Tonight's Songs of Praise (BBC1, 5.15 p.m.) is to focus on musicals and will feature Tim Rice and Paul Nicholas talking about JCS. Steve Balsamo will also perform on the show. Other musical featured are Godspell and The Sound of Music.

Sorry for the short notice but if you miss it you can catch it on BBC iPlayer.

I actually thought it was a good edition - great to see songs of praise taking a slightly more modern approach to spirituality!

That performance by Steve Balsamo was, as always, breathtaking.
Why is he not back in the West End?
I thought Keith Jack was very good as well.

I caught this. I have to say I found Steve Balsamo's performance disappointing. Such excessive back-phrasing really doesn't help the audience to connect with a song, all it does is make the melody feel fragmented and awkward. This is what happens when you start to confuse performance "gimmicks" with acting. If you're going to dispense with the melody and the rhythm, what else is there left in a song? You might as well just speak the words.
This is no reflection on Steve Balsamo - the man is a monumental talent and I agree that it's a shame we don't hear more from him.

Sorry about the mini-rant but this one annoyed me a bit.

I very much enjoyed it too.

I've seen Steve Balsamo sing Gethsemane in Llandaff Cathedral - literally breathtaking.

Thought that Steve's performance was absolutely awesome - such power, passion and emotion...incredible, brought tears to my eyes

I have never come across Steve Balsamo before but wow...his performance blew me away! Will definitely be looking out for the next thing he is in - such emotion in his performance. Loved it!

I didn't think it was his strongest performance by a long way but still prefer him to Glenn Carter lol!

Its a pity he's decided his future lies outside musical theatre. There's always a place for a talent like that.

Steve Balsamo's performances are always so 'real' and from the heart and what a wonderful voice. It's a shame his talent has been overlooked really, but he has chosed a different musical direction.

This is just ripe for a send-up...

I'd love to hear them all singing "Bend and Snap" from Legally Blonde, or "Freak" from Taboo, or "I just wanna f*ckin' dance" from Jerry Springer.

The "signed" episode would be amazing!

I was also there, Steve was amazing as was the the fantastic Ria Jones, what a great venue.....

I was in the front row of the recording of this, and Steve Balsamo was actually crying at the end of the recording! Amazing!!! Keith Jack was a little disappointing, i think he's changed the way he sings, especially since ADWD, he sounded really posh.

Also, we recorded 'You'll Never Walk Alone' from Carousel, which they cut in the final edit!

Steve always cried. I once saw him on television singing Gethsemene as a curtain raiser to the show, when the revival opened at the Lyceum.

I forget which TV show it was, but he induced the same reaction in the live and TV audience as he did last night.
He is a great performer (and a very dishy man) and I so wish he would return to the West End.
We Will Rock You anyone?

I thought Steves performance was really good - generally, im not a fan when Gethsemane is sung out of the context of the show, but i have to say i loved steves version.



I didnt think much of Keith, or the female singer. Keith did a slighlty odd breathy thing at the start of every sentence and the girl was a bit too squeely for my liking - still each to their own



Em x  

I noticed that with Keith - what was going on there?! He was quite disappointing true - although he was asked to do a rather weird thing though - I mean he was kind of performing and then had the congregation joining in half way through - it was a strange idea for a programme.

I didn't recognise the girl at all! Was she Christine when she was in Phantom or an understudy?

Just watching this on iPlayer now - the girl is Tabitha Webb. She was u/s Christine, I saw her in the role last year. She was fabulous, the performance on SoP was a bit disappointing to be honest. I don't think the backing track helped at all though.

WOW! STEVE BALSAMO!! What a talent! I've just been watching the clip on iPlayer again and again after so many people told me about what they saw on television. Still gobsmacked! Amazing vocal range! Brilliant! Best thing i've seen on my screen for a long time.

[quote name='Red Momma' date='Nov 17 2008, 06:41 PM' post='53392']
Steve always cried. I once saw him on television singing Gethsemene as a curtain raiser to the show, when the revival opened at the Lyceum.

Yes, I managed to record it; it really brings tears to my eyes too. What a singer!!