Prom 4: Cynthia Erivo – Legendary Voices (17.07.22)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Sunday 17 July 2022 (ON TV)
Royal Albert Hall

S. J. Hawkins: I Put a Spell on You (arr. Jeremy Levy)
Bennie Benjamin: Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (arr. Jeremy Levy)
George Gershwin: Summertime (arr. Skitch Henderson & Nick Greer)
Jacques Brel : Ne me quitte pas (arr. Adam Podd)
Jim Weatherly: Midnight Train to Georgia (arr. Sam Hyken)
Anthony Newley: Leslie Bricusse; Feeling Good (arr. Jeremy Levy)
Billy Davis: Berry Gordy; Gwen Fuqua; All I Could Do Was Cry (arr. Eric Allen)
Mack Gordon
Harry Warren At Last (arr. Eric Allen)
Carlo Donita: I (Who Have Nothing) arr. Fred Barton/Nick Greer
Cynthia Erivo: Glowing Up (arr. William Wells)
You're Not Here (arr. William Wells)
Ewan MacColl: The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (arr. Rickey Minor)
June Styne: Don’t Rain on My Parade (arr. Rickey Minor)
Prince: Nothing Compares 2 U (arr. Rickey Minor)


Cynthia Erivo is a creative phenomenon: a London-born, Tony, Grammy and Emmy award-winning actress, singer, songwriter and producer, whose career has taken her from her childhood in South London to the West End and Broadway, and whose recordings have also thrilled audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. Tonight, backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra she salutes the legendary female voices that have shown her the way: artists such as Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey, Billie Holiday and Gladys Knight. ‘I wanted to pay homage to them,’ she says. ‘Women who have influenced my sound, the music I’ve listened to, and the way I tell my story.’
Cynthia Erivo singer
BBC Concert Orchestra
Edwin Outwater conductor

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Forgive me for suggesting this could be a little egotistical.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Forgive me for suggesting this could be a little egotistical.

Forgiven . I follow the West End / Broadway scene reasonably closely and I’d never heard of her . But I haven’t seen The Color Purple musical which seems to be her biggest hit. Just passed me by even though it appears to have won a few awards.

[cloughie]

Forgiven . I follow the West End / Broadway scene reasonably closely and I’d never heard of her . But I haven’t seen The Color Purple musical which seems to be her biggest hit. Just passed me by even though it appears to have won a few awards.

I should reserve my judgement until I’ve heard it but I fear that there may be songicide in the air!

[Ein Heldenleben]

I should reserve my judgement until I’ve heard it but I fear that there may be songicide in the air!

Well on the evidence of the first number your fears are unjustified. A big West End voice . Thankfully not too much back phrasing or vibrato and beautifully in tune. Also perfect diction….can think why I haven’t heard her before.

[cloughie]

Well on the evidence of the first number your fears are unjustified. A big West End voice . Thankfully not too much back phrasing or vibrato and beautifully in tune. Also perfect diction….can think why I haven’t heard her before.

Yes, she can sing! I’ll postpone my analysis and judgement for later - I’m currently diverted to ‘Murder in Provence’!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes, she can sing! I’ll postpone my analysis and judgement for later - I’m currently diverted to ‘Murder in Provence’!

Hmm … back phrasing has started. What is about Feeling Good that invites the full treatment ? Leave it to Anthony Newley
She is some singer and talent though . Now singing beautifully Ne Me Quitte Pas in immaculate French …

[mahlerfan]

She's jauntily murdering Ne Me Quitte Pas, as I type (or is it the arrangement that's off?), but I've enjoyed most of what I've heard so far...

[Ein Heldenleben]

She's jauntily murdering Ne Me Quitte Pas, as I type (or is it the arrangement that's off?), but I've enjoyed most of what I've heard so far...

Singing is fine on NMQP but most of the arrangements tonight have been grim - synthetic
If you can sing Don’t Let It Rain and Midnight Train as well as she has you’ve

A) got one hell of a nerve
B) got one hell of a talent

[mahlerfan]

Singing is fine on NMQP but most of the arrangements tonight have been grim - synthetic
If you can sing Don’t Let It Rain and Midnight Train as well as she has you’ve

A) got one hell of a nerve
B) got one hell of a talent

Yes, I think you have a point, the arrangements have been a bit naff.

The Brell song was unforgivable, but she's a superb singer.

[cloughie]

Yes, I think you have a point, the arrangements have been a bit naff.

The Brell song was unforgivable, but she's a superb singer.

I thought overall a very good vocal performance - I’ll go song by song after a full listen again!
Overall vocally very good and in fact little of what I feared of the nasty modern pop habit of adding and changing notes unneccessarily.

June Styne: Don’t Rain on My Parade (arr. Rickey Minor) - Mostly good but no Streisand! - A fairly recent recording of this I really liked was by Leading Ladies with lead by Cassidy Janson!
S. J. Hawkins: I Put a Spell on You (arr. Jeremy Levy) - OK but not special - could have put more into delivery
Mack Gordon: Harry Warren At Last (arr. Eric Allen) - Well sung
Billy Davis: Berry Gordy; Gwen Fuqua; All I Could Do Was Cry (arr. Eric Allen) well sung but not special.
Bennie Benjamin: Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (arr. Jeremy Levy) Not keen on her version but has had to join the queue behind The Animals, Nina Simone and others.
Anthony Newley: Leslie Bricusse; Feeling Good (arr. Jeremy Levy) This was fine for me except going on too long with the ending
Carlo Donita: I (Who Have Nothing) arr. Fred Barton/Nick Greer Not good - possibly the least successful of the evening - too much slurring up to the notes.
Stormy Weather - A good old standard well sung!
Ewan MacColl: The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (arr. Rickey Minor) Very brave attempt at a song absolutely perfected by Roberta Flack - could never eclipse Roberta's version but well sung.
Jacques Brel : Ne me quitte pas (arr. Adam Podd) I thought this was sung beautifully - for a change all in French unlike so many Franglais recordings. Only criticism is that she should have slowed down with a little more feeling in the last line and the last 'ne me quitte pas'.
Aint no way - Good interpretation of an Aretha song
Cynthia Erivo: Glowing Up (arr. William Wells) You're Not Here (arr. William Wells) A couple of her own - OK but I don't see them as standards - modern pop delivery!
Jim Weatherly: Midnight Train to Georgia (arr. Sam Hyken) Fair but not outstanding interpretation of Gladys' hit.
George Gershwin: Summertime (arr. Skitch Henderson & Nick Greer)
Prince: Nothing Compares 2 U (arr. Rickey Minor) Very pop cover with unimaginative arrangement
La Vie en Rose and Love Story should have been sung by Cynthia not just orchestral pieces!

I'd love to hear her singing to better arrangements with just a simple piano accompaniment.

[cloughie]

I thought overall a very good vocal performance - I’ll go song by song after a full listen again!
Overall vocally very good and in fact little of what I feared of the nasty modern pop habit of adding and changing notes unneccessarily.

June Styne: Don’t Rain on My Parade (arr. Rickey Minor) - Mostly good but no Streisand! - A fairly recent recording of this I really liked was by Leading Ladies with lead by Cassidy Janson!
S. J. Hawkins: I Put a Spell on You (arr. Jeremy Levy) - OK but not special - could have put more into delivery
Mack Gordon: Harry Warren At Last (arr. Eric Allen) - Well sung
Billy Davis: Berry Gordy; Gwen Fuqua; All I Could Do Was Cry (arr. Eric Allen) well sung but not special.
Bennie Benjamin: Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (arr. Jeremy Levy) Not keen on her version but has had to join the queue behind The Animals, Nina Simone and others.
Anthony Newley: Leslie Bricusse; Feeling Good (arr. Jeremy Levy) This was fine for me except going on too long with the ending
Carlo Donita: I (Who Have Nothing) arr. Fred Barton/Nick Greer Not good - possibly the least successful of the evening - too much slurring up to the notes.
Stormy Weather - A good old standard well sung!
Ewan MacColl: The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (arr. Rickey Minor) Very brave attempt at a song absolutely perfected by Roberta Flack - could never eclipse Roberta's version but well sung.
Jacques Brel : Ne me quitte pas (arr. Adam Podd) I thought this was sung beautifully - for a change all in French unlike so many Franglais recordings. Only criticism is that she should have slowed down with a little more feeling in the last line and the last 'ne me quitte pas'.
Aint no way - Good interpretation of an Aretha song
Cynthia Erivo: Glowing Up (arr. William Wells) You're Not Here (arr. William Wells) A couple of her own - OK but I don't see them as standards - modern pop delivery!
Jim Weatherly: Midnight Train to Georgia (arr. Sam Hyken) Fair but not outstanding interpretation of Gladys' hit.
George Gershwin: Summertime (arr. Skitch Henderson & Nick Greer)
Prince: Nothing Compares 2 U (arr. Rickey Minor) Very pop cover with unimaginative arrangement
La Vie en Rose and Love Story should have been sung by Cynthia not just orchestral pieces!

I'd love to hear her singing to better arrangements with just a simple piano accompaniment.

My Cynthesis of her Prom above!

[Ein Heldenleben]

I thought overall a very good vocal performance - I’ll go song by song after a full listen again!
Overall vocally very good and in fact little of what I feared of the nasty modern pop habit of adding and changing notes unneccessarily.

June Styne: Don’t Rain on My Parade (arr. Rickey Minor) - Mostly good but no Streisand! - A fairly recent recording of this I really liked was by Leading Ladies with lead by Cassidy Janson!
S. J. Hawkins: I Put a Spell on You (arr. Jeremy Levy) - OK but not special - could have put more into delivery
Mack Gordon: Harry Warren At Last (arr. Eric Allen) - Well sung
Billy Davis: Berry Gordy; Gwen Fuqua; All I Could Do Was Cry (arr. Eric Allen) well sung but not special.
Bennie Benjamin: Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (arr. Jeremy Levy) Not keen on her version but has had to join the queue behind The Animals, Nina Simone and others.
Anthony Newley: Leslie Bricusse; Feeling Good (arr. Jeremy Levy) This was fine for me except going on too long with the ending
Carlo Donita: I (Who Have Nothing) arr. Fred Barton/Nick Greer Not good - possibly the least successful of the evening - too much slurring up to the notes.
Stormy Weather - A good old standard well sung!
Ewan MacColl: The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (arr. Rickey Minor) Very brave attempt at a song absolutely perfected by Roberta Flack - could never eclipse Roberta's version but well sung.
Jacques Brel : Ne me quitte pas (arr. Adam Podd) I thought this was sung beautifully - for a change all in French unlike so many Franglais recordings. Only criticism is that she should have slowed down with a little more feeling in the last line and the last 'ne me quitte pas'.
Aint no way - Good interpretation of an Aretha song
Cynthia Erivo: Glowing Up (arr. William Wells) You're Not Here (arr. William Wells) A couple of her own - OK but I don't see them as standards - modern pop delivery!
Jim Weatherly: Midnight Train to Georgia (arr. Sam Hyken) Fair but not outstanding interpretation of Gladys' hit.
George Gershwin: Summertime (arr. Skitch Henderson & Nick Greer)
Prince: Nothing Compares 2 U (arr. Rickey Minor) Very pop cover with unimaginative arrangement
La Vie en Rose and Love Story should have been sung by Cynthia not just orchestral pieces!

I'd love to hear her singing to better arrangements with just a simple piano accompaniment.

A superb critique . Like you I wish the arrangements had been better . The band only Love Story was excruciating.
She is some talent though.
I (Who Have Nothing ) the signature song of Monaco based millionaire Shirley Bassey . Can’t remember who made that joke…

[bluestateprommer]

Another very late post-Proms season catch-up listen. I also admit that I wasn't familiar with CE's name prior to this Prom, which is clearly my loss after hearing this concert. She is a splendid singer, and generally knows when to go for understatement and when to go OTT (but not too OTT, to keep her voice in shape). I would respectfully amplify cloughie's suggestion on a more modest accompaniment, that CE would be great with a small jazz combo (e.g. piano, upright bass, guitar, & drums). I've had the fortune to hear comparable musical theater artists in such settings (Renee Elise Goldsberry, Paulo Szot), and this would work fabulously with CE, IMHO. Maybe Ronnie Scott's or some such venue will book her in due course :) . But I think that I see what cloughie means, namely that a cabaret-style concert featuring CE and just a piano accompanist would also go over very well. In her own songs, the words are perhaps stronger than her melodies, but 1 out of 2 ain't too bad.

It was rather drolly amusing to hear Kevin le Gendre during the interval chat with Katie D., discussing CE in a quite academic, understated way, rather than sounding like a gushing "Broadway baby" type. Separately, I have to admit to my pop culture ignorance when KlG talked about "Midnight Train to Georgia", because when he explained what the song was about, I realized that I'd never actually heard the song before, but only knew of its title.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Another very late post-Proms season catch-up listen. I also admit that I wasn't familiar with CE's name prior to this Prom, which is clearly my loss after hearing this concert. She is a splendid singer, and generally knows when to go for understatement and when to go OTT (but not too OTT, to keep her voice in shape). I would respectfully amplify cloughie's suggestion on a more modest accompaniment, that CE would be great with a small jazz combo (e.g. piano, upright bass, guitar, & drums). I've had the fortune to hear comparable musical theater artists in such settings (Renee Elise Goldsberry, Paulo Szot), and this would work fabulously with CE, IMHO. Maybe Ronnie Scott's or some such venue will book her in due course :) . But I think that I see what cloughie means, namely that a cabaret-style concert featuring CE and just a piano accompanist would also go over very well. In her own songs, the words are perhaps stronger than her melodies, but 1 out of 2 ain't too bad.

It was rather drolly amusing to hear Kevin le Gendre during the interval chat with Katie D., discussing CE in a quite academic, understated way, rather than sounding like a gushing "Broadway baby" type. Separately, I have to admit to my pop culture ignorance when KlG talked about "Midnight Train to Georgia", because when he explained what the song was about, I realized that I'd never actually heard the song before, but only knew of its title.

Agree about Cynthia but…
If you haven’t heard Gladys Knight and the Pips do Midnight Train .. I recommend you do so immediately. Possibly the greatest backing vocals of all time. The key thing is to mime the whistle pull in sync with the PIPs (then I think they spin around ?)