A packed Royal Albert Hall (c) Andy Paradise

On Wednesday 2 March the Royal Albert Hall was filled with the noise and dazzling lights of Broadway as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed the hits from the nation's best-loved musicals with stars Kerry Ellis, Marisha Wallace, Ben Forster and Bradley Jaden.

Read on for photos and reactions from the day.

RPO Best of Broadway UKR anthem 2000x wide

The conductor David Firman invited the audience to stand for a performance of the Ukrainian national anthem before the concert began in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

The stars of the show came together for the foot-tapping You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray, which followed with Marisha Wallace singing I Know Where I've Been from the same show.

RPO Best of Broadway show 1 x2000

RPO Best of Broadway show 2 x2000

The first British actress to be Ephelba in the worldwide smash success Wicked, Kerry Ellis performed the character's signature song Defying Gravity.

RPO Best of Broadway show 3 x2000

Ben Forster and Kerry Ellis sang the duet Come What May from Moulin Rouge.

RPO Best of Broadway show 4 x2000

Bradley Jaden sung the heartfelt Stars from Les Misérables.

RPO Best of Broadway show 5 x2000

Presenter Gary Wilmot joined the cast of singers for One Day More from Les Mis.

RPO Best of Broadway show 6 x2000

Bradley Jaden and Marisha Wallace sang the iconic duet from Aladdini, A Whole New World.

RPO Best of Broadway show 7 x2000

Ben Forster, who rocketed to stardom in 2012 after winning the Superstar ITV talent show to portray Jesus in Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar, performed the belter Gethsemene with its fiendishly difficult top G.

RPO Best of Broadway show 8 x2000

The concert was topped off with an encore of Oh What A Night! from Jersey Boys.

RPO Best of Broadway show 9 x2000

RPO Best of Broadway show 10 x2000


 It was a sensational night for all involved...

A selfie from the stage before it all kicked off!

 Ben Forster Instagram

BoB Instagram reaction

BoB Instagram reaction 2


The sound of musicals from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra returns next year with Let's Face the Music at the Royal Albert Hall, Tuesday 8 March 2023.

Find out more


JOIN THE RPO CLUB
Discover the exclusive benefits enjoyed by our most loyal audience members.
DONATE
Support the RPO on our journey to make orchestral music accessible to all.
SIGN UP
Stay up to date with the latest concerts, news and stories from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.