The upside is, in this instance, seeing an undisputed genius at work. I bought Rick Wakeman’s Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table when it came out in 1975. I was mesmerised by it then, and all over again at Lighthouse as Wakeman, now 75, and his supremely talented son Adam 50, produced the most extraordinary, extravagant sound just with two keyboards.
The pair played four of the most popular pieces from the epic, Arthur (immortalised as the BBC’s election night theme music), Guinevere, The Last Battle and Merlin the Musician. Listening on vinyl is one thing. Watching these two astonishing musicians play it live, well that is something else.
Spellbinding. I am sure for many in the audience this extended part of the set was the undoubted highlight. It certainly felt like it.
Father and son with brilliant vocalist Mollie Marriott, came on stage to Prokofiev (Lt Kije or if you prefer, I Believe in Father Christmas) and exited the same way with Wakeman’s incredible version of Eleanor Rigby in the style of the Russian composer. Wakeman is a great storyteller and consummate entertainer and there’s plenty of banter with Adam and Mollie, daughter of the late Steve Marriott. The composer and songwriter promised an evening of as many different styles of music as possible and the trio obliged with festive carols, Wondrous Stories, a bit of Elvis, Nursery Rhyme Concerto, Morning has Broken, Catherine Howard from his Six Wives of Henry VIII and just .