By Constance Drugeot 

Pictures: all rights reserved

You’re going to have a one-night-only concert at Cadogan Hall in September. How excited are you about it? 

Kerry: There are so many things to love about this concert that’s coming up. Obviously, the wonderful orchestra. We’ve worked together once before, and we had such a great time performing. It was a slightly different programme, more Queen-heavy and rock-heavy. But you know what? We had such an amazing time! Their energy, their work ethic, their excitement, and their passion are just wonderful. I’m very fortunate that they wanted to work with me again, and to work at Cadogan Hall, which is equally beautiful. It’s the perfect setting for it. It’s one of the nicest concert halls in London because it has that kind of intimacy, but it also has that sense of occasion. The programme’s going to be great. I’m really excited about it. 

Anthony: Likewise. I mean, Kerry’s saying all the nice things, which is brilliant, but she’s equally as lush as we are. So, you know, we’re really looking forward to this. It’s going to be a glamorous programme in a glamorous place, and it’s just going to be great. Unmissable.

Can you tell me a bit about the programme? 

Anthony: Well, it’s all about glamour, it’s all about great sounds, it’s all about entertainment, but with that sort of twist of gold, diamonds… You know, a classy sort of concept. 

Kerry: What’s nice about doing a concert like this is that you can have all those brilliant songs together in one evening. If you’re doing a musical or a show, you might have five or six big hit songs. But doing a concert like this, you get to have song after song after song that we all know and love. We’ve started to put the set list together, and they’re songs you get excited about. You see them on the list and you go, “Oh, that’s going to be great”. And then there’s always that moment, the first rehearsal, when you hear the orchestra for the first time. It’s always so exciting. And the set list is definitely what you can expect: songs you know and love, and maybe some you haven’t heard for a while in that setting. And we wanted it to be a nice, glamorous evening. Having the orchestra there gives it that sense of occasion. Hearing those kinds of movie, filmic, beautiful songs in that setting is going to be great. It’s going to be epic.

And you can focus on just the music and the song without having the whole story in the context of a show.

Anthony: There’s no dialogue for Kerry to worry about (laughs). Well, there will be some dialogue, Kerry will talk to the audience, but no storytelling.

Kerry: People do like to know a little bit of context about what’s going to happen. And I think that’s what’s nice about Cadogan Hall as well. It has that intimacy. You can interact with the audience, and you can see them, which is lovely. And the programme has quite a range of different styles of songs. So, I think there’s something for everybody, something everyone will enjoy.

Will it follow some kind of theme during the evening, or will it just be big songs from your career?

Anthony: I think there will certainly be a bit of light and shade in there. Certain songs work well when they’re placed next to each other. It’s not just a case of hitting shuffle on Spotify. We’ll take the audience on a bit of a roller coaster journey. And that’s just great. 

Have you started rehearsing it? How is the preparation going? 

Anthony: We’re currently working on the set list. Quite a few of the songs Kerry’s done before, but never together. So, you know, we’ll bring that together rapidly as we get closer to the time. And then it will explode into Cadogan Hall in a wall of sound. It’s just going to be exciting. 

Kerry: There’s a lot that goes into the preparation, with the charts and the scores, and putting the show together so it flows. Choosing my outfits, big thing. Choosing my shoes, the big thing! And I don’t think people realise how quickly these things come together, especially when it’s a big orchestra like we have. We’re very fortunate, but you can’t get all those people together to rehearse everything as much as we’d like. So it does come together quite quickly, but orchestras are used to that. They’re used to looking at a page and playing what they see. And I, the same, we’re very used to knowing what we’re going to do beforehand. We have a little rehearsal, then a run-through of all the music, and that’s it. It’s very fast. But I kind of love that, because it means people really listen to each other and work together. That’s exciting. There’s a kind of danger. There’s nerves, a bit of adrenaline… a lot of adrenaline! You know, when you’re doing a long-running show, you get used to everything very quickly. It becomes quite routine. But something like this, one night only, it’s electric. It’s exciting because we all come together for that one moment. And that will never be recreated again. Us together in that moment, with that audience, it’s a very special thing. Live performances are like that. It’s a moment in time. It’s going to be special. 

Anthony: I think these concerts only really work well when you’ve got chemistry with the main person in the room. And I certainly felt that when we worked with Kerry last year. I know we’ll bring that again in September. We’re fortunate to have her and to work with her again. As I keep saying, it’s going to be brilliant.

And you talked about choosing your dresses. Will there be several outfits or just one?

Kerry: Well, it depends on how many gaps I get to change! (laughs) I love a costume change. Like we said, there’s a real sense of occasion. I love it. I’m constantly looking at new outfits and dresses for events, and for me, it’s part of the experience. Bringing that kind of glamour, making it special. These events don’t happen all the time. And even for us, working in these kinds of environments regularly, it’s still very special every time. So I like to bring a sense of occasion, something I’m excited to wear. It just adds to the whole thing. 

Have you planned any guests to join you at the concert?

Anthony: No, to be honest. Sometimes that happens with these types of concerts, you add guests later on. We’ve got one of our regular singers, who’s brilliant. And I know we’re talking about the possibility of doing a duet with Kerry, which I think would be exciting for everybody involved. But this is a night with us, the orchestra, and Kerry. I don’t want to detract from that, to be honest. That’s enough excitement for me. So who knows, but I think we’re on a pretty good road with what we’re planning.

Kerry: There’s so much material as well. Like we said, with an orchestra like that, there’s so much scope to do all kinds of songs. And the orchestra can showcase itself, too. So there are real moments where they can do their thing, without me, and I can have a costume change! It’s a real celebration of sitting back and listening to the music. Having that many people on stage at once is always brilliant. There’s so much to look at, so much to listen to. That’s all you need. Especially in that venue, you just need to sit back and enjoy the music.

It is such an incredible venue. What do you love most about performing there?

Kerry: I always love it when the sound is good. It’s a bit boomy and pingy, which is great for a singer. Everything always sounds good in there. And it’s a pretty venue. I love where it is as well, right on the corner of Sloane Square. It’s a beautiful part of London, especially if the weather’s nice, and hopefully it will be. You’re right by the park, not far from the river… It’s just a beautiful part of London. The theatre has a mix of history, but is beautifully kept, so it looks quite new, but it’s been there a long time. I think it’s supported by local people, and I know there’ll be lots of people travelling in to see this concert.

Anthony: I’ve got to say, the venue themselves have been brilliant. It’s our first time there, but they know Kerry. Some venues can be slightly challenging to work with, but I’ve got no complaints at all with Cadogan Hall. They’ve been brilliant. They’re supporting us with marketing, they’re enthusiastic, they’re looking forward to it just as much as we are. And you can’t ask for more from a venue.

How did this one-night-only event come to be? Who decided it needed to happen?

Anthony: Do you know what? I think we both decided it needed to happen. Some people you work with, and to be blunt, you never hear from them again, but we stayed in touch. I’ve mentioned the chemistry, and that just came so naturally. We threw a concert together at the last minute once, outdoors, in a festival field. And we wanted to do it properly with Kerry. So it didn’t take much conversation, if I’m honest.

Kerry: And we had a good time! It was a whirlwind, a crazy concert at this festival outside. But again, there was this vibe, this connection. It was crazy and bonkers and wonderful at the same time. And like you said, some people you just gel with. There was such an atmosphere that day, between everybody. You don’t always get that with an orchestra, they play all over the world with different singers and soloists. Some are different, but we just had a connection. It felt like a big team effort. That was special. So, to get the opportunity to do something again in a different environment, with new songs, it’s exciting. I’m humbled they asked me back, and I’m excited. I think we’re going to have a really nice time.

What would you say to people to convince them to come to the show?

Kerry: They have to come! (laughs) Like I said before, these things only happen for one night. I’m guilty of it too. I see something advertised and think, “Oh my god, that’d be amazing!” And then you miss it, because life gets busy. But I never regret buying a ticket and going to see something I wanted to see. I always come out buzzing, thinking, “I need to go see more!” So I urge people not to miss these one-off things. They’re rare. A lot of work goes into them. They are for one night only. They’re special. I’d say, “come and get involved”. Don’t miss it. I know we’re going to have a great time, and I know if you come, you’re going to have a great time too.

Anthory: There’s nothing like listening to music live. It doesn’t matter what kind, big, small, or intimate, go and support live music. You don’t get that feeling from a CD or download. It’s not the same. Keeping the arts going, keeping attendance full. That’s what it’s all about. Be there. Monday, the 1st of September, Cadogan Hall.

Kerry: And don’t be afraid to come on your own. I know lots of people say, “Oh, I’ve got no one to go with.” But you’ll be in a room full of people, full of friends. Everyone’s going to be very friendly, and we’re going to be very friendly on stage. So if you’re on your own, come and join us anyway!

Finally, if you could describe the concert in three words, what would they be?

Kerry: I would say: glamorous, dramatic, and fun.

Anthony: I’d add one more: memorable. Because you won’t forget this concert. 100%.