In her return to the Tampa Bay area after a spring performance at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Cynthia Erivo graced Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, on Wednesday night with a voice that’s more silk-and-smoke than spectacle—but no less show-stopping. Partnered once again with Michael Francis and The Florida Orchestra, Erivo’s one-night-only engagement was a showcase in vocal precision, dramatic flair, and a particular kind of joy that felt less like a recital and more like a highly styled party.
At 38 years old, Erivo is one award shy of EGOT status, and she wears that legacy with ease. Barefoot, in a flowing, dark purple gown that could pass for a nightdress, she sauntered onto the stage. Her tone for the night was playful, mischievous even, “We’re going to party,” she told the crowd, “And everyone on this stage is going to misbehave.” But if mischief was promised, what followed was closer to awe. It wasn’t that the evening lacked joy or spontaneity; it had more than enough of both. It’s just that Erivo’s sheer vocal control, commanded a kind of reverence that made even the fun feel luxurious.
The irony is that she’s too damn good to misbehave. Her voice, honed from top-class British performance arts schools, to British television, to Broadway, and then to the silver screen, is a trained, yet effortless sounding instrument. Beginning with Jule Styne’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You,” Erivo continued with love songs like Aretha Franklin’s “I Never Loved a Man,” and Nina Simone’s “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” with the kind of seamlessness that made it feel like she wasn’t just covering these songs—she was revealing something new in them. By the time she reached “Feeling Good”—another track that Nina Simone once gave life to—the crowd was holding its breath between notes. The orchestra followed her lead, hanging on every rest and rise. Erivo made time slow. Her interpretations didn’t chase the originals; they studied them, held them up to the light, and then poured something entirely her own into the cracks.
After a brief intermission and speech from Clearwater’s Mayor Bruce Rector, Cynthia picked up the second half of the evening where she left off, as her personal dynamic with the orchestra continued to swell. At breaks, Francis often looked at her not just with admiration, but awe, and the synergy between soloist and symphony was evident, especially on torch songs like Harry Warren’s “At Last,” and Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” These are songs designed for vocalists with nothing to prove and everything to give, as Erivo’s range moved like silk. Moreover, even with the perfection of tone and technique, her rapport with the audience made the evening feel like more than a recital. She called out families she spotted in the crowd. She returned “I love you’s” without missing a beat. One fan yelled, “You are mother!” during a song break, prompting Erivo to break into character, posing, showing off her nails, and tossing imaginary hair like a seasoned diva. Another fan was thanked for attending ten consecutive shows. These moments were cute, but were also reminders that yes, she is that good, but she’s also right here with you.
As the night came to a close, Erivo asked the crowd to join during her rendition of Carole King’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” turning the night into a duet between star and city. By the time Prince’s “Purple Rain” began, many were itching to get on their feet, as phone lights swayed side to side. And when Erivo returned for her encore, Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” it not only felt like a finale, but like a final sip of something rich. In the end, Erivo wasn’t trying to be anything other than herself: funny, elegant, inviting, and vocally unstoppable. Her concerts feel less like shows and more like upscale living room hangouts—if your living room came with a world-class symphony.
Setlist
Don’t Rain on My Parade (Jule Styne cover)
I Put a Spell on You (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins cover)
I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) (Aretha Franklin cover)
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (Nina Simone cover)
Ain’t No Way (Aretha Franklin cover)
Feeling Good (Anthony Newley cover)
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I Never Loved A Man At Last (Harry Warren cover)
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger cover)
Stormy Weather (Harold Arlen cover)
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Carole King cover)
Purple Rain (Prince cover)
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Nothing Compares 2 U (Prince cover)
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This article appears in Sept. 4-10, 2025.