Caroline Goodwin / Arvostelut

For good measure, guest artist Caroline Goodwin joined in, singing her young heart out for legions of hometown fans. Along with chestnuts such as “The First Noel” and Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” Goodwin performed “Rejoice Greatly” from Handel’s Messiah and two Hanukkah songs — which she sang in Hebrew. The product of Vigo County public schools, Goodwin graduated from Indiana University and is working on her master’s degree at IU’s Jacobs School of Music. Her sights are rightly set on an opera career — the Handel alone proved she has those chops — and yet she displayed a broad range of vocal styles throughout the evening, equally at ease in the genres of Broadway, jazz and even blue grass.

Like so many comic arias, the Laughing Song is delightful and funny – and hard as all get-out to execute. Putting it over requires serious vocal chops and considerable acting ability. Goodwin has both in abundance. Her pure, lyrical sound is made for Mozart, Puccini and every soprano role the great, just-departed Stephen Sondheim ever wrote for Broadway.