Nostalgia, costume changes and sensational music took over at British Summer Time as crowds lost themselves in unison to the powerful pull of Celine Dion.
While support acts Claire Richards and Josh Groban charmed the gathering, the screams only got louder as the iconic singer graced the stage belting out ‘The Power of Love’ Dressed in the first of four memorable outfits- a sapphire blue jumpsuit with enormous puff sleeves- the 51-year-old is a sight and sound to behold, capturing the collective hearts of 65,000 fans with likeable personality and her soaring vocals. Next, she effortlessly delivered ‘That’s The Way It Is’ and ‘I’m Alive’ before inviting crowds to singalong to the epic ‘Because You Loved Me’, before she’s off for the first costume change of the night.
Coming back in an emerald green gown, the first notes of ‘It’s All Coming Back To Me Now’, begins the second act of her biggest hits. From a wash of nostalgia in ‘Beauty and The Beast’ to a rocking cover of ‘You’re The Voice’, to a beautiful rendition of her biggest French language hit ‘Pour que tu m’aimes’.
One highlight among many for the night came in the form of ballad ‘Think Twice’ which had everyone screaming a little more than they already were. Another highlight - and a personal favourite - was her transcendental cover of ‘All By Myself’ before emotions took over in ‘To Love You More’.
Moving into the third act – one that seemed like a ‘blink and miss’ moment- she appeared in sequinned jumpsuit to perform ‘Prince’s Kiss’ and ‘Purple Rain’ followed by the ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ in an exhibition of Celine’s Vegas show-womanship.
It nears the end much too soon for anyone’s liking, and she reappears in the final change of the night; a glorious canary yellow gown that flows as much as her music. Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for, as the first notes of the Irish pipes began, there is a collective rush of people – no matter their age, gender or ethnicity - moving as one towards it. Singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ as the entire ground of people join in with her, there is a sense of overwhelming unity and a buzz of undeterred excitement, as everyone is suddenly transported to another time. Back to 1997 where Jack and Rose’s eternal love lives.
This could have been the perfect end to a night with the superstar, but she one-ups herself – sitting down on stage with her gown framing her and ends her setlist with a cover of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ – a track which in her words she hopes “leaves behind a message of peace and harmony”; and so it does.
