Out she came, just as you’d expect her. Cynthia Erivo’s long, deco nails and big bling jewelry — down to her bedazzled in-ear monitor — were just a part of the Sunday show at Blossom Music Center.
Erivo’s past major roles like Harriet Tubman in Harriet and Celie in Broadway’s The Color Purple leave you starstruck to be in the same room as her. Soon, at the Hollywood Bowl, she will add three performances as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar to her repertoire, a portrayal which has sparked much controversy. But the only noise that mattered tonight was her voice against the melodies of the Cleveland Orchestra.
The singer, actor, producer and bestselling author is one of the biggest names to headline the Cleveland Orchestra’s 2025 season. Though Erivo’s recent role as Elphaba in Wicked has made her the talk of the town — for gusty, incomprehensible vocals on hits like “Defying Gravity” — the wicked witch stayed out west tonight. Erivo’s symphonic lineup was dedicated to covering legends, mainly Black artists like Prince, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone.
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Standout soulful hits included Barbra Streisand’s “Don't Rain on My Parade,” which opened the evening with a floodgate of sonic range, and Ben E. King’s version of “I (Who Have Nothing),” executed with flawless high notes. Each song curated for the setlist, many of which Erivo took a moment to explain a personal connection to, proved her impeccable variability and thoughtfulness as an artist. No cover sounded out of place or out of her wheelhouse.
Despite a sold-out crowd at Blossom Music Center, it felt like Erivo was singing right to you: sensual, ethereal, mature and majestic. But what else would you expect from a Grammy, Emmy and Tony-award winner?
Performance is in her bones. She feels her music, from her talking hands to her bare feet, the latter being a common method among artists to create a grounding and natural experience for themselves on stage. You can tell she loves what she’s doing and feeds off the venue’s energy as she cracks smiles between breaths.
“I’m basically telling you to come and indulge me,” Erivo joked at the start of the show. “I’m having fun tonight.”
An unforgettable performance of “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” was all fun as she commanded attention from the stage, moving back and forth to scan the scene. Her live debut of Leon Russell’s “A Song for You” was a softer addition to the evening, but the piano shined brighter than it did in any other song.
Others like “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” created intimate experiences with the crowd. After having fans sing back to her, louder than expected, Erivo walked the aisles and met a young girl who helped her sing the last line.
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The show was conducted by Edwin Outwater. The native of Santa Monica, California has also held the baton for icons like Metallica and further collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, Diana Ross and more. His genre-bending abilities and electric control of the ensemble deemed him a performer in his own right, and a perfect fit for Erivo’s boisterous bag of tricks.
Outwater and Erivo’s chemistry was palpable, but instrumental standouts like “Garland Overture” were playful and nostalgic and made the Cleveland Orchestra hard to miss. Throughout the evening, their drums cinematically crashed, and strings levitated through the room. The acoustics sounded too good to be live. The way the orchestra’s talent fused with Erivo’s makes you believe they practiced a lifetime for this show.
And my only wish by the end is that it did last that long. For a truly grand finale, the night ended with Price’s “Purple Rain,” a song Erivo noted she’s played live for a long time. The crowd continued to help her sing, phone flashlights lighting up the lawn — an unofficial tradition for at least one song at any concert.
Since one Prince song just couldn’t be enough, Erivo continued with all her might through the rapture of applause and served a powerful encore performance “Nothing Compares 2 U” under a setting sun. And ironically, no vocalist truly compared to what Erivo was capable of at Blossom.
An Evening with Cynthia Erivo at Blossom Music Center setlist:
“Garland Overture” (performed by the Cleveland Orchestra)
“Don't Rain on My Parade” (Barbra Streisand cover)
“I Put a Spell on You” (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins cover)
“Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood” (Nina Simone cover)
“I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” (Aretha Franklin cover)
“Ain't No Way” (Aretha Franklin cover)
“Alfie” (Dionne Warwick cover)
“Feeling Good” (Nina Simone cover)
“Where Do I Begin (From ‘Love Story’)” (performed by the Cleveland Orchestra)
“I (Who Have Nothing)” (Ben E. King cover)
“At Last” (Etta James cover)
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (Roberta Flack cover)
“A Song for You” (Leon Russell cover)
“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” (Aretha Franklin cover)
“Purple Rain” (Prince cover)
Encore:
“Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince cover)
See more photos from the concert below
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