Review: Alfie Boe, Harrogate International Centre (From York Press)

Review: Alfie Boe, Harrogate International Centre

8:41am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Music news and reviews By Ian Sime

Alfie Boe has performed at the Harrogate International Centre in the past, albeit as a member of the Fron Male Voice Choir, and some lucky York residents saw Mr Boe at Opera in the Park in Leeds a couple of summers ago.

But on Saturday night Alfie Boe took centre stage, in his own right.

Boe first came to prominence in Baz Lurhman’s production of La Boheme, but instead of following the obvious path toward classical opera has become arguably the First Man of Musical Theatre.

Wheels Of A Dream from Ragtime heralded a finely chosen set including favourites from Stephen Sondheim, Willy Russell and the Shermans.

The operatic trained tenor varied the programme with a James Bond medley and the tenderness of Ewan MacColl’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. But surprisingly classic opera was not on the agenda.

In its place came the surprising inclusion of a full throttle production of The Beatles’ A Day In The Life and Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir.

Boe’s official special guest, Laura Wright showcased a few songs from her LP, The Last Rose.

But from the audience, Boe introduced Scott Garnham, the current Marius from Les Miserables.

Garnham shared the stage for an unrehearsed, but totally entertaining rendition of The Impossible Dream, from The Man of La Mancha.

But, of course the highlight of the concert was Alfie Boe’s unique and quite spectacular interpretation of Shonberg & Boublil classic Bring Him Home. After this tour, Alfie Boe is off to Australia to perform three concerts at Sydney Opera House with Olivia Newton-John.

There will be many hoping that it won’t be too long before Boe performs in Yorkshire again.