Josh Groban Concert

Lewis and I scanned TV channels and caught part of a Josh Groban concert.  Groban has many fans, but as soon as I saw the "set" for his concert, I knew it was an ego-centric performance... not one for the betterment of "music in public".
     Just like singer Steve Tyrell or tenor Pasquale Esposito, Groban is all about the "staging": a full orchestra with an overly-dramatic baton-waving conductor, chandeliers, a harp (not that you ever hear it; it just looks good), and even a fog machine (all seen above).  Groban even went through 4 costume changes!  Each one as bland as his ever-steady singular range of singing.  Audra McDonald has much more range and enthusiasm.  Frank Sinatra never had so many "costume changes".  That meant that the 1-hour performance required the audience to wait through Groban's 4 costume changes.  Even showman violinist André Rieu doesn't have his musicians "staged" around faux bookshelves and globes, like Groban.  
     In the last segment, when I saw the appearance of a choir, I immediately knew that we would barely hear them sing.  I said this to Lewis before the song started.  Sure enough, their 20 voices never rose above a mere whisper or cooing.  I'm sure Groban's ego wouldn't want anyone/anything to challenge his own voice.  So, what's the point of having 20 singers, when you could just have 3?  It looks good.  A gimmick.