Review Roundup: Idina Menzel World Tour So Far- ALL the Reviews

By: Aug. 02, 2015
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Internationally celebrated vocalist and Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel is currently on a hotly anticipated world tour capitalizing on her newfound international celebrity due to Disney's most successful film to date, FROZEN. Thus far, she has visited Asia, Europe, and multiple states in the Eastern U.S.

Let's see what the critics have said of her performances!

Leigh Schepps, BroadwayWorld.com: As soon as the band started playing the first notes of her second song, I instantly knew it was "Don't Rain on My Parade." During the vamp, Menzel joked about being a bad dancer and mentioned that she sang the Jule Styne hit for Barbra Streisand at 'some thing;' assuming everyone already knew it was for the Kennedy Center Honors in 2008.

Amiel Mendoza, BroadwayWorld.com: Of course, a tour stop is never complete without the local flavor such as Filipino greetings and the vernacular I love you's. The Filipinos proved their superb musicality anew by acing the impromptu singing during the audience participation. They were also delighted when they found out that it was ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra that beautifully complemented Idina's band. And as she previously announced on the Ellen Degeneres Show, she also sang the chorus of Elsa's iconic song in Tagalog [translated by Mickey Muñoz, the orchestra's managing director].

Joey Guerra, Houston Chronicle: What it means is that Menzel is a wonderfully diverse performer. She's playful and flirty onstage, immediately engaging and fun to watch. It's a dynamic reminiscent of Bette Midler's live persona.

Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel: As the concert progressed, the singer, 44, visibly relaxed and become more animated. Her voice grew stronger and stronger. And by the inevitable "Frozen" finale, her casual, chatty personality was on full view right along with her musicianship.

Melissa Rugierri, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: What makes her live show so appealing is Menzel herself. She's funny. Within the first 10 minutes, she teased latecomers by re-creating her opening moves to inform them of what they missed, looked forlornly at the never-ending daylight and asked, "What time does it get dark here?" and joked with and posed for the press photographers stationed at the soundboard.

Andrew Tomlins, West End Frame: Menzel is a performer at the top of her game; she is at home on stage and takes the audience with her on every step of the journey. I love what she stands for - Menzel has inspired a new generation of talent, she dares to be different and isn't afraid to admit her imperfections.

Kevin Studer, Boca Magazine: Through it all, she's maintained a consistent vigor as a live performer. With her big voice and bold stage presence, Menzel knows how to captivate an audience. Of course there were moments when Menzel missed high notes, but it is to be expected considering her vocally challenging repertoire of songs. For every note that cracked, you could feel her passion for the music.

John J. Moser, The Morning Call: Mid-way through "Defying Gravity" from the Broadway play "Wicked," Menzel's voice soared with a huge, high note that drew a huge cheer from the sold-out and worshipping crowd. That told everything you needed to know about the show to come: Mendel's voice is a wonder: strong and rich. The singer was outgoing and enchanting and endearing. The crowd was enrapt. And Menzel's voice is far more suited to the stage than any other medium.

Andrew Meacham, Tampa Bay Times: With the star attraction more than a half-hour late, the crowd broke into rhythmic clapping. Menzel finally made her entrance at 8:37. Her opening number, Defying Gravity, brought audience members roaring to their feet, an indication of goodwill that would only grow stronger over the next two hours. Menzel, 44, delivered the powerhouse vocals that got her nominated for Tony awards in the musicals Rent, Wicked and If/Then (winning in 2004 for Wicked), and drove Let It Go from the Disney movie Frozen to the top 10.

Markos Papadatos, Digital Journal: The highlight vocal of the evening was her stellar version of "Always Starting Over" from her latest musical, If/Then. She revealed that this role was serendipitous since while her professional life was incredible, her personal life was more complicated, and by immersing herself in the role, she was able to learn so much about life through her character. "I love and adore this play so much," she admitted.


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