I wasn’t quite sure what to expect heading into May 26th’s Il Divo concert at the Saddledome. Critics have not often been kind to the international superstars, comprised of Italy’s Carlos Marín, Switzerland’s Urs Bühler, France’s Sébastien Izambard and American David Miller. By the end of their two-part hour and fifty minute show I had to admit I was in awe.
The initial key to the group is the fact that these are four very good-looking men. They played it up to the hilt for the 11,000 plus in attendance, comprised mostly of women between 40 and 80, their husbands, and gay men (many of whom were with their moms). Marin especially played it up to the hilt, pausing to tell the crowd “I missed you. Did you miss me? Did you miss my… little curl?”
Yes, there was a lot of cheese in the show, the sly winks, the incredibly slow walking, and dramatic faces. I kept waiting for Marin’s head to explode during some songs. Underneath the corniness is the fact that these guys can sing. The night was filled with cover songs of Celine Dion, The Moody Blues, Toni Braxton and even Frankie Goes To Hollywood. From the opening Somewhere from West Side Story the group let their pipes speak for themselves.
The song Mama was an early favorite for the crowd, made up of Moms and Grandmoms. When the men’s voices came together, it can only be described as magic. The usually muddled Saddledome sound came through crystal clear, meaning that songs like My Way and Unchained Melody still came across as powerful despite being sung in Spanish. A cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah was perhaps a little over the top for some people. Amazing Grace on the other hand sent chills down my spine and was one of the best sections of the show.
From the staging, which included a giant screen and a pair of walkways that went around the audience to a small stage in the middle of the arena (effectively turning 12th row on the floor into first) to the jaw-dropping vocals, Il Divo put on a spectacular show. Was it worth the $140 per ticket price tag? I’d say no, but then I don’t think any performer is worth that kind of coin, especially for a show under two hours. Judging from the grins on the faces of those who made their way to the exits, I was in the minority in that belief. The fans went home happy, which is really all that matters.
Miller at one point commented on how, when the group was put together, they thought it may last a year. If this show is any indication, the group has many more years of returning to Calgary.
