PALOMA FAITH & Sydney Symphony Orchestra at Sydney Opera House | 6th April 2018
Photos by AJ Morris for Gigamov
It has been four years since UK artist Paloma Faith wowed audiences with her first headline tour of Australia. Now, after a problematic follow up tour plagued with ill health forcing her to cancel several sold out shows in 2015, she is back! And with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, no less.
A lot has happened in the last three years for Faith, including becoming a mother, which led to a change in the way she approaches her music. Faith observed “I want to use any influence I have to challenge, as well as celebrate what’s good in the world.” And celebrate she did, together with an adoring audience that filled the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on Friday night.
Joining Faith for two cathartic Opera House performances was the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) led by conductor Guy Noble. Fifty orchestra members took to the stage within moments of the audience settling in, and the anticipation was palpable. It was clearly going to be a very special night.
Back up vocalists Baby N’Sola, Janelle Martin and Naomi Miller made their way onto the stage in true soul train style, with Paloma completing the set as she seemingly floated onto the stage in her six-inch heels and mesmerising outfit - not dissimilar to disco mirror ball. Sparkling and shining in spectacular fashion, the spotlight seemed to love her; she certainly lit up the stage.
Faith has had great success this decade with her last three albums being awarded double platinum status in the United Kingdom. She released her much-anticipated fourth album, 'The Architect', in November 2017 with credit for inspiration given to Marvin Gaye’s 1971 album 'What’s Going On', due to it’s ability to show an artist can deliver on social commentary with warmth, intimacy and beauty. It was something to aspire to.
Faith likened the atmosphere and unique performance with the SSO (her first ever orchestral performance in Australia) to a past performance at The Royal Albert Hall. From the very opening, the mezzo-soprano used her voice to deliver soul with true gospel elements. She interacted with Noble and the SSO with such natural ease, one would find it difficult to believe they were performing together for the first time.
Alluding to her early years of dance, and the years prior to her breakthrough as a singer in a burlesque cabaret, Faith defied the height of those six-inch stilettos to dance with her back-up singers, both in choreographed moves and freestyle - even dropping to her knees. She sat on the conductor's rostrum, on the edge of the stage and even lay on the stage when caught up in the emotion of music and lyrics.
Faith performed in her unique slinky soul funk meets disco style with plenty of natural interaction between Noble, back up singers and the SSO. When Faith effortlessly worked the entire stage during 'Crybaby' - the debut single from album 'The Architect', the audience lit up. A major highlight of the night was her interaction with guitarist Graeme Brown, who remarkably maintained his composure as Faith shimmied in front of him, serenading and sharing the spotlight with him during 'Take Me'.
Memorable songs of the night included 'Warrior', observing that she doesn’t normally sing other people's songs, but when offered a song by Sia, who was she to knock it back? 'Changing' (from her collaboration with Sigma), and 'Can’t Rely On You' were also standouts.
After a non-stop hour and a half performance, Faith and her back-up left the stage briefly before returning for a three-song encore - the last of which saw her move up the orchestra platforms to the back of the stage, working her way along the line of brass instruments and accidentally knocking the sheet music off of at least one stand. But in all their true professionalism, neither she nor the SSO missed a beat.
After a mesmerising and utterly entertaining performance, the pint-sized star closed the show in a truly personal and unique way, thanking Noble and the SSO, naming each and every musician by name much to the delight and surprise of the audience and orchestra alike.
A true talent, Paloma Faith took the audience on a musical journey as only an architect could. Starting off by laying a solid foundation and building level upon level until we reached the top - the view was absolutely magnificent.
Faith commented that when she took a leave of absence for her pregnancy, she feared she would be “replaced by something better”. But after this performance, Paloma Faith proved she had nothing to fear after all.
Photos by AJ Morris for Gigamov
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