RENAISSANCE

VENUE THE KESWICK THEATRE, GLENSIDE, USA DATE 21/10/2022

Occasional breaks notwithstanding, symphonic rock mainstay Renaissance have remained active and beloved for over half a century.

Although they’ve not released a new studio LP since 2014’s Symphony Of Light, they’ve spent the last few years celebrating their distinguished catalogue on stage. That’s exactly what they’re doing on this evening’s date of The Legacy Tour. Backed by a chamber orchestra (and split into two sets with a 20-minute intermission), their renditions of several Renaissance classics – in conjunction with some solo tunes and characteristic wit from singer Annie Haslam – provide a joyful evening.

They begin with the oldest song of the night, a warm version of the singalong Carpet Of The Sun from 1973’s Ashes Are Burning, before venturing into some other 1970s gems – including the regal The Sisters, the sombre The Captive Heart and the complex Day Of The Dreamer. Three greats from Turn Of The Cards (Running Hard, Black Flame and encore I Think Of You) appear too, as does the gorgeous title track from Symphony Of Light.

The main band do a phenomenal job recapturing the official arrangements alongside their orchestral colleagues; meanwhile, Haslam’s stunning voice has lost almost none of its lustre. Those strengths also carry over to Haslam’s outside work, and the roughly 15-piece ensemble do equal justice to Ananda, Celestine, Reaching Out, The Angels Cry and Blessing In Disguise. Despite feeling a bit generic and commercial in spots, they showcase Haslam’s knack for wideranging non-Renaissance collaborations.

The most endearing moments come between the songs as Haslam reveals her humble, humorous personality. In addition to introducing most pieces with a charming story (such as when she wanted to kiss The Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward as they were recording The Angels Cry), she engages in back-andforth sparring with the audience regarding which track is coming next. Even her few lyrical flubs (during Ananda and Symphony Of Light) are met with jokes, as well as supportive applause from the audience.

Given its symphonic nature, the concert’s reserved visuals are also perfectly appropriate. Haslam wears two striking dresses while the rest of the musicians opt for all-black attire, and outside of some colourful overhead illumination and a few spotlights, there’s no distracting spectacle to speak of.

Although the lack of anything from Scheherazade And Other Stories is disappointing, and perhaps some ancillary selections could’ve been swapped for more original material, the show is a huge success. Haslam still conveys excellent stage presence and the band play immaculately, allowing Renaissance to continue flying high.