Engelbert Humperdinck brings 60 years of craft to Her Majesty's Theatre

Engelbert Humperdinck brought 60 years of craft and genuine enjoyment to His Majesty's Theatre on 10 July, delivering the hits with warmth and a tight band that elevated the songs beyond nostalgia. A heartfelt tribute to his late wife anchored the evening emotionally, while the energy and playfulness throughout proved this was anything but a going-through-the-motions affair. Rating: 5/5

Engelbert Humperdinck walked onto the Her Majesty's Theatre stage looking every bit the showman who has spent 60 years perfecting the craft, and within minutes the audience knew this wasn't going to be a nostalgia act going through the motions. The Celebration Tour 2026 stop in Adelaide on 10 July was, first and foremost, fun. Humperdinck was playful all night, cracking jokes between songs and riffing with the crowd like a man who still genuinely enjoys being up there.

That energy made the show's one quiet moment land even harder. Partway through the set, Humperdinck paused to pay tribute to his late wife, introducing "How I Love You" with a stillness that hadn't been in the room before. It was a brief, heartfelt detour from the banter and the big numbers, and the audience felt the shift immediately. No theatrics, no oversell, just a man singing about someone he loved. It was the emotional centre of the night precisely because it wasn't dwelled on.

![Engelbert Humperdinck on stage at Her Majesty's Theatre](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/admin/2026/07/e519864c-94f5-4d23-b10f-6b1b5626a1c0.png)

The rest of the set delivered on the promise of a career spanning six decades. A Man Without Love, Quando Quando Quando and Spanish Blue Eyes drew the loudest response of the evening, and it was easy to see why. These are songs that have earned their place in people's lives over generations, and Humperdinck still sings them with the same conviction that made them hits in the first place. There was a nice touch when he mentioned A Man Without Love's unexpected second life after featuring in Marvel's Moon Knight, a reminder that these songs keep finding new audiences decades after they were first recorded.

None of it would have worked without the band behind him, and two players in particular stood out. Pianist Todd Schroeder brought real finesse to the arrangements, finding space and colour in songs that could easily have been played on autopilot. Guitarist Kevin Eknes matched him for feel, adding texture without ever crowding Humperdinck's vocal. Between them they gave the evening a musicality that elevated it well beyond a straightforward greatest-hits run-through.

At 60 years into a career, there'd be no shame in an artist simply cruising through the hits. Humperdinck did something better. He was warm, quick-witted and clearly still invested in the songs, while trusting a tight band to do the heavy lifting when it mattered. The tribute to his late wife gave the night its heart; the hits gave it its energy. Her Majesty's Theatre got both in equal measure, and the crowd left knowing exactly why this catalogue has endured.