Regina Spektor at Radio City

Regina Spektor walked onto the stage timidly and sat down at the piano bathed in blue light. After taking a sip of water, wiping her hands on her jeans, and clearing her throat, she began her first song, “On The Radio,” a funky but simple ballad about an unknown person. The entirety of Radio City Music Hall was silent, listening to her clear voice, crisp piano, and instrumental accompaniment bounce off the high ceilings. When she finished, the hall erupted in applause and she laughed, smiling widely.

Singer and songwriter Regina Spektor visited Radio City Music Hall on March 11, 2017, as a part of her tour, promoting her recent album “Remember Us to Life.”

Before the concert, viewers eagerly awaited Spektor’s arrival and chatted about their favorite Spektor songs, concerts they had already been to, and their expectations for the following concert. The lighting was bright, beaming onto the famous red curtains of the music hall and bouncing off of the high, layered ceiling onto the packed orchestra seating and crowded balconies. Though there were a few younger kids sprinkled throughout the audience, most of the crowd ranged from 30 to 50 years old.

Despite the age difference, I had great conversations with other audience members. The special thing about going to a concert, or any gathering of the sort, is being with people who share similar interests. A love for Spektor’s style—a mix of slow, soft songs with the occasional fast and lively song—brought everyone at the hall together and made for an easy conversation starter.

As the red curtains parted and gave way to the piano, Spektor walked on stage. She was incredibly nervous throughout her performance and even had to start over during one of her songs because she was so choked up. “I’m sorry—it’s just—Radio City Music Hall, you know?” she said before restarting “Grand Hotel,” this time with more power and confidence.

In another personal moment she shared with the audience, she called her mom while on stage. It was the first home show her mom hadn’t attended because of illness. She phoned her mom and had a short conversation, switching back and forth between her native Russian and learned English. Although in her 30s, at that moment, Spektor seemed like a much younger performer who needed her mother’s assurance. Afterwards, Spektor chuckled and said, “Wow, I thought that only happened in movies!”

Spektor’s alto voice sounded exactly the same as her recordings, strong and clear. Even songs that sound like there could be some autotune, like “Bleeding Heart,” sounded almost exactly the same, if not better. I stared, amazed at her talent, as her voice rang out. During some songs, her voice sounded quiet and soft, but in other songs, it was powerful and needed limited instrumental accompaniment. Not only does Spektor sing and write most of her own songs, she also plays the piano like a virtuoso, her hands skimming quickly over the keys.

She was accompanied by a few other musicians on the drums and the bass under multicolored strobe lights that changed pace depending on the tempo of the song. During the fast songs, like “Don’t Leave Me [Ne Me Quitte Pas],” the lighting was frantic, with rapidly changing colors and about 10 spotlights shining on Spektor. However, during slow songs, like “Sellers of Flowers,” the lighting was soft and simple, sometimes with just a single beam of light. The lighting helped emphasize the beats of the songs, which made the audience members get even more into singing or humming along.

The audience spent the entire show soaking up her beautiful lyrics and natural voice, her pleasant disposition, and funny moments. Listening to music through headphones can never beat the experience of seeing a performer in person and seeing the actual hard work and talent that goes into every song. After a night full of cheers, singing, and laughing, Radio City Music Hall was buzzing with praise for Regina Spektor.