Belo Horizonte received, on April 14, the show A Salute to Whitney Houston, a show that brings the greatest hits of one of the greatest singers of recent times. Produced by Danielson Maroto and LMenezes and created and directed by Rafael Mello, the attraction impresses with its quality and has a great chance of pleasing even those who are not fans of the artist.
With just over an hour and a half in duration, Talita Cipriano (daughter of Deise Cipriano, former member of Fat Family) brilliantly sings Whitney’s hits like I Will Always Love You, How Will I Know?, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Greatest Love of All, Run to You, among others. Her vocal power is impressive, especially when she sings a cappella, without the aid of any musical instrument, but it is her charisma that draws the most attention.
Laughing, friendly and elegant, Talita conquers the audience both in sweet songs and lively hits, and at the end of the show she even comes down from the stage to dance with the spectators, who looked at her in awe.
One of the most emotional moments of the show is when she dedicates a song to her mother, who died at age 39 in 2019, a victim of liver cancer. Thrilled, the singer ends the song extolling Deise’s importance in the Brazilian music scene and also in her life. The moment drew applause and a few tears from the audience.
Costumes and lighting help make the show even more special.
If Talita’s voice and talent are impressive, the costumes she wears also draw attention. Signed by Iris Goya Perucas and Kiki Beauty, the looks are almost identical replicas of those worn by Whitney and help make Talita even more like the American singer.
Among the pieces are a tight yellow dress with a matching turban on her head, and a red dress with sequined ruffles. In addition to the clothes, two photos of the singer adorn the stage and help to bring affectionate memories to the public.
Lighting is also a fundamental part of the show and gives the singers the necessary emphasis. In addition, the play of lights manages to make the songs gain more power, making the show more powerful and interesting.
Much more than Talita
Another positive point of A Salute to Whitney Houston and that deserves to be highlighted is the participation of Rafael Oliveira, singer and composer who sings with Talita in some songs and performs solo in others.
With a powerful voice, he has the ideal timbre to form a duo with the singer without erasing her or being in her shadow. When he appears alone on stage, he shows that he can also handle the show well and that Whitney’s songs also match perfectly with his timbre.
Ballet leaves something to be desired
As not everything is perfect, ballet (in good Portuguese) leaves something to be desired. The four dancers — two men and two women — seem out of sync with Whitney’s songs and present choreographies that don’t make much sense in the show. At times it gets to be a little laughable and not pleasant.
Is A Salute to Whitney Houston worth watching?
Anyone who enjoys good music and wants to delight in a beautiful and powerful voice can give the show a chance without fear of regret. Even if you’re not Whitney’s number one fan, chances are you’ll leave the theater positively impacted.
In Belo Horizonte, A Salute to Whitney Houston came in a single presentation, but the show will travel to other cities. It’s worth keeping an eye on!
