Diana Ross Proves Her Star Power Remains Undiminished Despite Technical Troubles

Simply put, Diana Ross is an icon. The actress and singer is, of course, best known as the Queen of Motown Records, who made her name in the 1960s as one third of Motown's most successful act of the period – The Supremes. As the best-charting female group in history, they achieved no less than 12 #1s on the US Billboard Hot 100. However, Ms Ross' success did not end there, as the Rock and Roll Hall of Inductee and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Achievement also went on to win the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award TWICE, achieve Oscar Award nomination and sell over 100 million copies worldwide of her solo back catalogue, which features 26 studio albums.

While many of these facts were noted to audience members at the BP Pulse Arena in Birmingham as they listened to the gorgeous orchestra, The Hallé, working through a medley of Diana Ross hits for the 15-minute-long introduction video to the life – both on and off stage – of one of the world's most acclaimed vocalists of all time to enter the stage for her Symphonic Celebration.

As I'm Coming Out started to play, the curtain raised, and Ms Ross made an interestingly low-key entry. Rather than rely on the theatrics of an arena setting, Ms Ross veered towards an intimacy that would have been best placed at the Symphony Hall. However, the slightly misplaced selection of venue did not detract from the divine vocals that the audience was about to experience.

Although the show was far from smooth in delivery, with many a technical hiccup – notably with Ms Ross' inner ears meaning she could not hear anything other than a hissing sound throughout the show – she remained composed and truly professional, with her vocal not wavering despite the issues.

Although the setlist powered far too quickly through The Supremes' classics at the opening end of the show, there were plenty of solo hits to follow. While the audience went wild for Chain Reaction, Love Hangover and Upside Down, it was in the vocal dynamism of Good Morning Heartache and Ain't No Mountain High Enough that Ms Ross really hit those hearts. Equally powerful was a moment when her daughter, Rhonda Ross Kendrick, joined her on stage to duet on the beautiful Count On Me.

As the show climaxed with I Will Survive, disco fever filled the arena, only to be soothed with a touching Thank You to close off the night.

Although the setting nor the technical team played to Ms Ross' strengths, she has not lost any of her star power.

Diana Ross will be appearing at Manchester Co-op Live on 26 June
and Leeds First Direct Arena on 28 June