The ensemble displayed its chic, retro sound as it performed songs containing elements ranging from Latin-inspired rhythms to French cabaret styles to classical influences.
The most striking element of the concert was the way in which the musicians shifted between several disparate musical styles. The performance began with a soulful, groovy take on a traditional melody, followed abruptly by a piece replete with tango rhythms. Later in the first half, violinist Nicholas Crosa performed the second movement of a Mozart violin concerto.
In the second half of the show, the group played its "Sympathique," which contained a slow, swinging melody that Large sang in French. Afterward, an audience member came onstage with the musicians and sang a piece in Greek.
Large, who was standing in for the group's regular frontwoman China Forbes, charmed the audience with her quirky personality and sultry voice. She unabashedly danced onstage and displayed her wide range of vocal talent, singing ballads, jazz pieces and Latin dance songs in several languages.
The musicians of Pink Martini also displayed their musical prowess. Each instrumentalist performed solos at different points throughout the show, with particularly stunning solo moments by cellist Pansy Chang, trombonist Robert Taylor and trumpeter Gavin Bondy.
After receiving a standing ovation, Pink Martini ended the performance with a lively Latin dance tune, during which Large took off her shoes and urged audience members to dance. The crowd filled the aisles and grooved to the rhythms, ending the evening on an energetic note.
"It's great for the audience to enjoy themselves and have a night out," Margaret Lawrence, director of programming at the Hop, said.
"There's something amazing when you have 900 people with an amazing international touring band," Lawrence said. "It's an amazing community you can feel in those two hours. And then you can go out and have a pink martini."
Lawrence described the group's sound as "kind of suave, but [it] doesn't take itself too seriously."
The group's pianist, former politician Thomas Lauderdale, founded Pink Martini in Portland, Ore., in 1994, according to Lawrence.
"Pink Martini is one of those success stories that starts with the chemistry of the musicians themselves and the talent and collective imagination of the people involved," Lawrence said.
The orchestra, now comprised of a dozen musicians, has toured in several continents and often performs with major symphony orchestras.
The group first came to the Hopkins Center in 2007.
"They were sensational in 2007," said Lawrence. "Because their tours are so packed, it takes a lot of persistence to get a date with them."
Lawrence said that she wanted to bring Pink Martini to Dartmouth again because of its unique musical style.
"They have a really unique approach to making music," she said. "Their performances are all beautifully executed, and people love seeing that."
Lawrence said that many of the musicians are classically trained.
"They are all fantastic players and have classical chops," said Lawrence. "If all of the microphones broke except for one, that one musician would still sound great."
