The entire crowd at Auckland's Vector Arena got to their feet to welcome Sir Elton John, as the openly-gay 'Piano Man' arrived on stage last night for his third New Zealand concert in 18 months - and his first in Auckland for over a decade.
The warm and appreciative crowd covered all ages, reports Stuff.co.nz. "The spectacle was complete with gliding and sometimes furious piano solos. Elton's fingers were doing some incredible finger work which showed off his technical skills," writes reviewer Lucy Vickers.
Sir Elton's six-piece band included two drum kits, tambourines, glockenspiel, mandolin and a banjo.
Wearing his trademark rose-tinted glasses and a black embroidered jacket with a heart and the word 'love' on the sleeve, the veteran entertainer played an expansive set featuring many of his best-known hits, including Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man, That's Why They Call It the Blues, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me and Your Song.
"The star had few words to say to his audience, apart from some brief commentary on his different album eras and the obligatory introductions of the band," writes Joanna Huskin in the NZ Herald today.
"But it didn't matter. His beaming smile and extensive hand gestures said it all - he was having a grand old time, and he knew we were too."
Sir Elton continues his world tour with a one-off concert in Darwin on Saturday night, before heading to play dates in Hong Kong and Las Vegas.