Review: Florence and the Machine thrill fans at Sydney Opera House

REVIEW: The weather may have been shocking but that didn’t stop Florence and The Machine from bewitching their fans at the Sydney Opera House.

Pictured on stage at The Sydney Opera House forecourt is Florence Welsh from English indie rock band Florence and the Machine. Picture: Richard Dobson

FLORENCE and The Machine have always proven to be bewitching to Australian fans and they affirmed it at the opening night of a historic four-night stand at the Sydney Opera House forecourt on Friday by stopping the torrential rain the second they walked on stage.

Her joyful abandon immediately united the drenched crowd into a singing and dancing community.

Florence Welch opened with the weather appropriate What The Water Gave Me and Ship To Wreck against a backdrop of glistening mirrored tiles.

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Women were hoisted onto the shoulders of their partners during Raise It Up and then the besotted audience erupted as she raced into the crowd and ran up to the top of the stairs. That’s not an easy jog.

When she made her way back to the stage, only slightly breathless, she made a request of her adoring audience.

Woman in white ... Florence Welch delivers a powerful performance. Picture: Richard Dobson

“This time we would like you to put your phones away and remember it with our eyes and ears together “she said before launching into Third Eye.

Welch’s infectious enthusiasm and pure abandon on being on stage in front of 6000 people who adore her makes her concert so much more than a rendition of her recordings.

It’s communal ecstasy.

The white suited nymph is captivating as she sprints across the stage and throws herself into a whirling dervish during Delilah.

You felt the love in this beautiful setting when she played You Got The Love. Strangers became fast friends as they embraced and sang at the top of their lungs.

A couple who were married to the song cried and hugged beside me and it was perfectly appropriate that Florence then went into How Big How Blue How Beautiful, the title track of her third record, as they danced and kissed.

Florence and the Machine is the biggest selling act in the history of the Sydney Opera House with 24000 tickets sold for her four forecourt shows this week.

Every song was greeted with euphoric approval, like it was the best thing that happened all week. And in truth, it probably was.

She could not smiling and giggling, inviting two lucky punters to get up and give her a hug.

“This song I wrote when I had the worst hangover I ever had,” she said before playing Cosmic Love accompanied by that mesmerising harp.

There is no more passionate and generous performer than Florence Welch right now.

She proves music is magic.

Originally published as Review: Florence and the Machine thrill fans at Sydney Opera House