proud to be part of Glee.
“I feel lucky to be part of a TV series that seems to revere the theater, the people and music of the theater. I’m happy it lets a larger audience see how much work goes into a show, so they understand what goes into doing eight shows a week. I think the appetite for that kind of music is always there – but for a while, TV lost track of how to put it out the right way. Now, Glee has found a way to do it that’s working.”
Menzel’s stage credits include notable off-Broadway shows such as Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party and Michael John LaChiusa’s See What I Wanna See, as well as playing aggressive performance artist Maureen in Jonathan Larson’s Rent But originating Elphaba, the outcast green heroine of Stephen Schwartz’s megahit Wicked, likely will remain her signature achievement – and that’s OK with her.
“With all these shows, it’s been great being part of a new work taking shape, part of what influences its development. With Rent, I can remember sitting at the piano with Jonathan, a wonderful memory I wouldn’t trade. Shows like Rent and Wicked are more than Broadway hits. They are experiences that change people, that catch the zeitgeist and define a generation.”
Menzel is positive she will return to the theater.
“My husband and I are happy with our home in Los Angeles, but we haven’t given up our apartment in New York! There are two or three shows being written that I’m looking at doing, but it’s too early in their development for me to put names to them.”
For now, Menzel is happy getting her live-audience connection in concert halls.
“With the music industry in such flux, it’s powerful to have the autonomy to get out there and play all these venues and cities. This format gives me the intimate rapport with the audience that I love, combined with the thrill of having a huge orchestra behind me. I’m having the best time.”