The lights of Vivid blaze across Sydney Harbour drawing patterns in the sky as soft drizzle settles in for the evening.
However, inside the Opera House (20 May) it is warm, dry and packed to capacity for Engelbert Humperdinck's farewell tour.The show begins with a '50s television announcing 'An Evening with Engelbert Humperdinck'. Bond-esque videos of the young man play, with him shooting and driving recklessly. The real Humperdinck enters to rapturous applause. "Well hello there," he sings. Why talk when you can sing your entire entrance?
"My it's been a long, long time. How are you doing? I guess I'm doing fine," the notes roll out like a red carpet. "It seems like it was only yesterday," he sings from 'Funny How Time Slips Away', his voice strong and beautiful, belying his years.
"This is a strange line," Humperdinck speaks for the first time, interjecting before singing, "I gotta go now," then shrugging. He is feeling cheeky, swaying across the stage in his black tuxedo and slightly unbuttoned white shirt. "Time slips away," he brings down a lovely opening.
The band flow straight into 'Am I That Easy To Forget', as the stage floods stunning pinks and purples that blend to an electric orange. The crowd adore the song, singing with all their might.
"It's been five, six years I've been performing," Humperdinck begins the first conversation of the night with tongue firmly in cheek. "I still get nervous." The crowd laugh. "My legs were shaking, I thought I was going to have to do this," Humperdinck mimics lying down, before transitioning to sentimentality.
"Music has been my passport," he shares emotionally. "Thank you for coming to the farewell tour. Just let me into your life," he begs passionately, as the stage glows a glorious orange. It feels like Vegas in the '70s, a warm, nostalgic feeling.
Humperdinck sustains a note, climaxing the song before blowing a kiss to the crowd. They clearly adore him. "I got lucky twice with this one," he shares regarding 'A Man Without Love'. "It was in 'Moon Knight' and went to number one on Spotify. Can you believe that? I recorded it 50 years ago!" The crowd cheer.
He places his foot on the fold-back, leaning forward like an enticing Lothario, much to the audience's delight. "My back is giving me agony," he changes one of the song's lyrics, gripping it and hopping as he returns to centre-stage. Humperdinck is one heck of an entertainer. The lights fade down like a sunrise, and you have just obtained a core life memory.
'After The Lovin' is smooth and sad like the last whiskey of a long night. The curtains drip purple appearing like jellyfish, and Humperdinck characteristically commands the stage from end to end.
"It's time to make myself a little loose," he declares, an attendant taking his jacket while Humperdinck unbuttons his shirt more than a couple. The crowd reacts to the scandal. "There's no alcohol in here," Humperdinck states, gesturing to his drinks table. "It's been many moons time since any alcohol has passed these lips. And. . . I also lie."
He starts 'It's Not Unusual' in Tom Jones style, miming a hip thrust before abandoning the song. The crowd laughs hysterically for their man. 'Ten Guitars' jives along before Humperdinck announces it's request time. Yells ring out before he replies, "we'll do my one first".
"I'm really going to sit down for this," Humperdinck says before 'If You Don't Know Me By Now’. "It's the only time I get to rest. I don't get any in bed," he jokes. "All the women banging on my door. Finally, I go and let them out." The crowd erupts.
The song is another deeply touching sing-along, before 'Faithfully' – a Journey cover – carries on the sentimentality.
Frankie Valli's 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' begins under pink beams. Humperdinck grabs the chorus by the collar and turns it upside down. Not many can take this song like he does. What a man.
"I'm going to ask my keyboard player Alicia to dance with me for this one," he says. "I can't dance Engelbert," she replies. "I will!" one patron screams.
Humperdinck tells Alicia he learnt to dance from the hokey pokey. "I shouldn't sing that," he stops. "The writer died recently and they buried him in a very strange way." "How?" Alicia asks. "One foot in then one foot out," Humperdinck jokes.
The crowd groans with wry smiles as 'Quando, Quando, Quando' begins. Humperdinck gyrates, before the decidedly metal-haired guitarist takes front of stage, shredding his telecaster. The fusion works.
Humperdinck dons a Crocodile Dundee hat for 'You're The First, The Last, My Everything' as the lights shine yellow circles on the ground. Another guitar solo takes the bridge, flowing smooth and silky.
Humperdinck tells a story of golfing with Clint Eastwood who was asked by Toby Keith how he does so much in his 90s. "Clint said, 'Toby I just don't let the old man in'." The song, like Humperdinck himself, is a touching reminder that life is what you make it, at any age.
'Old Time Rock And Roll' plays with solos from each band member. Alicia shines with her vocal rendition. Humperdinck then tears our hearts out by sharing he wrote
'Everywhere I Go' for his wife, who is now in heaven. "I promised I would sing this everywhere I go." It is everything you imagine it would be, and you wonder if anyone will ever write a song about you. It climaxes in crashing drums and searing guitar notes.
'The Last Waltz' provides the heartiest sing-along of the night. A wonderfully crafted song and a stunning rendition. A medley of hits follows as Humperdinck dabs his forehead with his red handkerchief. He has worked hard here this evening.
'Release Me' proves popular and closes the regular set, as the band play through the obligatory stage exit. "Thank you for being a wonderful audience," Humperdinck gestures. "Applause is the food of an artist, and thank you for not starving me or my band tonight."
He adds: "Singers are lucky, because we can use our tools to vent our feelings. I hope you felt our emotion here tonight."
'How Do You Keep The Music Playing' is a beautiful start to the encore as blue smoke swirls around the stage. Humperdinck stuns with a heart wrenching, elongated final note.
'For The Good Times' closes the set gently, as Humperdinck declares: "Well I've had a good time." He sings out the finals chorus shaking every hand in the front row.
"You remember I love you," he says, donning in a freshly supplied red bathrobe with gold cuffs. After handing out many of his signature red handkerchiefs, he departs all too soon.
Time flew as we were transported to another place. Humperdinck is astounding. To do what he does at any age is a feat of performance. The love he endues within so many is well deserved. A treasure, it was an absolute pleasure to have seen such a legend in such an iconic venue.
