REVIEW from SabahSongs, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, November 21, 2011

Classical opera singer Lady Shaula was in Kota Kinabalu, after her Bangkok gig was cancelled due to floods. Because of that, Bella Restaurant in the Jesselton Hotel hosted a fine night of entertainment: 'Songs from the Musicals' with Lady Shaula.

.........

Then, there she was. Lady Shaula was standing there in the lobby, cool as a cuke. A diva in the original sense of the word.

..... we were now a rapt audience, under the spell of The Lady with The Voice, who stood within a haze of blue spotlight.

Lady Shaula took us on a winding journey about the life of a professional opera singer. Her beautiful songs were interspersed with funny anecdotes about failed auditions and the general flukiness of a life in the performing arts. As she sang ‘On My Own’ from ‘Les Miserables’ and delivered up an electrifying performance of ‘Think of Me’ from ‘Phantom of the Opera’, enthusiastic applause rang out from the audience throughout the evening.

....... when Lady Shaula filled her lungs and was really ready to let rip…. even the Mega Boogie crew had to concede that with this one – it barely mattered whether she had a mic or not!

She sang ‘Bella’s Aria’ from her upcoming musical ‘Annabella Rousseau’; we [the audience] were given a percussive role in an a cappella version of ‘Habanera’ from Carmen; and she melted our hearts with her virtual duet with Andrea Bocelli, ‘In-Canto’.

With songs from ‘Wicked’ and ‘Chicago’, it all ended with the beautiful ‘Con te Partiro’. Lady Shaula was poised and gracious, the guests loved her, and one diner sponsored a bottle of champagne for her afterwards. This event had hit a sweet spot; good food and good music is hard to beat.

Lady Shaula promised to return to us here in KK, and we will be waiting.






You captured everyone and put smiles on all their faces.
I'll never forget that.
Richard Hunt