Total Eclipse - London Coliseum

There are some composers whose music feels too big for an ordinary stage. Jim Steinman was one of them. And the London Coliseum, grand and sweeping as it is, felt like the only fitting venue for an evening dedicated to his work. From the opening number to the final bow, this was a concert that understood exactly what Steinman's music requires: scale, commitment, and the kind of voices that can match an orchestra at full cry.

My journey with this music started years ago, but it wasn't until I was invited to attend the sitzprobe (the first rehearsal where the orchestra and vocalists come together) for the most recent tour of Bat Out Of Hell that my love for it truly ignited. Though I can't say I loved the show itself, one thing remains certain: the music is sensational. And that was precisely what this concert delivered - a genuine celebration of a Rock 'n' Roll legend.

Photography Danny Kaan

Glenn Adamson was, for me, the standout revelation of Bat Out Of Hell when I reviewed it last year. Tonight confirmed that this performer can command any stage or room in the most natural of ways. Electric on stage, with sky-high vocals and an infectious energy, he confirmed in every number he sang that he was simply born for this. Whatever he touched, he made his own: proving, time and again, that this music is his world, and we in the audience are merely lucky spectators.

The guest roster was top-notch, with West End favourites Christina Bianco, Natalie May Paris and Zoe Birkett among the headliners. The highlight of Act 2 was the duet between Adamson and Paris on 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light', their on-stage chemistry was electric, perfectly matched by the power of their combined vocals. Every performance, without exception, felt like a statement.

Photography Danny Kaan

None of it would have landed quite so hard without the English National Opera Orchestra and a rock band providing the sonic foundation. Under the baton of Musical Director Jack Bennett, the orchestra brought both sweep and precision to Steinman's sprawling arrangements, while the rock band anchored the sound with a raw, driving energy. Together, they created something genuinely rare: a wall of sound that felt simultaneously orchestral and visceral, filling every corner of the London Coliseum without ever overwhelming the voices at its centre. This was not merely accompaniment, it was a performance in its own right.

It is worth noting that although the sound was incredible, it could become overwhelming very quickly, especially when combined with the occasional blinding lights. More than once did this reviewer need to close her eyes to enjoy the music without the distraction of the strobes shining directly in her direction.

Though some musical numbers stretched upwards of ten minutes and occasionally tested the pace, this was ultimately a celebration entirely worthy of both the Coliseum and the Steinman name. For anyone who has ever felt the pull of Steinman's music: that particular brand of operatic, over-the-top, utterly committed rock. This concert was a reminder of just how powerful it can be when given the space and talent it deserves.

Production Value: 90%

Value For Money: 70%

Personal Enjoyment: 80%

Overall Score: 80% - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4*)

(AD | gifted in exchange for an honest review)

Show Information

Venue: London Coliseum, London

Playing One Night Only: 3rd May 2026

Run Time: Approximately 2h40 - including a 20 minute interval