REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
SOUTHEND'S CLIFFS PAVILION!
CHRISTMAS WITH IL DIVO DECEMBER 2022 UK TOUR
Friday 2nd December 2022
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
SOUTHEND'S CLIFFS PAVILION!
CHRISTMAS WITH IL DIVO DECEMBER 2022 UK TOUR
Friday 2nd December 2022
A year to the day since their last appearance at the Cliffs, the most successful ‘crossover’ band are back in town to open their latest UK tour, with a concert in Southend. Since they were last here, tragedy struck. Within days of their opening shows, their stalwart band member, Spanish baritone, Carlos Marin, the handsome, perma-tanned and golden voiced member of the group, contracted Covid. He went into a coma, and subsequently died on December 21st, 2021. The group were left in shock and disarray by this terrible twist of fate. Carlos had sung like a lion on the opening nights, and been his usual ebullient self; the joker of the group. The audience loved his energy and, barely suppressed, sense of fun. Having interviewed him myself only a few weeks before the tour started,(see below) it was extremely hard to take in that this man, known to millions throughout the world, had passed away.
Obviously, the future of the group looked bleak. Would they be able to continue without Carlos? Would they even want to? Well, after a year of healing concerts around the world, all these questions were finally answered in their first UK concert since that sad and dramatic time a year ago.
After a brief opening selection from Q Strings, the curtains at the back of the stage parted, and on came the 3 remaining members of the band: David Miller, Sebastien Izambard and Urs Buhler. Hearts went out to them straight away and the boys sang their opening songs with David seeming to fill the heroic tenor spot left open by the death of Carlos.
Each member talked about their emotions and feelings of being back in the UK for the first time. Whilst they have experienced many career highs in this country, the UK for them will forever now be associated with the loss of their beloved band-mate. As Urs openly admitted, they have spent the last year addressing the ‘elephant in the room’ but being back in the UK again had brought them face to face with the grief and loss they had all felt.
However, it’s Christmas time, and the boys had a job to do, ad they were going to smile and entertain their absolutely adoring audience again.
Then came the big moment: the reveal of another singer to make the band a foursome again. Introducing Mexican baritone, Steven Lebris, the boys explained that he was their guest artist, rather than new group member. This concert was also to be Steven’s UK debut.
It didn’t take long to see that Lebris fits into the Il Divo style like a glove. He is stunningly good looking, with a killer-watt smile, and a huge, heroic baritone to match, which is very reminiscent of the late Carlos Marin’s. Throughout the evening he made a thrilling contribution to the vocal blend, singing effortlessly and powerfully with a real sensitive musicality too. He is a real find and I do hope the band hang on to him.
An Il Divo concert is always a very lavish affair in terms of production. They bring a 16 piece orchestra, combining lush strings, wind instruments, as well as the electric guitars and percussion, along with beautiful lighting and setting with Christmas trees and suitable decor.
The boys gave us a full 100 minutes of Christmas songs, secular choices, such as Panis Angelicus, Schubert’s Ave Maria, and even The Lord’s Prayer, as well as many hits that they are also associated with, such as Nella Fantasia, and You Raise Me Up. There really was something for everyone in this selection, which came to an end with a rousing rendition of Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You.
However, the most moving moment of the evening was when the group sat on 3 stools, and left a fourth one empty with a rose on the seat, whilst they sang with the recorded voice of Carlos Marin, to Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. There was not a dry eye in the house at this point.
A phrase that kept coming up through the evening was ‘bitter-sweet’. It is clear that the last year has been traumatic and difficult for everyone involved with Il Divo. They have visibly changed and you could see the sadness on their faces, but last night, they came and did the best thing they could do for their fans. They sang their hearts out.
A truly magnificent evening. A very heartfelt 5 stars from me.
Review by Andrew Walters
Obviously, the future of the group looked bleak. Would they be able to continue without Carlos? Would they even want to? Well, after a year of healing concerts around the world, all these questions were finally answered in their first UK concert since that sad and dramatic time a year ago.
After a brief opening selection from Q Strings, the curtains at the back of the stage parted, and on came the 3 remaining members of the band: David Miller, Sebastien Izambard and Urs Buhler. Hearts went out to them straight away and the boys sang their opening songs with David seeming to fill the heroic tenor spot left open by the death of Carlos.
Each member talked about their emotions and feelings of being back in the UK for the first time. Whilst they have experienced many career highs in this country, the UK for them will forever now be associated with the loss of their beloved band-mate. As Urs openly admitted, they have spent the last year addressing the ‘elephant in the room’ but being back in the UK again had brought them face to face with the grief and loss they had all felt.
However, it’s Christmas time, and the boys had a job to do, ad they were going to smile and entertain their absolutely adoring audience again.
Then came the big moment: the reveal of another singer to make the band a foursome again. Introducing Mexican baritone, Steven Lebris, the boys explained that he was their guest artist, rather than new group member. This concert was also to be Steven’s UK debut.
It didn’t take long to see that Lebris fits into the Il Divo style like a glove. He is stunningly good looking, with a killer-watt smile, and a huge, heroic baritone to match, which is very reminiscent of the late Carlos Marin’s. Throughout the evening he made a thrilling contribution to the vocal blend, singing effortlessly and powerfully with a real sensitive musicality too. He is a real find and I do hope the band hang on to him.
An Il Divo concert is always a very lavish affair in terms of production. They bring a 16 piece orchestra, combining lush strings, wind instruments, as well as the electric guitars and percussion, along with beautiful lighting and setting with Christmas trees and suitable decor.
The boys gave us a full 100 minutes of Christmas songs, secular choices, such as Panis Angelicus, Schubert’s Ave Maria, and even The Lord’s Prayer, as well as many hits that they are also associated with, such as Nella Fantasia, and You Raise Me Up. There really was something for everyone in this selection, which came to an end with a rousing rendition of Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You.
However, the most moving moment of the evening was when the group sat on 3 stools, and left a fourth one empty with a rose on the seat, whilst they sang with the recorded voice of Carlos Marin, to Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. There was not a dry eye in the house at this point.
A phrase that kept coming up through the evening was ‘bitter-sweet’. It is clear that the last year has been traumatic and difficult for everyone involved with Il Divo. They have visibly changed and you could see the sadness on their faces, but last night, they came and did the best thing they could do for their fans. They sang their hearts out.
A truly magnificent evening. A very heartfelt 5 stars from me.
Review by Andrew Walters
Il Divo have today announced they will return this December for their Christmas With Il Divo UK tour. The upcoming shows will be filled with Il Divo’s hits from their vast catalogue of songs as well as festive classics. Extra dates have been added at Southend Cliffs Pavilion and Portsmouth Guildhall for 2nd and 6th December respectively and will go on sale Friday 18th March at 9.30am via www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
Following the tragic passing of Il Divo’s Carlos Marin, the remaining members of the multi-national group – America’s David Miller, France’s Sebastien Izambard and Switzerland’s Urs Buhler – will proceed with their tour in tribute to Marin.
“Carlos was a larger than life personality, with a rare combination of an incredibly beautiful, God-given voice and absolutely, immense talent. His passion, playfulness and sense of humour made for such a magical persona, and his laugh would always lift anyone up. He was loved by millions of fans all over the world and we were lucky and honoured to be able to perform with him in our midst for so many years. We’ll deeply miss his playfulness, friendship and brilliant voice.” said Miller, Izambard and Buhle in a statement.
Il Divo are the most commercially successful classical crossover group in international music history, which Il Divo still enjoys since they first banded together in 2003. With over 30 million albums sold, 160 gold and platinum albums in 33 countries to their credit Il Divo were the first Classical Crossover artists to have an album debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. Il Divo released the platinum selling Christmas Collection studio album in 2005 selling over 1 million copies in the US alone. Il Divo’s latest album For Once In My Life: A Celebration of Motown released in 2021, is the group’s robust and joyful song sojourn into the timeless, classics from Motown's legendary vaults.
CHRISTMAS WITH IL DIVO DECEMBER 2022
Extra Dates Just Added
Friday 02 Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Tuesday 06 Portsmouth Guildhall
Rescheduled Dates - Original Tickets Remain Valid.
Saturday 03 Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Thursday 08 Birmingham Utilita Arena
Friday 09 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Saturday 10 Harrogate Convention Centre
Monday 12 Hull Bonus Arena
Wednesday 14 Edinburgh Usher Hall
Friday 16 London OVO Arena Wembley
Following the tragic passing of Il Divo’s Carlos Marin, the remaining members of the multi-national group – America’s David Miller, France’s Sebastien Izambard and Switzerland’s Urs Buhler – will proceed with their tour in tribute to Marin.
“Carlos was a larger than life personality, with a rare combination of an incredibly beautiful, God-given voice and absolutely, immense talent. His passion, playfulness and sense of humour made for such a magical persona, and his laugh would always lift anyone up. He was loved by millions of fans all over the world and we were lucky and honoured to be able to perform with him in our midst for so many years. We’ll deeply miss his playfulness, friendship and brilliant voice.” said Miller, Izambard and Buhle in a statement.
Il Divo are the most commercially successful classical crossover group in international music history, which Il Divo still enjoys since they first banded together in 2003. With over 30 million albums sold, 160 gold and platinum albums in 33 countries to their credit Il Divo were the first Classical Crossover artists to have an album debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. Il Divo released the platinum selling Christmas Collection studio album in 2005 selling over 1 million copies in the US alone. Il Divo’s latest album For Once In My Life: A Celebration of Motown released in 2021, is the group’s robust and joyful song sojourn into the timeless, classics from Motown's legendary vaults.
CHRISTMAS WITH IL DIVO DECEMBER 2022
Extra Dates Just Added
Friday 02 Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Tuesday 06 Portsmouth Guildhall
Rescheduled Dates - Original Tickets Remain Valid.
Saturday 03 Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Thursday 08 Birmingham Utilita Arena
Friday 09 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Saturday 10 Harrogate Convention Centre
Monday 12 Hull Bonus Arena
Wednesday 14 Edinburgh Usher Hall
Friday 16 London OVO Arena Wembley