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Elly Roberts reviews
Universal
- Cert:
- Cat.no: 8226089
- Running time: 102 minutes
- Year: 2004
- Pressing: 2004
- Region(s): 2, PAL
- Sound: Dolby Stereo
- Languages: English
- Widescreen: 1.78:1
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: £19.99
- Rating: 10/10
- Extras:Exclusive behind the scenes interview, song setlist
Anglo-Welsh superstar and housewives choice, Michael Ball is marketing mansdream.
The boyish looking 42-year-old has just released his DVD Live In London.Recorded earlier this year at Hammersmith Apollo in front of an ecstatic sell-outcrowd, he demonstrates why he is regarded as the most popular musical star inBritain.
Balls career break came as he starred as Frederic in Pirates of Penzance atthe Opera House in Manchester in 1984. He was spotted by producers of LesMiserables, and the following year he took the role of Marius in what iscommonly recognised as the greatest stage musical of all time.
His credits and achievements include Most Promising Artiste 1989, 8 Gold Discs,Platinum Disc for The Moviesin 1999 and Variety Club Award for BestRecording Artist.
According to Ball, this is the best concert of his career so far. Severalchanges needed to be made for its filming, particularly the lighting.Normally he can only see the first couple of rows, but he was unnerved byseeing his family and friends at close quarters. This actually made him step-uphis performance – and what a performance.
Meticulous in its pre-production, he had a major part in every aspect:singer, show director and co-executive producer. At the end of the show heconfesses he was nervous – he shouldnt have had any worries, as hesoutstanding. Beaming with pride from his entrance in front of his ‘home crowd’,he easily won the hearts and minds of his loyal fanbase not that he has totry too hard.
Drawing on all his theatrical and singing experiences he delivers a show highon emotion. A performer who always gives from the heart, he takes his audienceon a rollercoaster ride of joy and sadness, as he explores the learning curveof relationships which you guess, might be a personal affair. He unashamedlywears his heart on his sleeve throughout the night – and its not fake. Usinga 27 strong setlist, the stage and romantic classics are brought right up todate, in the inimitable Ball fashion.
Love Changes Everything
From a wonderful selection, the show stoppers include Empty Chairs Empty Tables(Les Miserables), a cover of Tom Joness A Boy From Nowhere, CrocesTime In A Bottle and Bacharachs This Guys In Love With You, anda slight reworking of Bread Of Heaven, called Wales Forever, which wasa show highlight.
To get the crowd moving, he also manages to pack-in a few belters like a coverof Tom Jones Just Help Yourself and Bruce Springsteens Dancing In TheDark. By the time hes reached his encore and signature tune, Love ChangesEverything, you realise what a phenomenal talent he is.
Also out now is his CD, Love Changes Everything: The Essential Michael Ball (right).
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.