You can’t make this up: the evening of Mariah Carey’s visit to Montreal, a light white coat fell over the metropolis. The snowflakes fell gently as nearly 15,000 spectators prepared to welcome the undisputed queen of Christmas to the Bell Centre.
The welcome from Montrealers was loud and heartfelt. Mariah Carey’s arrival was as grandiose as one could have imagined. On the stage decorated like a white Christmas paradise, two enormous gift packages in which were hidden two young ballerinas, who opened the show with an enchanting dance number to the notes of All I Want for Christmas is You. Then, straight from the floor, the star of the evening emerged, singing Sugar Plum Fairy.
The performance of the first songs was magical. We immediately knew that Mariah Carey was about to give us a fantastic vocal performance. Helped by three backing singers and a fantastic group of musicians, she was immediately captivating. Dancers, children and adults, dressed in Christmas-colored sweaters (of course) made the numbers even more festive. Then, unfortunately, the sound problems started. Disturbed by the squeaking of the microphone, Mariah sang and sang again.
The starlet didn’t even flinch and then addressed the crowd. “Montreal! Christmas is almost here, I can’t wait! » 14,800 people expressed their enthusiasm in response.
She then launched Oh Santa, she pushed the note as we know she is capable of. After Christmas (Baby, Please come home), Mariah brought to the Bell Center the most Mariah moment ever. “I’m going to need my glam team,” she mentioned before two makeup artists came on stage to give her a makeover, live, in the middle of the show. Why go off stage when you can simply create an epic moment of flirtatiousness in front of your audience?
The sound problems continued, less frequent, but still annoying. The singer has never been shaken. Mid-show, the problem was finally resolved.
The staging did a lot to delight us on Wednesday evening. There was the fantastic Mariah Carey, who despite her interactions sometimes lacking a little naturalness, was incredibly entertaining. She blew us away with her vocal performance.
There was also the decor, frozen, but magical. The shape of the giant screen representing a giant Christmas ball, we were treated to various somewhat generic images evoking the holiday season.
Finally there were the dancers and other artists, who always knew how to create funny moments. A Santa Claus came to throw sweaters into the crowd before launching into a little lascivious dance. A rock band, led by Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon’s child, Rocky, performed the song Christmas Wraping. Finally, a gospel choir of seven singers launched into a beautiful performance of Fall In love at Christmas.
All this time, Mariah Carey was backstage donning the most incredible stage costume (her “ensemble”, read with the English accent), inspired by the virgin… glittering and regal version. With a huge tiara on her head, in a white dress, draped in a cape, she then sang Silent Night, accompanied by choir.
Like Beyoncé did with her daughter Blue, Mariah Carey gave her children a chance to shine on stage. After Rocky, it was her daughter Monroe who arrived on stage, in a princess dress and a tiara too. Hand in hand, mother and daughter sang Jesus Born On This Day as a duet. Because she clearly takes after her mother, the young girl helped create a very beautiful and touching moment.
One Child, Joy to the World (stunning interpretation, with the gospel choir), Christmas Time is in the air again concluded the second part of the show.
Then it was time for a moment that no longer had anything to do with Christmas. After My All, sung by a choir and incredible singers, we were treated to the “2023 MC Hit List”.
Mariah Carey launched into a medley of her old hits. The crowd got back on their feet to sing along: Always Be My Baby, Dreamlover, Honey, Heartbreaker, A No No, Fly Like A Bird and a few others. The public was delighted. Once again, on these pieces that we know, she impressed with the accuracy of her voice.
Following the return of the glam team (“I realized that there is no reason not to do that on stage, rather than behind the scenes,” said the singer). We belong together resonated in the Bell Centre. This classic that everyone knew by heart (even more than the Christmas classics) was received with frenzy. The singer did not disappoint. The superb Hero, which followed and sumptuously concluded the show… before an encore, which brought the Christmas spirit back to the forefront at the Bell Centre. After Santa Claus is Coming to Town, the diva finished with the classic of all classics: All I Want for Christmas is You. Landing on a train, leaving the stage in a snow shower after a superb final vocal performance, Mariah Carey showed us once and for all why she is the queen of Christmas.
We couldn’t have dreamed of a better way to end the evening and (officially) start the holiday season.
