Make no mistake. Michael Ball was born to perform. It also helps that he is just so insanely likeable.
I had seen Michael perform live as part of a duo with Alfie Boe, as well as seeing him as Anatoly in Chess, but this was my first time seeing him do a solo concert. And my word, was it worth the wait.
The show was a mix of music from his new album, Coming Home to You (which earned him his first solo number one album for 27 years), and songs from musicals and a few other covers.
We started off with 4 tracks from his new album, and from the opening lines of the total track, it was clear to see, we were in for a fantastic night.
He then performed songs from his favourite musicals, including the beautiful Evermore from Beauty and the Beast.
From then on, the songs came thick and fast, with Michael effortlessly moving from one to the other. For some artists, you wish they would just stop talking and sing, this was definitely not the case with Michael, I have never seen so much content in one show.
Most songs were enhanced by simple, yet beautiful images being projected on the screens at the back of the stage, for example, Evermore was accompanied by the iconic rose in a bell jar, and He Lives in You (The Lion King) was accompanied by a majestic lion.
The first half finished with Anthem, one of my personal favourites, earning Michael a well deserved standing ovation.
The 2nd half was more upbeat, with the likes of All Dance Together, which had the audience in the stalls rushing to the front of the stage, and You Can’t Stop the Beat (how anyone sings that solo is beyond me, trust me, I try and fail to sing along!).
Michael has an astounding ability to be laughing and joking with the audience one minute, and then reducing them to tears wihh the power and emotion of his voice the next. No more so than when singing a medley of classics from Les Miserable, which gave me and my companions goosebumps from the first notes of Empty Chairs, Empty Tables.
The encore was the now iconic Love Changes Everything, and The Wonder of You.
I always think the sign of a good show is that you have no concept of time whilst being there, and we were all amazed when the end came, as it had flown by so quickly.
This truly was an amazing show, being part of the audience truly felt like coming home.
I cannot wait until September when I finally get to see him in Les Miserable in Concert
Where have you been I am wondering 🤔‼️ you may be a younger fan I am assuming as much of Michael’s audience has been following him in his enormously successful career as a musical theatre actor, Radio & TV presenter & regular host of Proms In The Park with a highly successful career as a recording artist & concert performer for as long as Aspects of love…..the ALW show which really gave Michael THAT signature song LCE……….I have been a fan for over 30 years now so I have so many FANTASTIC memories of literally EVERY musical & EVERY concert tour Michael has done & THAT’S a lot of memories 😍 he’s one in a million & his enthusiasm & endless energy has to be seen to be believed!!
Welcome to the Michael Ball family of adoring fans 😄💕
Jill. Xx
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Hi, yes, I am on the younger side of the scale (mid 30s) so missed out on a lot of his earlier career, but I fully intend to make up for it! I did see him host Proms in The Park last year, and have my tickets for this year. The Michael Ball family of fans is so lovely, as I’ve been finding out online, and chatting to people at shows, thank you! Xx
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