Tony Bennett, Royal Festival Hall

Appearing in London for the first time since his 85th birthday tour in 2011, legendary crooner Tony Bennett performs a selection of his greatest hits from across the decades. 

A regular feature in the charts since the 1950s and winner of an astonishing 17 Grammy awards, he has plenty to choose from. After securing his first number one single with 'Because of You' back in 1951, Bennett has won equal renown for renditions of upbeat swingers like 'The Lady is Tramp' and thoughtful ballads, including his signature tune 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco'. 

But though this Festival Hall appearance promises similarly classic repertoire, Bennett is not one to settle for a simple rehash. Even at the grand old age of 87 he excels at keeping things fresh with thoughtful interpretations that find new meaning in well worn lyrics. Add to that the richness and warmth of his voice, his expansive dynamic range and masterful rapport with the audience, and it’s little wonder that Bennett and his music have stood the test of time.

Nor does he show any signs of stopping. This London date follows a series of critically acclaimed shows in the United States and comes shortly after the release of The Classics, a compilation disc that features tracks from early Bennett albums alongside recordings with Lady Gaga, John Mayer and Michael Bublé first released in 2011 on Duets II.

Winning the singer a new generation of fans, his recent releases prove he can still keep up with the best of them and these London dates look set to be a rare treat.