Water dripping slowly into a puddle. A horse. A woman standing in a building. Close ups of each member of the band walking slowly. Everything filmed in black and white. This was the opening video that played on screen as fans in the Jubilee Auditorium awaited Il Divo’s official arrival to their November 8th concert. The visuals set the tone for the night – both dramatic and enough to cause a few eye rolls.
Some example of the cheese from early on in the night included Carlos Marin looking out at the audience and saying "I feel like I am in a garden full of beautiful flowers" before later stating that "Latin music is like the women of Alberta – beautiful and sensual." The audience ate it up, whether it was jokes about Marin’s age (at 48 the oldest of the group although all four men are in their 40’s) or a moment where each band member tried to pick up audience members with horrible lines.
It’s a shtick that the international group – German born Spanish baritone Carlos Marín, French pop singer-songwriter Sebastien Izambard and tenors Urs Bühler of Switzerland and American David Miller – have mastered over 9 albums and a nearly 13-year career. One does not survive on cheese alone and while there was plenty of it dished out, it is quickly evident why they are one of the best-selling artists of the last decade plus. When they sing, it is magical.
The tour focused primarily on their latest work Amore & Pasion – a Spanish album that pays tribute to Latin music. Early songs like Besame Mucho and Gloria Estevan’s Don’t Want To Lose You Now set the tone for the evening. Sprinkled throughout were well loved classics like Don’t Cry For Me Argentina and a stunning yet simple Hallelujah.
One must give credit to the group for being willing to break it’s mold consistently. Their previous visit to Calgary in April 2014 was primarily songs from Broadway musicals. This tour featured new aspects that have not been part of their concerts before. 9 dancers Mamba ’d and Tangoed across the stage as well as with the singers themselves. Each member had a solo segment that showed just how strong their voices are apart. For more than 2 hours Il Divo entertained through laughs and music.
Despite all of the extras at its core Il Divo is about the four men’s voices and when they mesh, it is a thing of beauty. As their voices rose during the climax of Frank Sinatra’s My Way or Toni Braxton’s Unbreak My Heart it was the kind of moment that sends chills down your spine and really appreciate the artistry behind Il Divo. Seeing them live, hearing and feeling the music inside yourself as it pours out of them is really something that may not be understood by those that aren’t ardent followers of the group. The experience is one that taps into various emotions but is an incredible thing to experience.
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Contributor
Jason Clevett |
Locale
Calgary |
Person
Il Divo |
Topic
Concert Review
Photo Gallery
Il Divo |
