Diana Krall‘s Enchanting Evening at the Konzerthaus
Diana Krall’s recent performance at the Konzerthaus was a masterclass in subtly transforming familiar songs into explorations of profound themes. The concert showcased Krall’s ability to imbue classic melodies with a new depth, moving beyond simple performance to a festivity of life’s inherent mysteries.
Krall began with a delicate rendition of a song originally associated with both Barbra Streisand and Nat King Cole. Her approach was characterized by a careful overcoming of restraint, charging the lyrics with a captivating magic. She dissected the opening chord with nimble fingers while seemingly pondering the song’s core question: are we masters of our destiny or merely puppets of fate?
The concert highlighted Krall’s increasing skill in embracing the “aporias and mysteries of existence,” painting the edges of futility and meaninglessness with a delicate beauty, offered in measured portions. This was notably evident in her treatment of Burt Bacharach’s “The Look Of Love,” a song with a rich reception history, previously interpreted by artists like Dusty Springfield and Stan Getz. Krall performed it in a delicate trio arrangement, retaining its inherent sweetness while adding her own nuanced touch.
Krall’s signature style involves a radical remodeling of songs, revealing their sweetness in fragments. She deconstructed Nat King Cole’s “LOVE,” written by Bert Kaempfert, elevating its original naivety to a level of existential questioning. Similarly,her rendition of Frank Sinatra‘s “Fly Me To The Moon” gained an unexpected intensity,diverging from its typically light-footed and groovy presentation.
the setlist also included tributes to Irving Berlin, the composer of classics like “puttin’ On The Ritz” and “White Christmas,” and a performance of his evergreen “Let’s Face The Music And Dance.” Krall also revisited more contemporary works, such as Joni Mitchell’s “A Case For You” and The Beach Boys’ “In My Room,” reassembling them in unexpected ways. She even offered a poignant interpretation of Nat King cole’s “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams,” imbued with a captivating vulnerability.
Throughout the evening, Krall demonstrated a willingness to take artistic risks, approaching each song with a scientific meticulousness and a dignified confidence. The 61-year-old Canadian artist delivered a soulful and spellbinding performance, captivating the audience for an hour and a half with her unique blend of culinary piano motifs and a subtly powerful vocal style.
