Fan report by Mireille Herz.

The show started almost exactly on time at 7.35pm. Obviously, not the entire audience was aware of the sort of early start in contrast to other shows which usually begin at 8.00pm. So, when the first chords of “Funeral” echoed through the Olympiahalle, only about 70% of the seats in the sold-out arena were occupied. I thus feared a lame audience but was pleasantly surprised by people enthusiastically responding to the for most people rather obscure songs like “Hey Ahab”. People kept standing and dancing – really surprising.

I am quite sure this was at least to some extent due to the fabulously energetic performance of the “Two Cellos” and the four background singers. These new additions to the Elton John Band brought a lot of energy especially into the songs from “The Union”.

Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser, the Croatian cellists, were dressed alike in striped T-shirts and sunglasses. Elton described them as looking like surfers – quite to the point, actually. I never would have thought it possible to really rock and roll with cellos but with those two, it worked perfectly. Unfortunately, the cellos were not featured very prominently in the musical mix so that you really had to listen closely to make out what Sulic and Hauser played. The cello sound fits Elton’s songs perfectly, and the two Croatians deserve to be heard very well.

The background singers – quite to the contrary – were clearly audible. I had loved this section during the “Ice On Fire” tour and was glad to see female backing vocals return this year. The four ladies sing perfectly but I wondered whether their seemingly uncoordinated moves were actually some kind of an unusual choreography. Whereas the singer on the left (audience view) seemed to hilariously translate every line into sign language and to have a helluva time the other ladies remained graceful but in comparison almost stern. Still, I loved both the cellists and the background singers.

Elton had a few surprises in stock as well, such as a new XL-version of “Madman Across The Water” and a nice improvisational part around the German national anthem in “Take Me To The Pilot”. Unfortunately, but typical for German audiences hardly anyone responded to Elton’s well-meant greeting. Maestro was wearing a black waistcoat embroidered with a sparkling sort-of Ed Hardy-esque skull and cross on the back, the tails reading “Dark Diamond”. He seemed to be in best spirits and really enjoying himself.

Even though this tour is coined “Greatest Hits” and the choice of songs for the most part not a fan’s delight, I was glad I went to see the show. After all, Elton is a great entertainer.

Following is the complete set list of the Munich show on June 14, 2011:

• Funeral For A Friend
  
• Love Lies Bleeding
  
• Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
  
• Levon
  
• Madman Across The Water
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
  
• Hey Ahab
  
• Gone To Shiloh
  
• Monkey Suit
  
• Sad Songs (Say So Much)
  
• Take Me To The Pilot
  
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
  
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  
• Are You Ready For Love?
  
• Bennie And The Jets
  
• The Bitch Is Back
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
  
• Candle In The Wind
  
• Your Song

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