Tori Amos at the Royal Albert Hall

30 years after Tori Amos’s first performance at the Royal Albert Hall, there is still no greater place for her powerful sound and musical expertise to be shown in all its glory. In what marks her tenth show at the venue, tonight feels like a testament to her monumental career and enduring talent.

Amos is welcomed on stage by a standing ovation, accepting it graciously before moving to the piano to join the accompaniment of Fire to Your Plain. After this rendition, which silences the audience into a near-hypnotised state, the artist speaks. In a move that makes sense for an act so grounded in instrumental direction, Amos introduces her band at this early point, paying tribute to their mastery that underpins the performance.

The second song performed is Shush, a strong ballad from the forthcoming album, In Times of Dragons. Abstract, vivid lighting shapes the gravity and fantasy of this new, brutal sound, setting the tone for a night of dramatics. Lieee follows, as does the famous two-piano trick that Amos is known for, before she plays a crowd favourite, Little Amsterdam. The beautiful arrangement of this number strengthens her raspy, breathless vocals, making the song even richer.

After a few heartfelt, slow pieces, Amos opens Pandora’s Aquarium with an improvised piano introduction, showcasing the breadth of her artistry and craft. The ethereal sound of this track continues with Stronger Together, a more empowering number from the new record, and Black-Dove, another favourite that once again foregrounds her formidable piano skills.

When Amos speaks to the room again, it’s to tell an anecdote about the early days, when she dreamed of playing at the Royal Albert Hall. In her soft voice and whimsical manner, she speaks of this full-circle moment, recognising her history with the venue and her love for the UK as a place that has always supported her music. What follows is the highlight of the set: a rare and entirely mesmerising rendition of The Civil Wars’ Poison & Wine. Filling the venue with airy, harmonised vocals, this beautiful cover, played only once before at her Dublin show, is incredibly moving, simultaneously so rich and so delicate.

Chasing this high, Crucify and Precious Things end the set, and the atmosphere goes from transfixed to energised. As Precious Things comes to a close, the crowd rushes to the front of the stage, applauding Tori and the band.

It isn’t long before the band returns for the encore, by which point most of the room is standing, poised for the final, favourite tracks. Big Wheel‘s upbeat, rousing sound delivers on this expectation, giving way to Cornflake Girl amid dizzied excitement and movement. This is certainly the ending needed after an evening spent pinned by Amos’s powerful musical presence.

This gig, spanning the artist’s 18 albums and over 35 years of a solo career, is truly a versatile reflection of Tori Amos’s oeuvre and remarkable talent. With each return, the Royal Albert Hall sees her grow ever more compelling.