IL Divo Tour 2009

IL Divo Tour Dates 2009 North America

click on your location for tickets:



May 28, 2009 Kelowna BC CA Prospera Place
May 30, 2009 Vancouver BC CA General Motors Place
May 31, 2009 Victoria BC CA Sav-On Foods Centre

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

IL Divo Merchandise 2009

Review: Calgary Sun
by Lisa Wilton

Il Divo a fun night at the popera

It seems everything Simon Cowell touches turns to gold -- or rather, platinum.

So when the American Idol impresario took four good-looking international vocalists, dressed them up pretty and made them sing pop hits in an operatic style, there was no doubt he would be lining his eight-car garages with even more bank notes.

But Cowell's knack comes with a certain middle-of-the-road blandness. And as attractive as they may be, Il Divo is among the most vanilla-lite groups you are likely to come across.

The group's inoffensive pop-opera appeals to all ages, although last night it was the middle-aged women who made the most noise during the two-hour Saddledome show.

After a short instrumental introduction by the four-piece band and 12-strong string section, American tenor David Miller, French singer Sebastien Izambard, Spanish baritone Carlos Marin and Swiss tenor Urs Buhler appeared atop a staircase to the squeals of thousands of besotted women. The performers descended individually, each taking a verse of the opening song Somewhere from West Side Story.

They continued with a well-polished and multi-lingual rendition of their hit Toni Braxton cover, Unbreak My Heart.

Despite the initial response, the audience became surprisingly muted after the first two songs. That is until Miller greeted the audience and hollered, "we're gonna have fun tonight!"

While the statement didn't exactly galvanize the crowd, those on the floor and lower-bowl seats seemed much more engaged.

The group looked sophisticated in well-tailored matching black suits (before changing into a few more smart outfits.) But their sartorial splendour did little to enliven the performance.

It's not that the men of Il Divo aren't talented. They are exceptional vocalists. Marin is probably the strongest singer, but their voices blend beautifully and more than once the rafters were shaking under the sheer force of their combined vocal power.

Unfortunately, 'popera' has a tendency to suck the soul out of both classical and pop numbers.

For example, Simon & Garfunkel's classic tearjerker Bridge Over Troubled Water is a powerful yet elegantly tasteful ballad, whereas Il Divo's popera-fied version is overwrought and bombastic.

Still, it was met with some of the loudest applause and cheers of the evening so obviously it managed to connect with the audience.

The first half of the concert lacked energy from the audience and performers, but thankfully both were redeemed after a much more entertaining second set.

Kicking off the second hour was a dramatic re-doing of ABBA's The Winner Takes It All and was followed by equally strong versions of Harry Nillson's Without You and Frankie Goes to Hollywood's The Power of Love.

However, there was a brief misstep with Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. Though the song has been covered numerous times, its gentle, melancholic vibe just doesn't fit the overly dramatic style of Il Divo.

Last night's concert -- which attracted about 11,000 fans -- was embellished by a visually impressive light show and set design masterminded by creative director William Baker, who has worked with Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears and Victoria Beckham.

An Evening with Il Divo is a slick, well-rehearsed production, which could use a little spontaneity.

But in terms of pure vocal talent, Il Divo is sensational and they do have a way of being charming with very little effort.

It's almost enough to make you respect Simon Cowell.

Almost.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Il Divo

11,000 at the Saddledome

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

IL Divo Merchandise 2009

Review: Edmonton Sun
by Mike Ross

Pop goes the opera
Man-candy singers entertain the women with slick renditions of hit songs


I had to explain that a lot yesterday leading up to last night's poperific spectacular at Rexall Place. So let's get it straight. As entertaining as opera versions of Devo songs would've been, this foursome of multinational pop-opera stars hasn't covered Whip It or Working in a Coal Mine.

Yet.

For now, these Armani-suited specimens of crooning man-candy continue to do what their svengali-slash-producer-slash-mean-American Idol judge Simon Cowell has groomed them to do: Drive women wild with grandiose, poperatic versions from the American songbook. Il Divo is the three tenors plus one (OK, two tenors and two baritones).

They are Josh Groban to the power of four, they are Luciano Pavarotti divided into more or less equal quarters, you get the idea. They are not Devo, the band who were not men. Il Divo are more than mere men, they are super-men who represent a pungent synergy of pop and opera music that tackles everything from ABBA to Frank Sinatra. No one's mom - or grandmother - is safe.

While the show came off like a slow-motion romantic stroll through the streets of Paris, with almost nothing more than 40 beats per minute, it reached the height of ridiculous, cheesy bombast more than once. This was especially true when they all bellowed their brains out at once, their varying vibratos creating complex interference patterns that not only obliterated the meaning of the lyrics, but also caused grown women - including your mom and grandmother - to absolutely lose it. Along with proffered presents of all sorts - teddy bears, flowers, rolled-up love notes - regular shouts of "I love you!" emanated throughout the arena as the members of Il Divo paced glacially about the stage, singing their wares.

Each showed off his particular charms, as required by the production's strict choreography (and don't think that walking very slowly doesn't require careful planning to end up on the proper marks; they'd even nod to one another as they passed). There was David Miller, the dashing American; Urs Buhler, the exotic Swiss; Sebastien Izambard, the enigmatic Frenchman and - "last but not least" - Carlos Marin, the smiling Latin lover. Carlos drew the most cheers for good reason: He can do more with a sly wink and a knowing smirk than all of Julio Iglesias's sons combined - plus Julio.

At one point in the first half of the show, Carlos spoke, saying exactly the same thing he was reported to have said in Winnipeg the other night, "Good evening, ladies. You're looking gorgeous ... Ah, what a beautiful view, heh, heh, heh ... Did you miss me? Did you miss my (dramatic pause) little curl?"

(He's got this curl of hair that hangs over his face; it apparently has an extra aphrodisiac effect on Il Divo's intended audience).

Cue laughs, after which he adds, "Enough cheesiness!"

No, not enough cheesiness! We demand more cheese, more romantic pop ballads puffed into grand arias, more versions of Moody Blues and Celine Dion and West Side Story songs rendered in Italian and delivered fourfold what they need to be.

Il Divo can't go over the top enough for my liking.

It makes sense that there's an American Idol connection here. The quartet - backed by a small orchestra whose violins sounded so slick as to be canned- seems to value their singing over the songs they sang. That said, however, partial standing ovations were earned from such familiar tunes as Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water, one of several "surprises" promised last night.

They slaughtered that pop classic and others, supported by impressive visuals and backdrop films that seemed to revolve around identical beautiful women skilled in the art of staying very still.

Before the show started, there were six of these living mannequins perched on the IL DIVO logo high above the stage.

Anyone who remembers the Robert Palmer videos from the '80s might have found all of this eerily familiar.

There is no Il Divo version of Addicted to Love that I know of at this point. I know, I know - don't give them ideas.

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

IL Divo Merchandise 2009

Review: Winnipeg Free Press
by Melissa Martin

Sexy Il Divo croons, 'Peg crowd swoons

Last winter, Il Divo released its fourth studio album, The Promise. Like the operatic pop quartet's other records, it sold millions and set the stage for an exhaustive world tour, including last night's performance at the MTS Centre.

So what exactly is Il Divo's promise? Besides their stupendous voices, what do they guarantee that keep all those women (and a smattering of men) coming back for more?

One word: sex.

Not literally, of course. (Or should we have gotten more expensive seats?) But though it may wear other names -- "romance," "escapism," "music" -- Il Divo is in the business of selling sex. And business is good.

Exhibit A: one snippet from the arena last night. "Can I see some of the beautiful women, please?" Spanish baritone Carlos Marin purred near the intermission. "Ah! There you are! Since we have been away so long, I was really missing you all so much. Did you miss me?"

Pause for applause.

"Did you miss my... little curl? Ah-ha! All right! Enough cheesiness!"

But there wasn't enough cheesiness. In fact, no cheesecake was too rich for this plate, and Il Divo fed us a huge slice. Every minute of the show was painstakingly choreographed. There were costume changes, from tailored black suits to equally natty grey suits, and finally, tuxedos. A white chandelier presided over the stage.

When the quartet (which also includes American tenor David Miller, Switzerland's Urs Buhler and French pop star Sebastien Izambard) walked down the stairs in the middle of the stage, each step was precisely paced, each pose rehearsed.

But fans weren't there to see them walk. The four are stupendous singers, and last night, when they joined those enormous voices on classics like Unchained Melody or Bridge Over Troubled Water (which has not yet appeared on an Il Divo album), the effect was pure tingle. All over. (See, there's the sex thing again.)

Near the end of the set, they walked slowly to a tiny satellite stage to deliver their version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. Accompanied only by a lone guitar, the marriage of that bittersweet melody and those four powerhouse pipes was breathtaking.

Then they cranked up the vocal volume for Albinoni's Adagio, which shook the MTS Centre rafters with its powerhouse dynamics.

But as sinfully delicious as Il Divo's promise is, their performance can be disappointingly stiff. Marin, for instance, is one of the most exuberant, genuine people I've ever interviewed, but his onstage banter is so rehearsed (indeed, he's used the same lines on every date this tour) that it felt awkward, not alluring.

"How about you all dance! Let's see who is the most sexy! Ah-ha!" he exclaimed, before sliding into the Latin-flavoured La Vida Sin Amor.

Oh well. With the way they finished off the concert -- an encore that included a gorgeously hymnal Amazing Grace and The Impossible Dream -- we can't hold it against them too much. Nine thousand fans went to sleep smiling; Il Divo delivered what they promised.

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: London Free Press
by James Reaney

Il Divo surprises all in style

The big finish over and over and the waves of applause were expected at last night's Il Divo concert.

What was a surprise at the John Labatt Centre was the fab four of crossover getting the biggest cheer in the early going for a song they haven't recorded, "a surprise" -- Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water.

The power of the encore was no surprise. Back-to-back powerhouse treatments of Amazing Grace -- for the spiritual lift -- and The Impossible Dream -- for the Broadway roots -- sealed Il Divo's pact with 7,200 fans. In those two numbers, American David Miller, Switzerland's Urs Buhler, Frenchman Sebastien Izambard and Spaniard Carlos Marin were out on the circular ramp, signing and shaking hands and singing beautifully.

Those two numbers were pure and simple Il Divo without the Europopestra heard on many numbers last night. The four enjoyed themselves so much, a couple of them had to run -- and believe me, Divomen do not run, they stride at a smooth, easy pace -- to get back to the centre of the stage for the final moment in their last big finale.

Il Divo had opened with a Broadway standard, Somewhere, before using The Impossible Dream as its own message that all things are possible. Classical singers can have their way with composers as different as Paul Simon, Leonard Bernstein and Leonard Cohen, whose Hallelujah was given a lovely, restrained treatment with guitar and those four voices. Il Divo took liberties in switching languages with Cohen's poetry. It worked for this reviewer much more effectively than the too sweet version Il Divo recorded.

Not that the fans were worried about such liberties. Fans will stand up and cheer -- or whistle lustily -- when a stylishly clad Divohunk strolls by. Cheers, applause -- it's all welcome.

"Please feel free to make it any time you want," Miller told the Divomaniacs about the approving sounds.

This reviewer has always felt that Marin is the true Divo in the bunch. The Spanish star also has the most expressive eyebrows in show business now that Dean Martin is gone. Like Dino, Marin likes to have fun with his fans.

"I would like to see you all dance for this. Let's see who is the most sexy," he said with an amusing mock leer before launching into La vida sin amor, a salsa-tinged slow burner. The dancing that ensued wasn't quite Sunfest uninhibited, but Marin beamed.

The Il Divo approach has the singers constantly trading solo spots leading to big, all-four-together finales, making each number a true team effort.

That was true when Izambard flubbed the words in one song and apologized before his mates smoothly took over. "I forgot what I was going to say. I'm only joking," he said later, pretending to mess up.

Just like Cher, the downtown London arena's original diva, there were costume changes cued by instrumental passages. Basic black gave way to costuming from somewhere in gigolo country -- or wherever black and white tones meet for discreet pleasure. Later, it was shades of grey and then evening wear with tails for the encore.

Some of the video images -- like a woman in a bejewelled mask or some corny flames were not Il Divo worthy. The four voices are what the show is about and, on that score, Il Divo's fab four delivered.

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: Toronto Sun
by Jane Stevenson

Il Divo fails to entertain

Does operatic pop get any more pretty, commercial - and boring - than Il Divo?

Probably not judging by the two-hour performance of the four good-looking, big-voiced singers from the U.S. and Europe who touched down at the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night in support of their latest best-selling album, 2008's The Promise.

Appearing in beautifully made suits with perfectly coifed hair, the quartet of three opera singers - American tenor David Miller, Spanish baritone Carlos Marín, Swiss tenor Urs Bühler - along with French pop singer Sébastien Izambard, were the classical musical equivalent of Harlequin Romance covers come to life.

Lets face it, Simon Cowell who created Il Divo as a huge moneymaker in 2004 knew what he was doing given they're still going strong five years later.

One thing the quartet had going for them, other than incredibly strong voices and the ability to sing in English, Italian, Spanish, French, and Latin, was an enormous stage and video screen that would make even the biggest rock bands in the world jealous.

Unfortunately, unlike rockers like U2 or The Rolling Stones, Miller, Marín, Bühler and Izambard were mighty stiff, standing in front of their microphones with little in the way of any impromptu stage banter until they eventually ventured out on the oval-shaped catwalk which brought them closer to their screaming fans.

"Please feel free to make this noise any time you like during the show - just like that. You guys are a lively bunch," said Miller.

"This is the biggest crowd we're ever going to play in the whole North American tour tonight," pointed out Bühler.

"Good evening ladies, you're looking gorgeous tonight," said Marín later in the show. "I missed you. Did you miss me? Did you miss my little curl? Okay, enough cheesiness."

The Spice Girls, Il Divo - who were backed by a four-piece band and a 12-person string section (the Il Divo orchestra) - are not.

"David from America, Sébastien from France, Urs from Switzerland and Carlos from Spain" - as they introduced themselves - are practically indistinguishable from each other except for Miller who is the tall one.

Yes, their voices are different but their personalities are uniformly bland.

Marín was the lone exception as he broke into laughter while singing a lyric from the ballad, Everytime I Look At You. Finally, a real moment!

Marín also injected a little more life into the proceedings while introducing the Il Divo Spanish language number, La Vida Sin Amor.

"Who here knows how to dance salsa?" said Marín. "Let's see who dances the most sexy."

After opening with West Side Story's Somewhere and Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart, they moved into The Promise material with La Promessa and Angelina before moving back to pop covers like Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water and Charles Aznavour's She, the latter also from The Promise.

This was after they left the stage for the first of several costume changes.

The crowd ate up such covers as The Moody Blues' Nights In White Satin, Abba's The Winner Takes It All, Harry Nilsson's Without You, Canadian Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, Frankie Goes To Hollywood's The Power Of Love, Frank Sinatra's My Way (co-written by Canadian Paul Anka), and the opera classics Adagio and Caruso.

Then, for the encore, the foursome reappeared in black tuxedos and tails to sing Amazing Grace, with Izambard coming through the crowd on the floor before joining the three others at the front of the catwalk where they shook hands and signed autographs, before ending the evening with The Impossible Dream.

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: Ottawa Citizen
by Tony Lofaro

Music Review: Il Divo thrills crowd with pop greats

Il Divo returned to Scotiabank Place Saturday night and proved once again they have the pipes.

This international cartel of classically-trained singers wowed a crowd of about 8,200 people in a concert that was filled with emotion and power. It was a slick and polished show, which included an intermission, several costume changes, a large runway-type stage, and more than half a dozen standing ovations from an appreciative and older audience.

The show was largely a more pleasing effort than their last appearance here two years ago, when the arrangements and orchestrations were too overpowering. At that time, the four sounded like they were singing for their lives and were static and stiff onstage, giving the impression of singing statutes.

But on Saturday, the four singers - who hail from the United States, Switzerland, France and Spain - were up close and personal with the audience. They worked the long runway like fashion models, singing directly to the throngs of adoring fans only a few metres away at floor level.

The curvy runway stage and the flashy and sometimes sexy photos of women projected on a rear screen made the show more visually interesting than before. The singers were more relaxed as they rode through a list of 23 songs from their four CDs, including their latest, The Promise.

On well-known standards such as Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Unchained Melody and Nights in White Satin, Il Divo gave these old chestnuts a freshness and style that was not there before. The arrangements were lush and rich and each of the singers took turns emoting with passion on the familiar lyrics.

While they can still deliver powerful renditions of the West Side Story gem Somewhere, and Without You and Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart, they also included some new selections. They sang a glorious version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, giving the much-loved song great scope and depth in a stirring arrangement.

Also interesting and powerful were their strong renditions of the songs La Promessa and Angelina from their new CD.

Carlos Marin, the Spanish baritone, seemed to be a fan favourite as he gave deep resonance to many songs he performed. The other tenors, David Miller from the U.S., Urs Buhler from Switzerland, and Sebastien Izambard from France, were equally strong, puncturing each song with their soaring voices.

Il Divo is, really, a juggernaut, a musical steamroller created by American Idol judge Simon Cowell. But they are hardly known for their subtlety and low-key arrangements, leaving each number to come off big, brassy and loud. That is well and good, but sometimes the boys have to learn to take it down a notch. They are good singers and appeal to the legion of female fans, but sometimes less is more.

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: Metro Halifax
by John Tattrie

A packed Metro Centre swoons for Il Divo

The blue strobe lights swept the packed Metro Centre last night, a giddy crowd awaiting the entrance of Il Divo. The rumble turned to a roar as the four singers entered from the back of the elegant stage and electrified the thousands of devotees with a powerful performance of Somewhere.

The international quartet belted out ballads to a backdrop of flaming wedding gowns, mysterious women and the deepest realms of the universe.

David Miller, the American, thanked Halifax for the weather.

"The last time we were here, we were buried in snow," the tenor said.

Sounding like mountains serenading the sky, Il Divo worked through a mix of classical music and pop songs on the opening night of their North American tour. They added a few unrecorded (by them) numbers, including strapping Bridge Over Troubled Water to a Learjet and taking the old Simon and Garfunkel tune for a ride.

When Carlos Marin stepped forward, he had the crew turn on the house lights so he could check out "the beautiful women."

"Did you miss me?" he asked. The roaring suggested yes. Just in case he hadn't won them, he dedicated Mama to all the mothers in the house.

The Divos added a little Cancon with an air-shaking rip through Leonard Cohen's classic Hallelujah.

Ahead of closing the show with a rousing rendition of My Way, Miller thanked the crowd, admitting that when Il Divo formed five years ago, the guys expected it to last a year or two.

"We're still here because of you," he said.

The stage went dark, but the lights stayed off as the jam-packed Metro Centre stomped and shouted for an encore.

They got it when Marin, Miller, Urs Buhler and Sébastien Izambard strolled back out for Amazing Grace, a very sweet sound indeed.

Il Divo in Ahoy'. FOTO ANP


Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: AD.nl

photo: thestar.co.uk


Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: Thestar.co.uk
by Nick Ward

REVIEW: Il Divo, Sheffield Arena

YOU'VE got to hand it to that Simon Cowell.
Forget the silly trousers, the daft haircut and the dodgy white teeth.

When it comes to making dosh he knows his onions, whether they are French, Spanish or any other variety.

Who else could have come up with the concept of Il Divo?

Four handsome lads who can sing, and sing well, from the four corners of the world dressed like restaurant Maitre Ds belting out pop songs in an opera style.

Were you at the Il Divo concert? Let us know what you thought of it by adding a comment below.

The quartet - David Miller, Carlos Marin, Urs Buhler and Sebastien Izambard - told the audience at Sheffield Arena they never expected to make it past their first year.

Five years on they still had the mainly middle-aged female audience lapping up their operatic renditions of Bridge over Troubled Waters, Unchained Melody, Without You, Knights in White Satin, Hallelujah and even Frankie Goes To Hollywood's The Power of Love - all backed by a 20
strong orchestra.

Yes it was cheesy, Carlos admitted as much with one eyebrow raised to the laideez, in the style of the sleazy waiter from the sitcom Benidorm.

But the audience loved it.

How much longer that love affair will last at £60 per ticket is questionable.

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: This is Nottingham
by Phil Ball

Review: Il Divo, Arena

MEANING 'divine male performer', Il Divo offer up a unique confection of music. Carlos Marin, Urs Buhler, David Miller and Sebastien Izambard go from strength to strength with a full evening's concert format for the first time.

Now firmly in their fifth year, there are still indications of Simon Cowell's influence in the choice of music, but they are very much more their own men.With their sixth album behind them and a massive tour across Europe and America, they can claim to be at the top of their game.

Credit crunch there may be, but a rapturous Nottingham audience greeted the first bars of Somewhere, from West Side Story. It wasn't, though, just about the fantastic singing. The orchestra and especially the first-class visual effects gave us all an absolutely immaculate package of recession- busting entertainment.

That they can sing brilliantly is beyond doubt and the elements of cheesiness are handled with humour, notably by Carlos. Mama was the only slight tip towards a cloying aspect in their songbook.

You find yourself playing Name That Tune, as familiar notes are rendered in other languages and perennial standouts like Unbreak My Heart, My Way and the inevitable Unchained Melody floated across the Arena in true style.

Previously unrecorded versions of Bridge Over Troubled Water and She were well performed and an amazing rendition of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Power Of Love was another highlight.

The staging brought the boys out into an adoring host of fans and they were swamped with gifts and flowers galore. The swirling lights and colourful visual effects added an extra dimension of quality.

They performed The Promise, The Winner Takes It All, Angelina and Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, but for a child of the 60s/early 70s, my night was made by their versions of Nights In White Satin and a fantastic take on Badfinger's and Nilsson's Without You.

Originally a manufactured band, Il Divo should be both formulaic and erring on this side of being cringeworthy. They are most certainly none of those things. They are hugely talented, backed by a great orchestra and stunning visuals. They are world class and on the evidence of this show, expect them to be around for a very long time yet.

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: to follow

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: Telegraph.co.uk
by Helen Brown

Il Divo at the O2 Arena, London
Simon Cowell's international "popera" boy band perform a crass, cheesy version of romance.

Like thousands of Shirley Valentines competing for the attention of just four package-resort waiters, the middle-aged women screamed and waved as the penguin-suited hunks of Il Divo strutted on to the arena stage. Simon Cowell's international "popera" boy band are said to have grossed nearly $100 million on their 2006 tour, and three years on the fans' fervour shows little sign of abating.

What is the enduring appeal of these four bombastic blokes? There's nothing inherently wrong with pop songs sung in different styles. A punk cover can smear pop's commercial make-up; a stripped-down acoustic version may reveal the human face beneath; a jazz reworking can shuffle that face, Picasso-esque.

So what is the aim of an opera version? I'm guessing that the goal is to add grandeur. If "I love you" is sung louder, the emotion must be stronger. If it is sung in Italian, it must be more romantic.

But to my ears, Il Divo simultaneously rip the vernacular heart out of pop music while failing to live up to the musical discipline of opera. Their trick of changing singer every other line causes them to compete in volume and in
face-scrunching "sincerity". Their version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah makes Alexandra Burke's sound like an exercise in restraint.

It doesn't help that Carlos Marín raises his eyebrow in cheesy innuendo at any even vaguely suggestive line, including: "I'll take your part when darkness comes" on Bridge Over Troubled Water. Were I on that bridge with Marín, I'd push him off it. But around me I saw a swarm of swooning ladies who'd throw themselves in after him.

Behind the lust-objects, the orchestra was drowning in syrup, with twangs of hotel-lobby Spanish guitar bobbing about on the gloop. Screens over the stage flashed up the crassest signifiers of classy romance: red roses, chandeliers, black and white photographs of girls in pearls. All the accessories of an overpriced restaurant. And I think, Il Divo don't sing romance. They sing an Athena poster of romance. But then, a lot of people bought those too.

Rating *

Carlos Marin steps forward to sing a solo during classical group Il Divo's performance at the O2 in Dublin earlier this week. (photo: Independent.ie)


Il Divo Tickets North America 2009


Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: Independent.ie
by Ed Power

Il Divo bring the music

Several years ago, Simon Cowell applied his pop wiles to the dusty world of classical music and the result was Il Divo.

Purists were naturally appalled at the sight of four male stripogram-alikes belting out opera standards in the style of an upmarket karaoke party -- but to the wider public, the prospect of a classical act who looked as good as they sounded was irresistible.

The bryl-creamed quartet are recently returned from a year-long layoff and, judging by their reception at the O2, they haven't arrived a minute too soon.

"Good evening Dublin," says silky-voiced Spanish baritone Carlos Marin as a 40-piece orchestra tunes up behind him -- prompting deafening hormonal shrieks. You half expect a barrage of lacy underwear to knock him off his feet.

To be fair, classical devotees who accuse Il Divo of soiling the opera songbook are wide of the mark -- there's very little opera in what they do.

Rather, they reinterpret popular ballads -- tonight they are songs by Leonard Cohen, Simon and Garfunkel and Toni Braxton -- as slush-glazed, big lunged anthems.

You can picture Cowell sitting his recruits down in front of a video of Celine Dion wrapping her tonsils around 'My Heart Will Go On', and instructing them to follow her lead, albeit with less of the gentle understatement. For all their catalogue-model pouts and deep-fry tans, Il Divo aren't pretenders.

Tenor David Miller earned his chops at New York's Metropolitan Opera; Sebastien Izambard was a pop star in France when he got the call from Cowell; bizarrely, Swiss-born Urs Buhler frittered away his youth fronting heavy metal bands.

And when they combine their voices, the results are certainly roof-raising.

But in the final analysis this performance has more in common with a Westlife concert -- the chocolate-box sentimentality, the baying hen parties -- than anything that could properly be described as classical music.

Shakespeare's Lear depends for its tragic effects on the depiction of an aged and dignified King driven insane by the scheming faithlessness of the daughters between whom he's divided his Kingdom.

Recast as a kind of dodgy big businessman in this Second Age production, Lear hasn't a shred of dignity to begin with, so there's nothing tragic, or even moving, in his subsequent mistreatment.

Much of that mistreatment involves Lear (Gerard Murphy), denied access to the courts of daughters Regan (Lesley Conroy) and Goneril (Catherine Cusack), wandering the open country with his Fool (Declan Mills) and a handful of followers.

Setting all the action inside what looks like a chemical factory plant completely undercuts the power of all those scenes and, in effect, most of the play.

The famous storm scene does make inventive use of this self-imposed limitation -- flickering strip-lights and rumbling steel sheeting -- but the sound effects dampen some of Lear's most tormented speeches.

But while there's plenty of rumbling, drum-banging, and, at one point, a bull horn, the acting is uniformly muted, and collectively frigid.

When one of the main characters speaks, the rest of the cast fall dead, standing around like Thunderbird puppets with their strings cut.

Every scene, and the play has many scenes of pathos and tenderness, falls leadenly flat or is unintentionally comic: Gloucester, blinded, attempting to leap to his death, the hanging of the Fool from an oil drum.

I was hoping against hope that the final scenes between Lear and his one faithful daughter Cordelia, among the most beautiful and affecting in Shakespeare, would help redeem the thing.

But these too are delivered with the same trite lifelessness, and worse is the gross insult director Donnacadh O'Briain inflicts on the play's consummate moments by having Lear drag his adored Cordelia's corpse onto the stage by the hair like a carcass.

Il Divo Tickets North America 2009

Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Review: Birmingham Mail
by Roger Clarke

Review: Il Divo at LG Arena NEC

IL DIVO ended with The Impossible Dream, which it probably was when Simon Cowell put them together as the first popera group five years ago - The Three Tenors meets Take That.

But now anything seems possible for the quartet after a near faultless NEC performance in the early days of a world tour.

Bridge over Troubled Water is a song with a classic version and lots of failed attempts but Il Divo, who have yet to record the song, put their own memorable stamp on it as they did with Hallelujah and both stand comparison with the definitive Simon and Garfunkel and Jeff Buckley versions.

They opened with Somewhere after an overture from the excellent 20-piece orchestra and from there the audience was treated to a string of their better known songs such as Unchained Melody, Adagio, Knights in White Satin, Without You and so on, all full of their trademark changes of key, rich voices and soaring harmonies.

They produced an encore of Amazing Grace, My Way and, to a standing ovation, that dream which is rapidly being fulfilled.

Verdict: 4/5

photo: Manchester Evening News


Il Divo Tickets North America 2009

Il Divo Tickets UK & Europe 2009

Setlist:

Overture (The Power of Love, Caruso, Heroe)
Somewhere
Regresa a Mi
La Promessa
Angelina
Isabel
Bridge Over Troubled Water

(costume change)

She
Passera
Senza Catene
Mama
Notte di Luce

INTERMISSION/COSTUME CHANGE

Va Todo al Ganador
Without You
Pourque Tu M'aimes Encore
Every Time I Look at You
Hallelujah
Adagio
La Vida Sin Amor
Caruso
The Power of Love
My Way

(costume change)

Amazing Grace
The Impossible Dream

Review: Manchester Evening News
by Belinda Hanks

It's been five years since Simon Cowell unveiled this quartet of male
Esquire-esque opera singers for the common people to enjoy.

An experiment that has been a resounding success.

The response of the M.E.N. Arena crowd to this the first night of Il Divo's world tour is one of adoration and spirited fervour. Dickie bows a plenty and wine being quaffed in excitable gulps in the build up to the fab four's entrance.

As they appear stridently at the top of a fabulous set lavished by an
extended walkway - belting out the popular There's A Place For Us, it's clear this 'popera' isn't going to lack any balls.

American David Miller introduces the group: Swiss tenor Urs Buhler stands statuesque like while French pop singer, Sebastien Izambard stares modestly out at the crowd and baritone Carlos Marin takes his trade-mark Matadorian stance.

They stride forward singing a Spanish take on Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart.

It mesmerizes the crowd as does the brilliantly executed title track of new album, La Promessa (The Promise).

This is the fifth album for the multi-million selling group.

Il Divo live are nothing short of a thrilling. This is a visceral
experience: four red-blooded males standing in front of stylish backdrops of glamorous women draped in Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich-style costumes. It typifies the Simon Cowell touch.

Tenors tones

Live cameras frame each singer as they take the lead. David's tenor tones reminiscent of a young Domingo during the rousing harmonies of Angelina and La Luna. It's gutsy stuff.

Clad in dark Armani suits they strut slowly around. The testosterone oozing from Carlos alone sends shivers through the crowd. He waves. They wave back.

The Spaniard's baritone enthralls during Bridge Over Troubled Water.

"We thought it might last a year," says Sebastian. "And look at us now."

Yes lets. The arena is full of symbiotic harmony as they switch from
Spanish, Italian and English. I revel in the spirited All By Myself and
Unchained Melody.

Each track satiated with musical colour shade thanks to the fantastic
orchestral arrangements of long-time collaborator and the tour's musical director, Steve MCutcheon aka Steve Mac (Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis).

Pianist William Joseph also joins the fab four.

New tracks include Leonard Cohen's opulent Hallelujah and a rare treat, The Power Of Love.

This brilliant power ballad by Frankie Goes To Hollywood has never before been allowed to be re-cut.

It is a little presumptuous to finish with My Way, however, it is brilliant.

And they return in elegant tails for an encore of Amazing Grace.

Manufactured no more. Il Divo are a classical, popera force to be reckoned with. I don¹t think there is room for rebuttal here.

Play on Il Divo, play on.