The curtains parted at the Sony Centre for the performing arts and revealed a beautiful black grand piano, and out walked Josh Groban. The man everyone came to see. Approximately one minute into his first song the back curtain dropped to reveal an orchestra. Whether this is your type of music or not, there is no denying that Josh Groban has an incredible voice. Groban’s voice filled the Sony Centre with ease for Pure Imagination. Half way through his first set he brought out Lena Hall and performed a beautiful duet from Phantom of the Opera, “All I Ask Of You”. The entire hall was in silence as you heard these two belt out their notes. After they were finished Josh left the stage and Lena Hall entertained us with a solo from her upcoming album by Freddy Mercury called “Save Me”.
One thing I was not aware of is that Josh is quite witty. More than once he had the audience laughing. Telling little anecdote or stories of when he was a kid. He had the audience snickering more than once throughout the night.
2003 was the first time, Josh explained, that he performed on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre in “Chess”. He has come a long way since then. As he was explaining this to us out walked a choir called “Victor Singers”, a group from Toronto.
There was a 15 minute intermission and as I was looking around the audience I could see people aged 18-80 what a diverse crowd.
As the second half started, Josh sat on a stool in the middle of the stage with the orchestra behind a sheer curtain. Once again, the audience soaked up every note that Josh sang, starting off with “Not While I’m Around”. Just before he started this song he had the audience laughing once again stating “I hope you emptied yourselves”.
Lena Hall graced the stage once again and sang “Maybe I’m Amazed”, one of my favourite Beatles tunes and she definitely sang her heart out. Josh said he was going to make tea while she was performing. I didn’t think I would be listening to a Beatles song at a Josh Groban concert while he was going to make tea. Just another one of the funny comments he made though out the night.
Just before he started “Unusual Way”, Josh Groban walked over to an unmarked cup on the stage for him and he said “let me take a sip out of this unmarked, ominous looking cup”. Then said “mmm absenthe” and pretended to drop to the ground. Josh, to me seems very personable, someone you could go for a beer with after the show or even could be your best friend’s brother. He even made a Scooby Doo reference at one point. He just seems to be very fun and loveable, which is a great quality to have especially in today’s world.
The Victor singers came out a second time and they all ended the night with “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. A very uplifting song and I can say no one walked out of the Sony Centre disappointed this evening.
If you missed this evenings performance you are in luck. Josh Groban is performing tonight (Tuesday Sept 22) at the Sony Centre in Toronto and I highly recommend you go. You will enjoy beautiful music at a beautiful venue and will be laughing throughout the evening.
Once again thanks to the crew because with out them there is no show!
Thanks to Live Nation Ontario for media access.
