Engelbert Humperdinck, Auckland NZ, 2019

Engelbert Humperdinck

28th February 2019
Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Alexis Brook. Photography by Chris Zwaagdyk.

Last night Aucklanders were in the presence of ballad royalty – Mr Engelbert Humperdinck. Showcasing a solid 90 minute set of classic hits with a couple of covers, the strongly ‘salt and pepper’ audience were in for an absolute treat.

Opening with an archival video introduction by Dean Martin, Englebert enters the stage in a crisp Navy suit and firey red shirt with matching pocket square. Enthusiastic cheers and whoops immediately sprung from the audience, he begins the show with ‘Crazy’. His vocals, while more mature now at the spritely age of 82 are still great and instantly the audience starts singing along.

The second song of the evening was delayed slightly as some front row latecomers were treated to a little bit of heckling from the man they came to see – “nice of you to be here” while they slink into their seats. Amusingly, this next song was ‘Am I Just That Easy To Forget’.

Five songs in, and Enge smoothly takes off his jacket and struts towards the piano, unbuttoning his shirt just a little while ‘The Stripper’ plays (which I’m sure had a few pacemakers around the room activating). Englebert settled into sharing a story of meeting Dean Martin, and the many ways Dean would pronounce his name including Engledinck, Humpty Dumpty Lumpty Bumpty, Engledinck Bumblelump. It reminded me of the various mixups people have when trying to say Benedict Cumberbatch, perhaps they should meet and compare notes! Moving centerstage, we are finally treated to ‘Quando Quando Quando’, complete with saucy hip swinging choreography.

Celebrating over 50 years in the entertainment industry, Englebert has recently released a new album “The Man I Want To Be”. Do check out his cover of Ed Sheeran‘s ‘Photograph’ as it’s quite neat, however tonight we were entertained by his cover of ‘Just The Way You Are’ by Bruno Mars, whom Englebert met in Hawaii many years ago when Bruno was 5 years old (the story goes Enge knew even then that Bruno would be a star).

Following on with another song from his new album – ‘I’m Glad I Danced WIth You’, a video duet with granddaughter Olivia Healey-Taliaferro (who has clearly inherited some great singing genes) playing in the background, Enge talks about the song being dedicated to his wife Patricia Healey, whom he met in a dance hall at 17 and has been dancing with ever since. He commented that he hoped she would be well enough to appreciate the song someday. A truly emotional moment when you know that life has been tough for the family as Patricia has been severely affected by Alzheimer’s for the past 10 years.

This concert is a fantastic blend of singing and conversation, with little anecdotes from Enge’s expansive career. His touring band is super slick, and highly skilled as they showcase their individual talents during the bridge of ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ followed by ‘Ten Guitars’ from both sides of the stage (during the song a pair of white lacy underwear was thrown on stage by a woman in the front row, to the giggles of the audience). As New Zealand’s unofficial National Anthem, Englebert seated himself centre stage and allowed the audience to sing to him in an encore performance.

With so much repertoire to choose from, Englebert performs a smooth medley to give the audience a touch of their favourites. I would have loved to hear the full version of ‘Spanish Eyes’, however a peep was better than not at all. More classic hits followed ‘Power of Love’ and ‘Broadway’ before one of the songs we were all waiting for – ‘Release Me’ which included a witty lyrical adlib nod to the success and longevity of this hit “Please release me, this song is 52 years old…”

Thanking the audience, and exiting the stage, visibly humbled by the audience’s response and love for Mr Humperdinck, he quickly returns for with a brief encore of ‘For the Good Times’ before donning a red coat emblazoned with ENGLEBERT which is framed by a pair of angel wings. Enge shadowboxes his way across the stage, celebrating his knock-out show as he throws out pocket square keepsakes to the audience.

I certainly have a soft spot for Englebert Humperdinck. His warm ballad tone is just something you can’t help but smile and sing along to. With a well polished no-intermission Vegas-styled set his rapport with the audience is instant, inviting us all to join him in singing along (although it’s pretty clear the audience didn’t really need an invitation, just permission to be louder).

If you have the chance to see him on this Australasian tour, go for it. You won’t be disappointed.

Were you there at the Bruce Mason Centre for this easy listening pop genius? Or have you seen Engelbert Humperdinck perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. Overture 2018 / Crazy
2. Am I That Easy To Forget
3. Il Mondo 2019
4. A Man Without Love
5. After The Lovin’
6. The Stripper
7. Quando, Quando, Quando
8. Fanfare
9. Maybe This Time
10. Just The Way You Are
11. Glad I Danced With You
12. Angel On My Shoulder
13. I Can’t Stop Loving You
14. Ten Guitars
15. The Last Waltz
16. You
17. 2017 Medley (This Moment In Time / The Way It Used To Be / Les Bicyclettes / There Goes My Everything / Spanish Eyes / Love Is All)
18. The Power Of Love
19. On Broadway
20. Release Me
21. For The Good Times [encore]
22. So Rare [encore]

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