Show: THE KING SYMPHONIC: THE MUSIC OF ELVIS PRESLEY
Society: London (professional shows)
Venue: Cadogan Hall. 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ
Credits: Presented by Worldwide Entertainment. Featuring the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra UK and Shea Arender as Elvis Presley
Type: Sardines
Performance Date: 17/06/2022
The King Symphonic: The Music of Elvis Presley
It’s been quite a week! First I was lucky to receive a special invite to a preview screening of the new Elvis movie atarring Tom Hanks and Austin Butler as Col. Tom Parker and Elvis respectively. Secondly, on Friday evening (the hottest day of the year – so far), I was a press guest invited to review The King Symphonic: The Music of Elvis Presley at London’s Cadogan Hall. Well, the new Baz Lurhmann film is excellent as was tonight’s concert.
Fronted by Shea Arender, who is also the orchestra’s (Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra) owner and CEO, and directed by Toby Cruse, The King Symphonic: The Music of Elvis Presley finally got to entertain Cadogan Hall’s audience. The failed dates, recheduled due to COVID-19, stretch back to 3 Apr 2020, 25 Sep 2020, 26 Feb 2021 and 8 Oct 2021 – but, finally, opened tonight fifth time lucky.
The fortyish-piece orchestra were quite excellent tonight and has produced some of the finest arrangements with some of the best Elvis songs that I’ve ever heard. This was indeed fortunate because Arender can’t reach the highest notes like Elvis could, despite being spot-on with his vocal transformation. This was exposed in hits such as It’s Now or Never and American Trilogy when Arender would cut his singing short of attempting the highest notes and leave it to his excellent backing trio of singers and the orchestra to fill in. Elvis Presley’s voice was so rich in its gospel-style delivery it’s virtually impossible to perfectly copy it. That said, Arender is also from America’s Deep South and so shares much of the King’s local background.
However, Arender is the first to tell the audience that this isn’t a tacky tribute act with white jumpsuits. And although he adopts the spirit of Presley with many of his moves, the audience appreciated the notification.
The evening included two hours of Presley’s hits though the years, from 1954 right up to his latter (and fatter) Vegas years. ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, ‘Suspicious Minds’, ‘It’s Now or Never’, ‘You Gave Me a Mountain’, ‘Don’t Be Cruel/Teddy Bear’, ‘Love Me Tender’ and ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, they were all there, and what’s more, a tour is promised to follow on after the success of tonight.
Rock ‘n’ Roll ia alive and well on stage and screen right now, and who doesn’t love a bit of Elvis!