Elton John a knockout in Perth as the sun goes down on his touring career

If this is truly the last time Elton John visits our country, he enhanced his legacy with an ‘almost perfect’ set in Perth.

Elton John performs on the opening night of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour at Perth’s HBF Park. Picture: AAP

If this is truly the last time Elton John visits our country, he only enhanced his legacy on Saturday on the opening night of the Australian leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour. John cherrypicked through his songbook and delivered a near three-hour set that was almost perfect in construction and delivery.

While he had a little trademark dazzle in his three choices of costume, including the finale where he wore a tracksuit under a dressing gown, this night was much more about celebrating his craft as composer, singer and piano player.

From the atmosphere-drenched first notes of Benny And The Jets to the closing Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, John and his six-piece band had not sounded this lean and hungry in decades.

Now 72 and set to retire and spend more time at home with his growing family, John acknowledged his early days with spirited and extended takes on Take Me To The Pilot, Burn Down The Mission and, especially, Border Song. The last mentioned was introduced by a short description of the joy he felt first learning that Aretha Franklin had recorded the song. His solo reading showed how fine his voice is — much stronger than in recent visits — and how utterly moving his best music remains.

Unsurprisingly the set concentrated on John’s 70s heyday and he offered hit after hit. He may have thrown the high parts of Crocodile Rock and Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting to the capacity crowd, but every other piece of magic was created there on stage. Rocket Man had an extended coda featuring John and guitarist Davey Johnstone, while Tiny Dancer, Levon and Your Song shone brightly.

The following decade was represented by just three songs, I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues, Sad Songs (Say So Much) and I’m Still Standing. Shorn of that decade’s production excesses, each was brimming with new-found vitality.

The last 30-odd years brought just one offering but that was to provide the evening’s emotional high point. Master ballad I Want Love was preceded by a speech on his ongoing sobriety and accompanied by visuals celebrating the work of his AIDS Foundation. Long-time lyricist Bernie Taupin has never put more apt words in John’s mouth, and John returned the favour with one of his most stirring melodies. It’s a song that will stand with his best. On Saturday, he gave and received love in spades.

Elton John. HBF Park, Perth, November 30. He plays Botanic Park, Adelaide, on Wednesday and Thursday with dates around Australia and New Zealand through to March 2020.