I had the great pleasure of seeing Burt Bacharach perform during what might have been his final UK concert appearance. The late composer’s illustrious catalogue is being given a triumphant outing with Rob Shirakbari – Bacharach’s longtime musical director – at the helm, commanding the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and an astonishing cadre of vocalists. This touring concert series – making a stop at London’s Royal Albert Hall before a later UK run in October – has all the musical and vocal talent capable of handling this tricky, complex repertoire. All the Bacharach classics are here, making for a long show (with an interval) but justifiably so. Beyond his 1960s evergreens, expect to hear ’80s hits like ‘On My Own’ ( the Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald duet), ‘That’s What Friends are For’, and ‘Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)’.
Some pairings at this Royal Albert Hall show were particularly inspired: the raspy-voiced Woody Mankowski on Dusty Springfield’s ‘I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself’; Jana Varga bringing lilting ease to the the wistful ‘Message to Michael’; British singer Rumer bringing aching melancholy to ‘One Less Bell to Answer’. Shaun Escoffery took on the sweeping ballads of the evening – ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart’ and ‘A House is Not a Home’ – proving his status as one of Britain’s finest soul singers. There was one eagerly-anticipated guest yet to arrive, her presence queued by the looped opening bars of ‘Walk on By’. Dionne Warwick launched a ‘One Last Time’ tour a few years ago but has a knack of returning to these shores. Over sixty years after she first released a Bacharach composition, it’s still a gift to hear Warwick ask, ‘what’s it all about?’
