What the World Needs Now

A celebration of Burt Bacharach (Festival Theatre, 22 November 2024)

Burt’s songs are deceptively light. Famously grumpy critic Lester Bangs called him “the Master of the Superficial.” But his love melodies, entwined with the lyrics of Hal David, among others, are, in fact, little masterpieces of intimate, intricate concision. He co-wrote 73 US top-40 songs, so he must have been doing something right.

On Friday night, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, under Benjamin Northey, was in full lavish-and-lush mode, providing a gorgeous backdrop to accomplished singers David Campbell, Emma Pask, Thndo and Chantelle Ormandy. Unfortunately, vocalist Elise McCann was indisposed, but the other singers stepped-up, and gave lusty and sophisticated performances of which Burt himself would have been proud.

Highlights were many, including Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie, God Give Me Strength, Do You Know the Way to San Jose, I Just Don’t Know What to do with Myself and the title number.

Anyone who had a heart would surely warmly embrace the classy chemistry on display. Kudos to all concerned.