Celine Dion kicked off two weekends of spectacular live music in Hyde Park for Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park today with a stunning supporting cast of Josh Groban, Claire Richards, Jazz Morley, The Adelaides, Molly Hocking, Alice Chater, Kerri Watt and Anoushka Lucas.
First up on the Barclaycard Stage was Anoushka Lucas. She wowed the crowds early on, the perfect warm up for a day of true vocal talent. The Wandering Hearts opened up the Great Oak Stage performing as the first act on the main stage for the day – their blend of country and folk music complimented a very sunny Hyde Park, they opened with hit ‘Fire & Water’ and performed ‘Wish I Could’ before treating the audience to their new song ‘Your Love Hurts’.
The glowing UK country trio The Adelaides returned to BST Hyde Park after a brilliant first performance in 2018. This time, they drew in an even bigger crowd performing on the Barclaycard Stage with their vibrant country tunes and soaring vocals.
Claire Richards took to the Great Oak Stage straight after, donning a sparkly white jacket trouser suit with her band and dancers dressed in matching white t-shirts with her ‘CR’ logo. Beaming and very pleased to be there Claire commented “Trying my very hardest to look like a professional up here but I am freaking out not only ‘cos it’s this stage but it’s Celine day! It’s the only reason I’m here today.” Richards performed new tracks as well as classic anthems from Steps including ‘One For Sorrow’ she was watched on by her former band member Ian ‘H’ Watkins. She also covered ‘Someone You Loved’ by Lewis Capaldi and dedicated it to her children: “I get to do a few covers for radio sessions and every time I do it my children accuse me of stealing other people’s songs and then they find out some Steps songs weren’t ours and they accuse me of stealing those. But this is probably the biggest song of this year so far.”
Renowned US singer Josh Groban wowed the crowds and showed his pure excitement for being in the United Kingdom; “I love this country, I love London, I love this park, I come here on my days off when I’m over here, I’m the weird guy on the bench with the swans.” His theatrical performance saw him cover Gene Wilder’s ‘Pure Imagination’ and ‘Over The Rainbow’ and his biggest smash hit ‘You Raise Me Up.’ He finished on a beautifully operatic version of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water.’
The one and only Celine Dion brought the house down like the ultimate icon she is, with an immense catalogue of hits and her hilariously quirky sense of humour to match. Celine made every person in the crowd feel like a best friend – even thanking them for joining her in the sing-a-long. In an emotional and passionate performance, she brought the glamour from her Las Vegas show with four costume changes. Rocking up on stage in a sparkly blue jumpsuit, Celine raved “‘I’m looking out at this sea of people you look beautiful! People of London – my people. Are you ready to have a good time with me tonight?”
Celine individually thanked all the supports who had come before her on the Great Oak Stage and also played homage to some of the huge films she has soundtracked on, including ‘Deadpool 2’, ‘Titanic’ and ‘Beauty And The Beast’. She also gave the UK their first live airing of her latest single ‘Flying On My Own’ and urged the audience to dance. She also paid tribute to artists including Prince with a special rendition of ‘Purple Rain’.
Celine finished her set with true class and a heartfelt tribute to John Lennon. She closed on ‘Imagine’, calling for peace and harmony “If I may, I would love to leave with this message of peace and harmony in the best way that I can.” The perfect ending to a perfect first day in Hyde Park.
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