A Symphonic Tribute to Billy Joel
Review by Markus Hamence and Jeff Smith – Performance date: Friday 7 February 2025, Adelaide Festival Centre, South Australia
There’s something really magical about a night at the Adelaide Festival Centre, especially when it’s dedicated to celebrating the timeless music of Billy Joel. I grew up on Billy’s music, my dad had all the vinyls and played them repeatedly (switching it up with a bit of Sinatra and Lionel Ritchie of course). So, when on February 7, 2025, the Festival Theatre hosted ‘Piano Man‘, a spectacular orchestral tribute featuring the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and a cast of powerhouse vocalists and I was keen beans for it! From start to finish, the evening was a journey through Joel’s most beloved songs, reimagined with symphonic grandeur. Gonna chat it out…
A Perfect Fusion: The ASO Meets Billy Joel
From the moment our acclaimed conductor Vanessa Scammell raised her baton, it was most certainly clear that this was no ordinary tribute concert. The ASO, renowned for their rich, full-bodied sound, brought a new and vibrant depth to Billy Joel’s classics (and holy moly he has quite the few), making even the most familiar tunes feel fresh and exciting. The orchestral arrangements, masterfully crafted by Nicholas Buc, added lush textures to Joel’s melodies, proving that his music is as timeless as ever.
But, let’s chat about Vanessa for a moment. Her fabulously blonde mane, wonderful spunky fashion and her inate talent is joyful to watch. She holds court effortlessly and quite often your eyes are drawn only to her on stage as she flicks her wrists and gestures to her adoring orchestra. Scammell is at the top of the game and she got there by being extraordinarily great at her job. A master and very engaging on stage.
She kicked the night off with a stunning overture that teased melodies from ‘New York State of Mind’, ‘Uptown Girl’ and ‘Just the Way You Are‘. The excitement in the stalls, the dress circle and grand circle (yes, a FULL HOUSE) was buzzing as the audience, a mix of die-hard Billy Joel fans and lovers of orchestral music, settled in for what would be an unforgettable experience.
The Voices That Brought Joel to Life
What elevated the performance were the four stellar vocalists: Phil Burton, Alinta Chidzey, Jess Hitchcock, and Josh Piterman. Each brought their own unique interpretation to Joel’s music while staying true to the emotion and storytelling at its core.
- Phil Burton (of Human Nature fame) tackled some of Joel’s most upbeat numbers with ease. His rendition of ‘A Matter Of Trust’ had the audience tapping their feet and clapping along, while his delivery of Joel’s newer song ‘Turn the Lights Back On’ was filled with raw energy.
- Alinta Chidzey (known for her leading role in Moulin Rouge! The Musical) was a revelation on ‘Just The Way You Are’ Her rich, soulful voice added new layers of emotion to the song, leaving many in the audience visibly moved.
- Jess Hitchcock, a rising star in the Australian music scene, shone during ‘This Is The Time’. Her vocals, infused with jazz and blues undertones, gave the song a fresh yet nostalgic feel.
- Josh Piterman, a powerhouse of musical theatre, took on the iconic ‘All About Soul’ and it was FULL of soul. His performance was nothing short of breathtaking – intimate, heartfelt, and worthy of a standing ovation. Charming.
Whether they sung solo, as duos OR as the foursome, all songs were delivered with power and a shining vocal strength. The cast were playful, cheeky and had great banter making it thoroughly enjoyable for us sitting back in the luxe red velvet seats.
A favourite moment? ‘Goodnight Saigon‘ by all four singers was a freaking standout.
A Setlist That Spanned Generations
One of the concert’s greatest strengths was its carefully curated setlist, which covered both Joel’s greatest hits and a few deeper cuts. Songs like ‘Vienna‘ and ‘New York State of Mind’ were given lush orchestral makeovers, while more rock-driven tracks like ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire‘ exploded with new energy.
Each song flowed seamlessly into the next, with clever instrumental transitions that highlighted the ASO’s ability to not just accompany but enhance the vocal performances. The arrangements struck a perfect balance – honoring the original compositions while embracing the grandeur of a full symphony orchestra.
The Musicians and Ambience
The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra are world-class, untopable and I could listen to them for days. In fact, the last time I saw them was just recently with Dan Sultan, and prior to that with Kate Ceberano. Outstanding. I don’t believe they have ever get it wrong. They also appeared on stage with some other special guest musicians that are equally outstanding as always… Jack Earle on Keyboard, Sam Leske on Guitar, Nick Sinclair on Bass and Ben Todd bangin’ the Drumkit. The Festival Theatre with its acclaimed acoustics and elegant ambiance, every note rang out with clarity, allowing the audience to fully appreciate both the orchestral richness and vocal depth. The lighting design was subtle yet effective, shifting in mood to match each song – from warm, intimate glows during ballads to vibrant, high-energy bursts for upbeat numbers.
A Standing Ovation for an Unforgettable Night
By the time the final notes of ‘Piano Man‘ (the one we were ALL waiting for) echoed through the theatre, in sing-along style the audience was on its feet, applauding, cheering, and basking in the afterglow of a truly special performance. It’s not easy to take on the music of Billy Joel – his songs are deeply personal, iconic, woven into the fabric of so many people’s lives – but this production did so with passion, skill, and immense respect.
A fan of Billy Joel or simply appreciate extraordinary live music, ‘Piano Man’ at the Adelaide Festival Centre was an experience to remember – a reminder of the enduring power of music and the magic that happens when a world-class orchestra meets timeless songwriting. Exceptional. Bravo!
Final Verdict: 5/5 – A Must-See Event for Music Lovers 🎹✨
BUT, that’s not it! I also took along a great friend and an On Your Markus team member, Jeff Smith. A huge lover of music and entertainment, here is his review:
The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s (ASO) Piano Man served as the ultimate celebration of Billy Joel’s prolific and treasured songbook and his impact on Australian audiences over 50 years. The natural pairing of the ASO and a quartet of Australia’s finest voices: Phil Burton, Alinta Chidzey, Jess Hitchcock and Josh Pitterman shed a brand-new light on Joel’s songs and brought Adelaide to its feet on Friday night with a mix of virtuosity, nostalgia and true showmanship.
Under the masterful baton of Vanessa Scammell, The ASO and rhythm section shone from the first notes and the concert delivered a memorable, reflective and ultimately uplifting experience. The carefully crafted show directed by Mark Sutcliffe with arrangements by Nicholas Buc blended the hits with more recent material, alongside knock-out vocal performances.
Highlights were many but included the vocal power of Josh Pitterman in Vienna and All About Soul and Jess Hitchcock’s tender and beautiful renditions of Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) and And So It Goes. Phil Burton’s deep connection to Joel was evident throughout the evening and Burton’s rendition of Turn the Lights Back On drew audible gasps from the audience. Alinta Chidzey’s take on New York State of Mind was simply showstopping. Epic group performances of We Didn’t Start the Fire and Piano Man united the audience in a mass singalong.
Piano Man delivered in spades and reminded us of the place that Joel rightly holds in music history. Across its 23-song set list, this was the perfect celebration and a show that will almost certainly evolve to thrill audiences right around Australia.
