Pet Shop Boys last night played an exclusive concert at the Mermaid Theatre in London in front of an audience of 600 invited guests, including many winners of competitions on Radio 2 and this site.
On stage with Neil and Chris were the 60 (approx) members of the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Nick Ingman plus Trevor Horn (bass), Phil Palmer (acoustic guitars), Steve Lipson (guitars), Anne Dudley (piano and keyboards), Paul Robinson (drums). Backing vocalists were Lol Creme, Andy Caine, Lucinda Barry and Sylvia Mason-James.
Special guests Rufus Wainwright, Frances Barber (star of the original production of “Closer to Heaven”) and Robbie Williams each sang a song. Trevor Horn was the musical director.
The set list was as follows:
Left to my own devices (full-length Introspective version)
Rent (Liza Minnelli arrangement)
You only tell me you love me when you’re drunk
The Sodom and Gomorrah Show
Casanova in Hell (Rufus Wainwright)
After all (from Battleship Potemkin with film)
Friendly fire (Frances Barber)
Integral
Interval
Numb
It’s alright
Luna Park
Nothing has been proved
Jealousy (extended version with Robbie Williams)
Dreaming of the Queen
It’s a sin
Indefinite leave to remain/West End girls
The opera singer Sally Bradshaw also sang on “Left to my own devices and “It’s alright”.
The concert will be broadcast by BBC Radio 2 on May 27th at 8.30 pm.
Click on the link for a report on the concert in The Sun newspaper.