Host-Aled Jones
Featured Performers-Kerry Ellis, Adam Pascal, Philip Quast
Soloists-Ricardo Afonso, Leo Andrew, Teri Bibb, Jessie Buckley, Ceri-Lyn Cissone, Tiffany Graves, Charlotte Harwood, David Michael Johnson, Katie Rowley Jones, Debbie Kurup, Kenneth Nichols, Patrick Smyth & Tabitha Webb
Dancers-Ashley Andrews, Caroline Jones, Matthew Malthouse, Rachel Muldoon, Callum Nicol, Zizi Strallen, Lucie Waugh & Jason Winter
WITH
Robin Cousens, Ainsley Harriott, Gloria Hunniford, the Original Calender Girls, Brian May, Sing Live UK/USA
Oh What A Night! Excited did not even come close to how me and my friend were feeling when we arrived at the Albert Hall, after nearly missing our tea reservation at a hotel in Kensington due to a slow tube ride. We also had no idea what the programme would feature, and felt incredibly young...
The concert is celebrating its 10th birthday, and so many of the songs were featured were popular hits from the years before. These included the Tonight Quintet from West Side Story made bigger with the addition of the huge choir, You'll Never Walk Alone from Carousel performed in spinge-tingling fashion by Kenneth Nichols of Chicago Opera and Superstar from JCS performed by David Michael Johnson and the company, with some crazy choreography.
Acknowleding the fact that Stephen Sondheim also celebrates a pretty big birthday this year, there was also performances of 'The Ballad of Sweeney Todd', and choral versions of 'Being Alive' from Company and 'Sunday' from Sunday in the Park with George. Philip Quast also sang a medley of 'Good Thing Going' and 'Not A Day Goes By' from Merrily We Roll Along. There was also a nod to the birthday of Andrew Lloyd Webber, with an Evita segment, sung and danced by Debbie Kurup ('Bueno Aires'), I'd Do Anything runner-up Jessie Buckley ('You Must Love Me') and Kerry Ellis ('Don't Cry for Me Argentina')
The other stand outs included the Chess segment, having Kerry Ellis, who played Svetlana in the 2008 concert, sing 'Nobody's Side' far better than Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal reprise his performance of 'Pity the Child' and Philip Quast singing 'Anthem'. There was also a Rent tribute, with Pascal singing 'One Song Glory' and being joined by the entire company for 'Will I' and 'Seasons of Love'. Quast's 'Stars', Tiffany Graves' dancing in 'Rhythm of Life', Ricardo Afonso's 'Kiss of the Spiderwoman', Katie Rowley Jones' 'Unusual Way' and Brian May's surpise appearance in the We Will Rock You performance were also pretty amazing.
I'm also pleased to report that I had little problems hearing everything, from the very top of the circle, despite the band occasionally being very loud and perhaps pushing singers a little too far.
I'd be more than happy to return next year.
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