Entertainment

If champagne came in human form, it would be Bernadette Peters: sparkling and gorgeous; crisp, bubbly and overflowing with mirth; full of light but capable of packing a dark punch.

MILTON HINNANT/DMN

Bernadette Peters carried the night away at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center on Friday.

Ms. Peters opened the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's Deloitte Pops Series on Friday night at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Clad in a silvery sheath, she effervesced her way through an hourlong set comprising mostly show tunes, drawing heavily from the canons of Stephen Sondheim and Rodgers and Hammerstein.

She ventured into torch-song territory with an ultravampy version of "Fever," draping herself languorously across the piano. For a few minutes, she transformed the Meyerson into a smoky, intimate nightclub; one half-expected Dean Martin to wander onstage, whiskey in hand. Ms. Peters also blessed the audience with a haunting version of the American standard "Shenandoah."

Her showstoppers were, however, all from musical theater – perfectly fitting, as the Tony Award-winning Ms. Peters has never been merely a great singer, but a great singer who is also a consummate actress. Every song is graced with the nuance of character, as if she builds a little play in her mind around each and every number.

She focused first on Rodgers and Hammerstein ("R&H," as she calls them, and she can get away with that), with a lilting, funny "Mister Snow" from Carousel. When she sings about her beau's unfortunate job as a fisherman, you absolutely believe her as she wails, "Now my heart is in my nose, and fish is my favorite perfume!"

Moving on to Sondheim, Ms. Peters segued effortlessly from angst ("Not a Day Goes By" from Merrily We Roll Along) to bemusement ("You Could Drive a Person Crazy" from Company). She saved the best for last, with an achingly lovely "Children Will Listen" from Into the Woods and powerful "Being Alive" from Company.

Ms. Peters' encore was a lovely ballad she wrote to accompany a children's book, Broadway Barks, she has coming out this spring. Proceeds from the book and accompanying CD will benefit shelter animals.

Her music director, Marvin Laird, provided sprightly conducting of the DSO during Ms. Peters' portion of the program.

Prior to her appearance, Richard Kaufman led the DSO through a droll program called "On the Air!" paying tribute to radio and television themes. It started with a rousing version of the overture from Rossini's William Tell, then dipped into a delightful selection of TV themes.

It's a safe bet that the theme from The Love Boat and Love, American Style have never sounded quite so classy, and the music from The Andy Griffith Show inspired what may have been the inaugural snap – and whistle – along at the Meyerson.

• Bernadette Peters performs with the DSO at 8 tonight at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St. at Pearl. $40 to $110.

Sold out, but standby tickets may

be available. 214-692-0203, www.dallassymphony.com.

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