CONCERT REVIEW - CONNIE FRANCIS
Queens College, Kupferberg (Colden) Center
NY 3/5/11
When someone has a wildly successful seven decade career and can still pack a large venue and put on a quality show, they’re on a very short list.
Connie Francis is one of the few.
Backed by a 21 piece orchestra (in tuxedos and gowns no less), the songstress exuded class and graciousness while still exhibiting a powerful voice. She impressively also sang in multiple languages. Openly talking about her turbulent life and marriages, she made the venue feel incredibly intimate. Ms. Francis simultaneously showed videos and photos from her remarkable career on large screens to mixed effect; at times it was nostalgic and at other times felt melancholy as so many of her peers are gone. I would also use this device more sparingly as at times it distracted from the music itself.
Ms. Francis, however, was generous in her two, one hour sets, separated by a twenty minute intermission. She remains a showman, a belter, and most definitely a crowd pleaser, garnering several standing ovations.
