Review: Il Divo

A few "American Idol" contestants who have suffered a verbal flogging from Simon Cowell have responded to their woundings with a similar retort: What do you know about singing? You created Il Divo.

Cowell's response is usually a smile -- not as if he has no rejoinder, but as if he's thinking about all the wealth that the four-man vocal group has rained upon him. You can argue he doesn't know a lot about singing, but his knack for backing commercially successful pop enterprises is unimpeachable, and Il Divo is his No. 1 cash cow. In five years, it has given him plenty to smile about.

 

Saturday night, they drew about 7,000 fans into the Sprint Center, and few were casual listeners and on-lookers. Most greeted the group like a combination of heatthrobs and pop royalty. "Fawning" or "adoring" would be a good way to describe the general reaction during the entire show, which lasted about 130 minutes, not including the 20-minute intermission.

The troupe comprises four dashing vocalists from varied countries and disciplines: Spanish baritone, Carlos Marín; Swiss tenor Urs Bühler, American tenor David Miller and French pop singer Sébastien Izambard.  Together, they perform "popera": classical-vocal renditions of pop songs. Saturday's setlist included "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the Harry Nilsson hit "Without You," Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" and the Moody Blues' "Nights In White Satin."

The setting and the visuals were spectacular. They included an enormous video screen at the back of the stage that projected a variety of images. Some of those were combinations of still-lifes and videos -- one person in the composition would move while the rest remained . Images were also projected onto four long, thin and very sheer  banners hung from the ceiling of the arena. And most of the night, an enourmous chandelier -- an inverted pyramid of spaghetti-thin bulbs -- hung above the end of the stage, glowing and changing colors. Two runways ran from each side of the stage about 150 feet, meeting at a platform that served as a secondary stage. The men made good use of the runways, greeting fans in the high-dollar seats (about $150) inside and outside the runways. During the encores, they stooped to shake hands and sign autographs.

 

The show was choreographed to give each singer his own moments: Each spoke to the crowd at least once; and each took solos throughout the show. But the biggest moments were those when all four lined up and, together, hurled their mighty and impeccable voices into the air towards the back of the arena. Sometimes, four sounded like 40.

Like teens watching the Backstreet Boys or Jonas Brothers, fans applauded or whooped when their favorite took his turn. But for the most part, the crowd watched this show as if it were at the symphony or opera. Even when Marin encouraged people to get up and dance, few did. And some of those who did caught the stink eye from those around them. There was plenty of applause, though; it was heavy all night -- the sounds of fans/customers who got what they came for and went home with plenty to smile about.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Setlist: Somewhere, Unbreak My Heart, La Promessa, Angelina, Isabel, Bridge Over Troubled Water, She, Passera, Unchained Melody, Mama, Nights In White Satin. Intermission. Winner Takes All, Without You, Pour Que Tu M'aimes Encore, Everytime I Look At You, Hallelujah, Adagio, La Vida Sin Amore, Caruso, Power of Love, My Way, Amazing Grace, Impossible Dream.

Comments

[Steve]

Are they not men?

[Karen Matheson]

I attended the concert Saturday evening. There is not an expression in English to praise Il Divo enough. They are truly "the divine male entertainers" The set visuals, enhanced the wonder of their voices raised in song. They are the best voices I have heard in my life time of 66 years! BRAVO

[Susanne Pena]

A wonderful experience. I loved every moment of it. Magificent. Hope i gert to see them again someday.

[Ted]

My sweetheart and I saw them the night before at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. Fantastic performers. Such strong voices! They really earned their money. And their style of music sounds great anywhere, I suppose, but seemed to fit so well in the traditional, old grand Fox.

[Tippi]

I have been following them for four years and it was a dream come true to see them perform live. I agree that most watched as if they were at a symphony or opera. I would have liked to have seen them perform to an audience thatmore appreciative, especially wehn Carlos asked the ladies to salsa! Some of us were standing and a man behind us yelled "sit down"!

[Molly]

It was like a dream come true. I have all 5 of their CD's. Hopefully they will continue to come back to visit the Sprint Center again in the future

[Jeanne]

Drove 250 miles to see them and I would do it again. Their music is sung with so much passion and is like no other perfomance I have ever seen. What a great experience!

[Rocio Simaytis]

i love their performance last night, they are GREAT!!!! No words to describe this event last night, i waited 3 years to see them again, i had the chance to shook each of il divo's hand,they look even better when you see them close right in front of you. GOOD JOB GUYS!!!! Come again soo, SAN DIEGO LOVES YOU!!!!!