A week after headlining Hyde Park, Elton John played a more intimate venue amid tight security for the first night of the 10th edition of the Apple Music Festival, which will also feature Robbie Williams, Britney Spears and Michael Bublé.
Sir Elton’s “evening full of surprises” involved singers he discovered through his Apple Beats 1 radio show. “It just brings me in contact with new artists that don’t get played on mainstream radio, because mainstream radio mostly plays crap,” he said to cheers.
His first guest was Rosie Lowe — an artist signed to his music management company. There was no mistaking his enthusiasm for the Devon-born vocalist as the pair dueted on the shimmering synth-soul of Woman and the warm wailing of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Seated at his piano in a sequined jacket, the 69-year-old star was an avuncular presence who had diligently rehearsed a song by each of his guests. As a talent spotter, he was on the money with the spooky American R&B of Gallant, whose voice soared alongside the rattling piano of Bennie and the Jets.
Parker Millsap, a country and blues singer from Oklahoma, was also a revelation as he strummed an acoustic guitar on a fearless rendition of Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me. “I fell in love with his voice,” said Sir Elton.
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The evening’s real amour, though, was between him and Héloïse Letissier, the French singer known as Christine and the Queens. As well as showing off her elegant choreography, Letissier dueted with him on the pulsing, bilingual electropop of Tilted and the timeless Tiny Dancer. “I love you Elton — Je T’aime,” she gushed.
The star’s seasoned band played their part in this glorious two-hour set, which concluded with fans out of their seats dancing to Crocodile Rock and the encore of Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting, featuring his guests in a group singalong.
Pairing a music legend with rising stars, this opening night was the best of both worlds.
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