Charlie Widmer locked eyes with his wife in the front row.
“There is nothing for me but to love you and the way you look tonight,” crooned the trained operatic tenor. The song was Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight.” The soft accompaniment came from piano, saxophone, bass … and the squeals of seagulls on Long Wharf.
Widmer, a rising performer from the local scene, was performing with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra for 140 people this past Friday night outside the Canal Dock Boathouse with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.
The event, titled “My Song”, featured the music that was important or defining in Widmer’s life and career. For Widmer, those songs ranged from Broadway ballads to Italian operatic hits.
Natalie Kainz Photo
“I find inspiration in a lot of different styles of music,” said Widmer. “It was a labor of love to get this program together and pull this off.”
If there is anything that sums up Widmer’s style, it’s the word “eclectic.” At Friday night’s performance, he sang in three different languages: English, Italian, and Spanish. Stevie Wonder rests at the top of Widmer’s list of inspirations, James Taylor; Tupac, and Kanye West follow. West’s Album Late Registration prompted Widmer to begin investing time into music as a young teenager.
Widmer started out as a guitarist when he was 13. He shifted into singing and even musical theatre. He met his wife — poet and teacher Shelby Lynn Lanaro — while the pair were auditioning for the musical Grease during high school.
Shelby Lynn Lanaro watches Widmer’s performance from the front row.
“When I sing for her or to her, I just hope that she knows she is the reason I sing of love,” said Widmer. “She is my muse.”
At the event, Widmer also sang “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” for his wife. The song, which includes lyrics like, “How could he know we two were so in love? The whole darn world seemed upside down,” reminded Widmer of the craziness and happiness of his marriage during the pandemic.
New Haven Symphony Orchestra members Jim Andrews and Tim Moran provided bass violin and saxophone accompaniments. Doug Perry and William Braun played percussion and piano.
Bixby Kennedy on clarinet and Andrew Sledge on bassoon.
Andrew Sledge on bassoon and Bixby Kennedy on clarinet were added to the ensemble during Widmer’s rendition of “E lucevan le stelle” from Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosco.” Also in Italian, Widmer sang the operatic classic “O Sole Mio.”
“When I first sang this song, I didn’t know it,” said Widmer, explaining that he first performed it when his father told all his friends that he sang opera in a restaurant. “I had to make up the words on the spot!”
Audience members sit socially distanced at the waterfront.
Widmer described himself as “half Swiss, half Puerto Rican, but all American.” Those cultural influences came through when he sang “Preciosa” in Spanish, inspired by his grandfather on his mother’s side.
Widmer’s grandfather was a musician and singer who immigrated from Puerto Rico.
“For years, he would do physical labor all day long and when the evenings came he would change and go to a gig,” said Widmer.
Widmer sings Puerto Rican patriotic ballad “Preciosa.”
“Preciosa” brought tears to audience member Tracy Scelzo’s eyes. Scelzo and her family have been watching Widmer since he performed at Western Connecticut State University.
“He’s evolved so much with his voice, confidence, and ability to entertain,” said Scelzo. “I see Charlie performing on Broadway one day for sure.”
William Braun on piano.
On Long Wharf, Widmer performed “Remember Me” from the animated Disney musical film Coco and “Maria” from the musical Westside Story. He said one day he would love to perform in Dear Evan Hansen or Hamilton, which align with his high voice and hip hop- soul music background.
Next Widmer is looking ahead to releasing an album with his bluegrass band “On the Trail”. He is also working on a soul-hip hop fusion project called “Suburban” and intends to audition for some Broadway shows in the fall.
It sounds like it was a great concert, and Charlie Widmer is a promising young talent. But, please - "The Way You Look Tonight" is not Frank Sinatra's song! The music is by Jerome Kern, and the lyrics are by Dorothy Fields. Many, many other people have performed this song besides Sinatra, including Fred Astaire, who performed it first in the film "Swing Time" where it won an Academy Award for best song. We need to give the composers and lyricists of the Great American Songbook their due.