Johnny Mathis didn't have to sing a note to get his first standing ovation at Heinz Hall last night. He responded with "When I Fall In Love," accompanied only by a solo piano.

Mathis was always a song stylist, singular for his pronounced vibrato, almost a warble, and plaintive high register. At age 72 and appearing once more with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, he had grown in elegance and ease, the long-winded phrases still there, if occasionally raspy. It was strangely endearing.

Obviously Mathis wanted a little room to roam -- a nifty Brazilian song set that concluded the program with his attention to rhythmic acuity, a "Kismet" collection with the light jazz inflections of "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," "You Make Me Feel Brand New," evoking the smooth sound of the '70's group, The Stylistics, and the '30's British ditty, "And Her Mother Came Too," first performed by actor, dramatist, singer and composer Ivor Novello. He even shared a Pittsburgh connection with movie songs by Beaver native Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, including "Moon River" and Mancini's oft-expressed favorite, "Two For the Road."

The audience ate it up, but waited for the songs that made this balladeer famous. He produced that high note in "Misty" and the passion that often simmered beneath the surface came out in songs like "Twelfth of Never" and "Chances Are."

Mathis could cast his spell after all these years and reduce this decidedly adult audience into a bunch of rapturous teenagers -- still wonderful, wonderful.

First Published: July 12, 2008, 9:30 a.m.