Opening night review...

[LVCeline]

I'm not sure if there is an official review topic so I'm making my own. I was lucky enough to attend the show last night and as you can hear from the recording, she was AMAZING!

 

I have to say I was soooo nervous for her before the show started! I dont know why, I just felt there was a lot of expectations for the show. I didn't see any celebs, but apparently at least Rosie was there. I could see Rene and Rene Charles come in about 15 minutes before the show started so that was pretty neat. I'll bet he was so proud of his mom!

 

The opening of the show was just as people have described in rehearsal reviews. There was a huge red curtain down covering the stage and they dropped a giant projector screen down in front of it and showed bits of the final show, and then that's when you can hear IDAN playing with the opening video from the taking chances tour. It was kind of like a timeline where they showed at first the final date of A New Day, then the final date of her TC tour, and the scene from TTEOTW at the end when Rene Charles asks when the next show is going to be, then the screen shows TONIGHT on it and everyone started cheering and that's when the show started. The curtain opened just a bit and Celine started Open Arms, which sounded amazing. I cried through the first two songs, it was so great to see her again.

 

Then she gave her first speech and about 3 little screen lowered from the stage with images of Celine around the time WDMHBN came out, and they showed on the main screen the image of Jay Leno introducing her first TV appearance as you can hear. They lowered about 3 more screens down after the song started all showing different images of Celine around that time. WDMHBN is my favorite song of hers and I never thought I'd hear it live, so it was a dream come true and she sounded freaking amazing of course.

 

Then BYLM started and that sounded great as well. I don't remember much about the visuals for this one, they weren't outstanding enough to recall I guess. Then IACBTM started and she knocked that one out of the park and as everyone heard the transition to TPOL was INCREDIBLE. People freaked after that, she sounded better than ever singing that.

 

It's hard to remember every song in order and what was happening though. The violin interlude was fantastic. The guy came in from the main entrance and walked up the middle aisle to the stage while playing his solo. The video they played for the bond intro was amazing. You know how they do the black figure pointing the gun and doing stunts and stuff in the intro to bond movies? It was the same thing on the giant screen, it was so awesome. They had kind of a countdown thing going on while the video played and the orchestra did a bond interlude. Then Celine appeared on a walkway in the middle of the stage and sang Goldfinger and nailed that MASSIVE note at the end! It was incredible. She looked so sexy in that dress. Live and Let Die they had like fire and explosions on the giant screen at the dramatic moments of the song, it was awesome.

 

For her Ella Fitzgerald song they had an image of Ella on the two sides of the stage in front of a backdrop of flowers or something. Celine was on the middle of the stage with the piano and just a few other orchestra members and the curtains were half closed on the stage so it was really intimate. She sounded AMAZING for that one!

 

She introduced and sang Lullaby while images of her and her kids played on the giant screen pretty much like Oprah. I think she sounded better for sure but the orchestra also made the song better. I really noticed the strings in most of the songs. They really enhanced the experience.

 

The curtains were closed and Celine brought Andre out with a guitar and she sat down on the steps and sang At Seventeen, which sounded better than the Grammy performance for sure. I adore that song and despite other opinions, think it's a great and intimate moment in the show.

 

She sang Beauty and the Beast while the yellow chandelier and Ballroom the cartoon projected onto the screen. I didn't expect that song but it was soooo good to hear it live again!

 

All By Myself was INCREDIBLE. They had fog and blue lasers projecting out onto the audience which got more intense as the song built up. She sounded amazing. I can't believe how good she sounded the whole night.

 

About the hologram. I was a bit let down. The curtains were closed a bit on stage and it was dark except for the hologram of Celine in a peach dress that I didn't like much. The hologram started singing and then Celine appeared at the main entrance and walked down the middle aisle as she sang a duet with herself. She sounded good, but I didn't like the song too much. She got on top of herself a little too much I think. After that she made the speech about how many wonderful people she's done duets with, and then started to build up the next song by saying he was theist legendary, which I couldn't have disagreed more with. She honestly made it sound like he was going to be there live the way she introduced him. When people flailed he was just a hologram in the middle of the stage I felt a bit like people were tricked and then disappointed it wasn't real the way she made it sound. She was up on the stage and sang the duet next to the hologram. He was playing a piano for the hologram but had a close up image of him singing on one side of the stage and then her singing on the other side. I didn't like that song at all honestly.

 

The stage setup was really neat for the DOL interlude. The stage piece stairs lit up red and other various colors throughout the night. There was a lot of neat lighting that went along with the songs and stuff. LCMM was alright. I hate how she performs this song but it sounded better than it has since she started it singing this weird way. I didn't like the gold dress she wore though. I thought the black one we saw in pics was way better.

 

The transition from that to RDMH was great though and there was a ton of great lighting and stuff during the song. Way high energy and it was one of her best vocals of that song ever. She twirled the baton like a pro!

 

Whoops, totally forgot the MJ part...the curtain was closed and three cellists did an amazing solo of Smooth Criminal on the far left of the stage. When they ere done, the middle opened and Celine came out and sang a verse of Ben, then made the speech about how he inspired her to learn English, which quite honestly I don't ever remember her talking about him much at all ever. Wasn't it Barbra Streisand or Whitney Houston that made her want to learn English? I don't remember it being MJ but I could be wrong. Anyway, she sang the last half like an Octave higher than the first, it was great. Then the curtains opened all the way and a bunch of orchestra members were seated on wooden stools snapping there fingers while Celine started the song. She sounded amazing! There was a black sillouette of MJ on the side stage screen during the whole thing, and they projected an image of him after the medley on the giant screen in a picture frame like the one from AND. It was amazing.

 

The screen for MHWGN had a beautiful ocean horizon with rippling water and of fog on the stage I believe. She sounded incredible. The orchestra was definitely more noticeable. Mostly the strings section again.

 

Almost forgot The Reason as well. I don't remember much visual, butan she killed this song! I can't believe she sang this again after all these years but it's as good if not better than ever before. There was glass shattering on the giant screen for one part of the show, just can't remember specifically.

 

Overall the show was incredible. Vocally, she's singing better than she has in years. Since before A New Day. I don't know how she will keep it up though, it definitely was a more vocal show than anything else. She sang her freaking butt off! I'm so proud of her for the whole thing. It was possibly less visually interesting than AND, but way more classy, though at some points the show almost had a variety show type feel I guess. I don't know, but it was still amazing. Way different than any previous concert of hers for sure. Anyway, I'm going again tonight and will also record the show, but Tyler will probably do it again. I still need to hear his version to see which one sounds better. I hope everyone enjoyed the bootleg though, she was incredible! (sorry for typos, this was done on my phone :-p)

[Bellamy]

Yes. We need an official review topic by fans who actually watched the show. Please no complain from people who were not there. You have many other places to do that.

[Tyler1991]

I'm curious to hear your bootleg as well. Particularly on the songs with a lot of bass. That's where mine gets a bit crappy.

[Your_Su_Phu]

Just to answer your question, Celine has listed MJ as one of her idols and the reason she learned English since like forever. A lot of people are accused of jumping on the bandwagon after MJ's death and exploiting it but Celine has sang his praises since the beginning. In the 80's when she was first signed onto Sony she begged to meet him and she even got an autographed hat from him. They met and even collaborated (like on that one charity single) many times after that

 

I believe in the VH1 Behind the music special from the late 90's she also straight out says she wanted to have an international career after watching MJ perform on TV

Edited March 16, 2011 at 10:32 PM by Your_Su_Phu

[Tyler1991]

Okay time for my review.

 

This was the first time I had ever seen Celine, so I was very excited. As I wait for the show to start, I am admiring how beautiful the setting looks. It was so amazing.

 

I was seated front row of the first mezzanine, and was close to center. So, the seat was great. I was very satisfied.

 

The intro was interesting. I thought it was okay minus the whole IDAN intro part. The timeline part of it was cool, but the whole IDAN performance being played over the speakers sounded a bit cheesy.

 

I'll now go through each song.

 

Open Arms - I thought this was beautiful. The curtain coming down and revealing the orchestra! Just wow. She sang it more like the Journey version, so those who are more familiar with Mariah's will think this sounds "weird". It was vocally great.

 

Where Does My Heart Beat Now - I loved the Jay Leno cameo. This was amazing. The orchestra really gave this song a new spin. It was full force here. Visually there were a ton of Celine's on the stage with tons of clips from past performances, many from this song ,some from other songs also. Vocally it was amazing. I loved the way it sounded.

 

Because You Loved Me - My only complaint is that this was not full length. I wish it would have been in the movie version to, rather than the regular album version. That version has a little bit more of a punch to it. It did not seem as nasal as usual. She didn't ask to have the crowd sing though.

 

It's All Coming Back To Me Now & The Power Of Love - I loved IACBTMN. The orchestra gave both these songs a new twist. It was a top notch performance. The greatest part was the transition between these two songs. TPOL sounded great vocally to me. I did not notice it sounding weak except maybe the first chorus a little bit. The ending sounded great.

 

Mr. Paginini - This song was amazing. I feel terrible for ever wanting it cut. She had fun with it. It was great vocally. Loved it!

 

Lullaby - Boring vocally. There weren't very many people on stage if I remember. She sat down on a stool. People thought the song was over before it was and started clapping, lol. There was also some laughing and stuff because they had pictures up on the screen of the boys.

 

The Reason - Amazing vocals. I loved this performance. It was so much better thanlast time she sang it on tour, LTAL. She had the edgy punch here she didn't have for LTAL tour.

 

Goldfinger - AMAZING. Love this song. Orchestra is AWESOME!!! Her voice is awesome here. She hits some notes out of this world.

 

Nobody Does It Better- Good performance. Nothing to spectacular. I would have liked to see IYAMT here instead. I don't remember much about this to be honest.

 

Live And Let Die - This was a great performance. It was fun, slightly uptempo, sexy....Glad it was performed!

 

Spinning Wheel - This was Barnev's song. I enjoyed this one quite a bit. He has really good stage presence.

 

How Do You Keep The Music Playing? - I LOVED this! When they had the hologram Celine singing, to me it kind of looked fake. Then again I knew this was going to happen so I was on the lookout. It was funny because my Dad thought she was lipping because when hologram Celine set the mic down, real Celine started singing (and wasn't visible). At that time she was walking through the aisles. There was no security following her, so I was shocked. It had some good notes in it, but I don't know if she messed up, or if that was how it was supposed to sound, but there was a time towards the end where it sounded like she was singing on top of herself a bit and it sounded really messy.

 

Overjoyed - This was a hologram with Stevie Wonder. I personally didn't like it. It was boring, random, etc. I would have much rather her have done the hologram with either Babs or the Bee Gees, so she could do one of her own songs.

 

At Seventeen - This was a great part in the show. She talked about understanding the meaning of songs and how it is difficult with some, but this song she knows exactly what Janis meant. It was better than the Grammy Nominations performance.

 

Beauty And the Beast - Fantastic performance. People were really excited about this. The visual for this one looked cheap and simple. I was dispapointed in that. the entire orchestra was still on the stage. Vocally it was top notch. She did not do the high head note like she did in the FIY tour.

 

Ne Me Quitte Pas - Wow! Standing ovation for this one. She was crying. She was struggling to get through it (emotionally). I'll never understand the people who want her to sing this more standard and make it less emotional. How dare them! Conveying emotion and understanding is the most important part of singing. This was beautiful. Vocally it had some good notes in it also.

 

All By Myself - They had some laser effects for this. I was kind of shocked. It didn't sound like that kind of song to have flashy lasers. Vocally it was awesome. She sang the first half better than she has in a long time. The chorus sounded powerful. The verses were not nasal. The high note was lipped to the tour track. There was a slight delay between the myself and the long note, so that was a bit awkward. I doubt anyone really noticed though. The ending of this was awesome though. She definitely oculd have pulled this off.

 

Ben - Loved this whole song. She stopped halfway through and talked about MJ, what he means to her, how he saw her show, etc. They flash the spotlight on the seat he sat in. It was the very back row of FORCH3 or 4 I think. It had some great notes in it also.

 

Man In The Mirror - This was the most moving song to me. Everyone went crazy when she did this one. Wow. So beautiful. I got goosebumps. They had all the orchestra members sitting on the stage rather than on the platform. Each appeared to be on a stool with one of those stands that holds the sheet music. They each had a spotlight.

 

Declaration Of Love - Extremely short. Just a minute probably. The backgrounds sang, but only for 10 seconds. It seemed to be more of an orchestral interlude into LCMM.

 

Love Can Move Mountains - One of the best performances of this song in the past 17 years. There was no talking or ad libbing really. I enjoyed it.

 

River Deep, Mountain High - Great performance. I only think they could have cut it more and removed the stupid twirling of the mic (which she put barely any effort into here). They could have cut this a bit more to remove that and maybe include in DOL. It was great vocally.

 

My Heart Will Go On - nothing special about the visuals. Since this appears to be an identical playback to the 3/8 rehearsal, I will say that this track is amazing and better than both the last one and the dubbing. I really loved it.

 

 

Overall, great show. No complaints. The covers are amazing. I can't wait to go again tonight!

[greasepaint*30]

So jealous...wish I could go!!!

[celinefanonline]

well i have to say i love almost every second of the show

the opening holy s***... after the intro video the curtain opened up a bit and Celine's standing there and people already give her standing ovation!!!

and into the chorus while the curtain drop and show up the orchestra i starts to get a bit teary it was really amazing..... (still get a bit goosebumps talking / thinking about it) still can't believe i was there lol and love Celine's version

WDMHBN - was wondering how she would sound in this after so many years not singing the song.. and oh my Celine gave the song a new sound!

and love how they did visualy with screens of Celine early performance!

BYLM - love it better than TC tour! as Tyler 1991 said she didn't ask audience to sing the last words

IACBTMN / TPOL - with the help of orchestra they give a whole new sound to both songs! and love how they transit the songs! pretty dramatic in a way

 

Jean-Seb 's Violin solo!! it was amazing!! not only he looks good but he can play violin too lol!!!

 

i'll put the rest of my review later!

[Tyler1991]

^^ Hey! Now I know you. Haha we met.

[Lawna]

Well let's see...I'm kind of lazy to type a whole review...but I will say that despite a few things I think could have been better, overall I loved the show, and would see it again and again and again!

 

My seating was 2nd Mezz row H...Kindda far...I swear I could have picked her up with my fingers, she looked so tiny LOL

 

My favorite parts were definitely the beginning starting with the video portion (got me all energized and excited!) then going into "Open Arms" loved the song, and really loved how the curtains dropped! It just took my breath away! I was in total awe! I also loved the WDMHBN w/Jay Leno. I loved how the projector screen came down showing Celine in her younger years (kind of wished there was more of that in the show). Loved the MJ tribute...I think they should trash the blown up pic of him though, didn't care for it...I think they should have just used his silhouette instead. I thought the duet with herself was pretty cool, but I do agree it sounded a bit messy in the end. The duet w/stevie was ok, didn't care for the song too much, I agree w/ the idea that it should have been the BeeGees (Immortality) I would have loved that song duet instead!

 

Other than that, I really enjoyed the show, some parts I remember more than others, I wish they would have blowned her up on the screen, or at least projected her on the side walls so that people who sat further away could see her better.

 

I think with time the show will only get better! I can't wait to see the show progress and I'm anxious to get the chance to see her again!

 

 

BTW...I only had a ticket for premiere night, but I'm still in Vegas, probably will be here till the end of next week! Would love talk or meet any other fans who are still here, didn't recognize too many from the forum.

Edited March 17, 2011 at 09:17 AM by Lawna

[tahitiCELINEfan]

LOVED the premiere loved the musicians, the setting, celine appearing in the public! Loved EVERYTHING EXCEPT it's too short!!!!

[celinefanonline]

^^ Hey! Now I know you. Haha we met.

 

yeah i know!! it was great to meet u (u look kinda cute btw!)

 

You'll Have To Swing It (Mr. Paganini) - didn't like it at first but then it's not bad at all! they showed Ella on the side screens it was beautiful

Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel) - not a huge fan of the song but it does work great with the family videos!

The Reason - start of the song at the back there's like wall thing slowly came down from celling! and then when celine starts to sing "you r the reason..."

the wall starts to shine / glittering / glow which is like flowers blossom it's really beautiful

 

James Bond Instrumental - love it the orchestra sounds amazing, it's like going to see James Bond movie!, the video shows someone's chasing RC or something..and then at one point RC appear on the screen seating on a chair! pretty funny and cute

Goldfinger - Celine appears on the walkway (lifted up) and the end note was just speechless lol

Nobody Does It Better / Live And Let Die - not a huge fan of nobody does it better, but live and let die was pretty cool with the orchestra

Spinning Wheel (Blood, Sweat and Tears) - Barnev sang the song with 5 orchestra memebers which was pretty good and entertaining

How Do You Keep The Music Playing - the self duet song, i was seating in 1st mez which make the hologram not as convince, but it still was good

and after the song celine joked with herself saying like do u have any idea how long it takes for me to teach her to sing the song.. lol and then she starts to talk about duets and introduced Stevie wonder

Overjoyed - hologram of Stevie Wonder duet with celine, it's not bad but don't know why stevie wonder though... i would prefer they use Barbra or even Elvis that would be amazing.

At Seventeen - sweet song just Celine and her guitarist, and through out the song some member of the orchestra came to the stage.

Beauty And The Beast - with cartoon background it would be really amazing if they use hologram and get Belle and beast appear on the stage dancing.

Ne Me Quitte Pas - really emotional song, Celine cried and me too lol but it was amazing too

All By Myself - not sure if this song totally fit the show, but i love the song, there's like laser lighting for this song but not sure if it fit the song though

 

more to come

[CelineDionFan710]

cant wait

[kathy4]

thanks for sharing the reviews with us.

[celinefanonline]

continue from last one

now it's MJ's instrumental - this one it's really cool probably my favourite instrumental in the whole show they mixed billy jean , Thriller & Smooth Criminal that was brilliant!

Ben - Celine came out with goldish glittering dress that MJ would wear or so.... and start singing few line and starts talking about how MJ influence her career

Man in the mirror - love this with the orhestra member cliping hands and Celine just sounds so good in this song

Declaration Of Love instrumental with few lines by her backup singer, not bad but would love Celine to sing this like what she did in rehearsal

Love Can Move Mountains - Celine appeared in Gold dress it's pretty cool! and it fits more to the visual than the black dress she wore in rehearsal, she asked everyone to stand up and dance with her. it's not bad at all

River Deep, Mountain High - starts right after LCMM ends, she hits some good notes here! it's very energatic

Titanic instrumental intro - same as TC tour / AND and as someone said i would think it's Celine's voice in the intro

MHWGO - with full orchestra, walk from the middle back to front with the blue / greenish dress (not a big fan of the dress but it's ok) i love the music from the orchestra it's like the Oscar one again! but she should end the show with another song

[ennostiel]

After what LVCeline wrote I really don't have much to add.... I LOVED the whole show, I was totally blown away by the way she sounds. And all the visual effects... ohmygod, I would die if I couldn't be there to see it.

 

I cried my eyes out during Lullaby and Ne Me Quitte Pas, and had so much fun dancing to LCMM & RDMH! I was lucky to sit next to Lindsey, we could chat between songs and laugh and cry together!

 

An AWESOME show. No video of it can truly show how it sounded or looked like.

[kathy4]

how long was the show and were they taping for a dvd?

[MsCeline]

Review from the Las Vegas Sun Also Talk of adding 2 more years

 

A magnificent masterpiece! Those are the only words to describe the magical and memorable moment when Celine Dion drops pop princess status and takes on a monarch’s mantle as legendary icon in her new spectacular at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The curtains part at the halfway mark of the show to reveal Celine singing at rear center stage after one more of the fantastic music interludes to permit her the seven fabulous designer gown changes. Almost simultaneously, a second Celine appears right in the center of the theater singing, too.

 

 

It’s the duet you never ever dreamed could happen. The audience goes into a mesmerized “is it live or recorded” trance. Celine glows with radiance as the new Queen of the Strip and nobly glides slowly down the aisle. Nobody would dare reach out to touch her or interrupt the beauty of her strong, powerful voice. It’s such a reverential and awesome moment that it’s certain to cause spine-tingling and hair-raising experiences for every Colosseum spectator.

 

The silence is so intense you could hear a pin drop, except for the audible intake of breath as the audience inhales. You suddenly realize the image of Celine onstage is a hologram and a very remarkable, uncanny and extraordinary one. It takes the entire song for heaven-sent Celine to walk down the theater aisle in a bridal white, floor-length, robed gown to reach the stage steps. When she finishes the song and the applause and standing ovation have quieted, Celine breaks the tension beautifully, joking: “You should know how long it took to teach her to get it right!”

 

With the audience still reeling from that special effect, Celine produces another brilliant surprise, saying that her favorite duet over the years was with superstar singer Stevie Wonder. The curtain lifts on cue to show the pop prince at his piano! It’s the perfect double whammy. His hologram is so real, you’re very hard put to even dare think that it isn’t, as the real Celine and the imaged Stevie sing and chat.

 

All of that wonder and excitement takes place in just one 10-minute section of the show. Yet the other 85 are just as filled with surprises and effects. It’s way more than the producers ever promised. AEG’s head honcho, producer John Meglen, wasn’t kidding when he told me to wait patiently for the surprises. Director Ken Ehrlich only told me half the story of what magic he was conjuring. It’s the show you never want to end. Or at least have it performed twice nightly so you can sit through it again for another 95 minutes.

 

Celine has singlehandedly redefined class and elegance in onstage performances. Don’t be disappointed that there’s no over-the-top Las Vegas flying acrobatics, trampoline jumps, outrageous comedy video clips or Cirque du Soleil-like performers dodging firebombs. This is solely Celine, her songs and her music -- all totally pure and infinitely intimate. There is one song with billowing smoke; otherwise, you’ll feel you as if you’re in the recording studio with her or she’s singing to you in your living room.

 

That intense level of star contact with the audience is awesome and riveting. In the 11 years I have lived in Las Vegas and the 35 before that in New York, I’ve never felt that level of intimacy achieved onstage. Maybe Elvis had a similar spark, but not to this height. Maybe Garth Brooks comes mighty close at Encore Theater at the Wynn. Very few others own that magic to reach this ultimate gold standard. Up close or on the HDTV projection with Celine, you cry, too, as the tears roll down her face with the extraordinary emotion she brings to the lyrics.

 

Her 31-piece orchestra and band with three backup singers are the platinum-perfect accompaniment on their six-part modular stage for the 22-song set, and all are similar geniuses in their own right. The orchestra is as lush as could be, the band as tight as could be and the singers as balanced as could be. In the choreographed chorale for the Michael Jackson salute, the stage is filled with 30-plus singer finger-clicking in Radio City Music Hall high-kick precision to remind of The King of Pop’s production wizardry. The floating in-and-out stages move silently in an interlocking jigsaw wonder as if they are dancing silently.

 

The show opens with what us sated Las Vegas show goers might groan over -- an obligatory video clip. But this is a brilliant edit as you go around the world in 80 seconds with Celine on her most recent global tour. The high-octane video roars along, starting from the finale show at Caesars back on Dec. 15, 2007, and has shots in the limo going back to the family’s home in Lake Las Vegas with young son Rene-Charles asking plaintively that night, “What do we do now? Where do we go now?”

 

Husband, father and manager Rene Angelil and Celine promise him that they will return one day to Caesars, and with that, the video switches to her arrival here a month ago as the curtain rises to reveal Celine herself now on March 15, 2011. (Celine believes the number 5 is her lucky number and thus everything she does is keyed to a 5.)

 

In another brief video clip to cover a gown change later in the show, there’s incredibly personal, never-before-seen video portraits at home soon after the successful hospital delivery of twin boys Eddy and Nelson conceived after five failed in-vitro attempts. There’s another precious moment captured with Celine wide awake on their private jet nursing one of the newborn twins and Rene fast asleep with the other twin in the same position.

 

In the show opener, Celine stands in a shimmering gold and ivory Armani gown at center stage with the world’s largest pure white billowing curtain. It flies away instantly in a split second as if Criss Angel pulled the ultimate Mindfreak vanish. The stage is filled wall to wall with the orchestra, band and three backup singers. It’s the first wow moment of the night.

 

As she sings the first number with tear-filled eyes, 11 painting-sized video screens drop from the ceiling amid threads of burning candleholders to show how she sung it over the years at different ages. It’s all a very original and dramatic impact, particularly as the orchestra’s six-sectioned platform floats forward to the audience.

 

Celine, who also wears stunning outfits from Versace, Givenchy, Balmain and Elie Saab, is refreshingly candid talking with the audience at the show’s first possible moment: “This is a dream come true. We are overjoyed at what has happened and that we are back at Caesars. But I am still nervous about it.” And in a reference to Rene’s poker-playing skills at the tables: “It’s an even bigger dream come true for Rene!” Celine admits to gaining 60 pounds while pregnant, but the hard work of the show and the parenting had her back in fine form in no time.

 

The 42-year-old singer who celebrates her birthday in two weeks said she can’t believe how fast the time has gone since they left and how fast Rene-Charles, now 10, has grown. “Now I have the best of both worlds looking after my four boys (that includes Rene!), being with the family and still performing. This is a gift from heaven,” she said. When she sings “Lullaby” to say goodnight to the babies, she shows the recent Las Vegas baptism of the twins, and everybody agrees with her that “this is the best there is.”

 

Her voice is sent from the angels. It’s the best it’s ever been since she was 13 and scored with four albums by age 16. The break from performing has made it stronger and more sensational. In the setting of this show, it rings as a crystal clear phenomenon of confidence, poise and power. The music matches Celine’s majesty, too. A classical violinist plays while strolling through the audience. Three amazing cello players rock out on one of the side areas of the stage. The five brass boys onstage step right into the audience while playing. Everybody is having fun, and it adds yet another strategic plus as to why the show is unique and solely about songs and sounds.

 

Her “You Are the Reason” is sung against one of the most dramatic wall drops of blossoming giant flowers and a staggering chandelier, a genius artistic approach to set decoration. You can’t help be wowed by that, but then Celine does her music tribute to my hero, MI5 super agent James Bond. Now she’s in a black sequined gown for “Goldfinger,” and the mammoth video wall is alive with what must be 200 feet of shattering colorful animation that should start the next 007 movie. Look closely and you’ll spot Rene-Charles as the young secret agent. It’s cutting-edge technology for a total multimedia environment created by Moment Factory of Montreal, who also dealt another winning card with the water screen. Every image, filmed with special cameras or created electronically, seen in The Colosseum was created specifically for the new show.

 

When she sings “The Music Never Ends,” you want her show to never end. When she sits with a solo guitarist onstage inches from the front rows to sing Janis Ian’s hit “Seventeen” and then goes into “Beauty & the Beast” with Barnev Valsaint, you are in a hypnotic state wondering just how far she can push the buttons of emotion. She answers with the ultimate tearjerker of Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don’t Leave Me) by writer Jacques Brel. The tears pour down her face and that of the audience.

 

Celine dominates the stage, rules the arena and commands the crowd with “All By Myself” and in more breathtaking moments at centers stage with just a piano and her longtime music director. The superlatives aren’t enough to keep up with this. Celine zips into a gold sequined tuxedo jacket and tight leather pants for her Michael Jackson tribute, saying, “He changed my life. I learned English to sing like him.” For “Man in the Mirror,” she’s backed by an 18-member finger-snapping choir and one closing shot of a smiling Michael in a picture frame.

 

The finale leads from “River Deep Mountain High” into her final wardrobe change of a green, bare-shouldered turquoise gown as she sings the Titanic love song “My Heart Will Go On.” It’s an appropriate ending. The show is huge, totally terrific and titanic itself. If tonight is the night she decides to say she’s staying longer than planned in Las Vegas, we wouldn’t be at all surprised. Celine reigns triumphant and will continue to do so for the next three years and possibly five. No other words can do the show justice: a magnificent masterpiece.

 

Actual webpage below

 

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/1...legance-and/?ae

Edited March 18, 2011 at 05:39 PM by MsCeline

[ennostiel]

OMG MSCeline, I love this review!! So wonderful to read so many words of true appraisal and admiration for her!! Thanks for posting that

[maceta_biloxi]

The show was absolutely amazing, I (as a lot of fans from this forum) was not 100% happy with the setlist but seeing all together with the visual effects, dresses and orchestra I would say that it just amazing, I ended up liking more non-hit songs like the Ella Fitzgerald song, the Bond Medley was incredible specially Live and let Die, Michael Jackson medley was very emotional (even though I am not a Michael fan). The duet with Stevie Wonder was superb. Open Arms was the perfect song to start the show. Let's not mention that songs like Where Does My Heart Beat Now, Beauty & The Beast and The Reason were awesome to listen live.

All in all it is an amazing show, the ones of you who haven't seen it GO AND SEE IT!!

[smw]

(I posted this a couple days ago in the other opening night topic…but I thought I'd share it here as well)

 

I literally just got back from Vegas, so I'm too exhausted to write an in-depth review of the shows I attended on opening night and March 16th. But I'll give some general feedback...

 

Let me start with, Celine's voice is the best I've ever personally heard it live. I've seen her several times since the mid 1990s… and her voice is just incredible right now. I hope she keeps training to keep it so fluid.

 

The show was not ready to open on March 15. With that said, I think it could potentially be where it needed to be on opening night within a month. It needs time to marinate more.

 

The show was missing a spine. It didn't have a strong, central theme. "Music" is too broad. Even "Celine" is too broad. It was obviously not given the amount of time it needed.

 

I was pretty mortified with the projection screen coming down at the beginning of the concert to show footage from the Taking Chances World Tour. It needs to be cut. It felt like the Taking Chances World Tour all over again. I could accept it opening night… but it CANNOT be part of the show.

 

The transitions between some songs were far from polished. After opening night, I thought they would have fixed some of the easier ones by the next night… but it didn't happen.

 

Some of the visuals were stunning, even breathtaking… And some (such as the ones during The Power of Love) looked like screen savers. I don't see how the same team could choose such gorgeous visuals -- but also choose such amateur ones. I could not believe they built raised platforms in front of that magnificent screen -- and hardly then hardly used the platforms at all.

 

There was A LACK OF THEATRICALITY for this show. I didn't expect A New Day… I was thrilled with the idea of a more stripped down, intimate show. But she just kind of walked back-and-forth across the apron of the stage 90% of the time. She should be on various levels more.

 

All of her costumes, as you can see, were gorgeous.

 

The overall energy of the show was slower… but I expected that. And I'm okay with that… but some songs need to be exchanged for others at some point in the near future. Some of the songs (the Stevie Wonder duet; the song she sings with herself) feel dated. And not in a good way. I love the idea of a duet with herself, but the song felt wrong. The Ella Fitzgerald song was spectacular… and the set used during that part of the show should be an entire set of songs, then she should lower beneath the stage with her band for a costume change. I loved many of the songs, but since there is not a central spine to this show… I didn't feel a connection between the songs.

 

I could not believe that the last two songs were the same as the Taking Chances World Tour. With nothing special this time around to make it okay. The show desperately needed the high energy songs before MHWGO… but it just wasn't the best decision. And All By Myself needs to be cut. The lights during that part were embarrassing.

 

This show is classy. It's all it needs to be -- but I was hoping for some theatricality that is a little more groundbreaking. Most importantly… Celine's voice is absolutely amazing right now. And to be in that theatre with her was an honor.

 

So a quick overview:

 

-The show is lacking a strong central theme (which resulted in some awkward song choices).

 

-The transitions need to be cleaned up and more theatrical (Celine lowers into the stage; the curtain completely closes on Celine at the end of a song then she changes costume). She shouldn't exit stage left every freaking time!

 

-There should be more theatricality. This space was designed for stage manipulation and has the capabilities for some outstanding visuals. And, as it stands, this show could tour. And that's not a compliment. There should be elements to the show that make it ONLY PERFORMABLE IN THIS SPACE. Otherwise, there is no reason for millions of people to travel to her when the show could easily travel to them. I completely LOVE that this show is more "Old Vegas" -- and I love that it's more focused on Celine and her voice. But I want theatricality in the form of more fluid transitions and use of space. Just a modern version of old Vegas.

 

-There was not enough rehearsal time. And it's obvious. I think the show WILL BE fantastic. But it should have been fantastic on opening night.