Idina Menzel at Colston Hall - Bristol Live Music Review
Posted on: 2017-06-15
Our rating:
Idina Menzel, Broadway diva, Glee star and the vocal talent behind Disney’s Elsa - the Frozen character who implored us to Let It Go - took to the stage at Bristol’s Colston hall on June 14th on the first stop of the UK leg of her global tour.
You might not recognise her face; or even her name if John Travolta’s faux pas at the 2014 Oscars is anything to go by but I can guarantee that any of you with primary school age children will know the voice.
The Tony Award-winning singer is famed as the woman who originated the roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked. Menzel is musical theatre personified, each gesture and movement perfected after over 20 years in the business. Having released her 5th solo studio album, the self-titled ‘Idina’ in autumn 2016 she has embarked on a 45 date tour, taking her across the world and giving her the chance to lead audiences on a journey through the songs of the album as well as some classics from musical theatre and her back catalogue.
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Having last seen her perform live - a medley of musical theatre classics- almost 10 years ago I was looking forward to seeing something more from this Broadway talent, and I was not disappointed.
From the moment she walked on, Menzel owned the stage and had the rapt attention of her adoring fans. Starting off with a bouncy, pop rendition of Queen of Swords from the new album she exuded energy and passion, before moving onto the lighter, and more typical, Small World. Seasons of Love and Don’t Rain on My Parade followed with the audience joining in, enthusiastically singing out the lyrics to these musical classics. Though it wasn’t all about the songs you’d expect her to sing, rocky versions of Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog, I Do and Aretha Franklin’s Rock Steady showed this woman isn’t all about the smile and jazz hands; she has soul and a bit of an edge.
Though recently recovered from a bout of laryngitis Menzel’s powerhouse performance was nothing short of exceptional. A breath-taking version of Wind Beneath my Wings was followed by a spine tingling rendition of Defying Gravity, and a beautiful a cappella performance of For Good, which left the audience listening intently to every glorious note. For someone who (like me) has listened to the Wicked soundtrack several hundred times this was an absolute delight.
Charming and personable, Menzel was clearly extremely comfortable on the stage and very happy to be up there entertaining the audience. She shared anecdotes and jokes with the enthralled crowd, showcasing her self-deprecating sense of humour, sharing her insecurities and giving a little of herself in a way you don’t often see from artists. The audience were drawn in by her quirky comments and tendency to wander off on a tangent, endearingly telling tales that made it seem she was sitting down having a natter with friends.
She finished up the set with an awe-inspiring performance of Let It Go, which saw the audience on their feet. A fabulous night of music and fun, made all the more special for some audience members as Menzel called the young children to the stage to run through a few choruses of the Disney classic with her.
5/5
Article by:
Sarah-Jane is an aficionado of film, theatre, culture and the arts. A voracious reader and avid crafter, she can be found volunteering her face painting talents at Bristol Zoo when she's not cementing her reputation as Coalpit Heath’s cake maker extraordinaire. Known to have an opinion on everything she’s never happier than when sharing these with the good folk of Bristol!
