Sir Elton John is gently led off stage after a performance with his close friend Dua Lipa, leaving his audience in no doubt about the challenges he faces after losing his sight.
A production assistant extends a supportive hand to the 77-year-old singer as he walked backstage at the Royal Albert Hall on October 17.
During his heartfelt duet with Dua for her concert special An Evening with Dua Lipa, which airs on ITV on Sunday December 8, she introduced him by saying: ‘Give it up for a man who needs no introduction, Elton John.’
For most of the performance, Sir Elton remained seated, a visible reminder of the weakness caused by the loss of his sight.
As the final chorus of their hit Cold Heart arrived, Sir Elton paused, swaying gently to the music, though he didn’t move his feet.
As the song ended, the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road hitmaker reached out to the 29-year-old Houdini singer and held it in the air until she realized he wanted her to grab it.
Sir Elton John is gently led off stage after a performance with his close friend Dua Lipa, leaving his audience in no doubt about the challenges he faces after losing his sight.
A production assistant extends a supportive hand to the 77-year-old singer as he walked backstage at the Royal Albert Hall on October 17.
His emotional performance ended with a kiss on the cheek from Dua before Sir Elton was carefully escorted off stage.
Concertgoers described the atmosphere as electric, with one telling the Mail: ‘The chemistry between Elton and Dua was really sweet and joyful to watch, they clearly have a lot of love for each other and to see that live was special.
‘He was clearly not as active on stage as in years past, he had to sit down and be escorted to the stage, but he sang as well as he has ever done and filled the room with emotion.
“It was bittersweet to see him struggle a little bit, and I didn’t know the extent of his loss of face, but it’s amazing that he can still create such a fantastic environment at a venue of that caliber.”
Another visitor to the Royal Albert Hall said: ‘It was incredible to see Elton John live, we were ecstatic to see him and really shocked that he had come.
“It was emotional to see him, knowing his health and balance were deteriorating – he was led by the hand and sat on a stool for most of Cold Heart.
‘You could definitely tell the performance meant a lot to him, he was dancing hand in hand with Dua towards the end of the song, along with the entire audience. His singing remained strong and compelling, I don’t think his charm and charisma were lacking in the least.
During his heartfelt duet with Dua for her concert special An Evening with Dua Lipa, which airs on ITV on Sunday December 8, she proposed to him, saying: ‘Give it up for a man who needs no introduction, Elton John’
For most of the performance, Sir Elton remained seated, a visible reminder of the weakness caused by the loss of his sight
Elsewhere during the concert, Dua Lipa performed 19 of her songs, reimagined with a 53-piece orchestra and a 14-piece choir, with her seven-piece band.
The show also featured the live debut of Dance The Night, from the soundtrack of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie
Concertgoers described the atmosphere as electric, with one telling the Mail: “It was bittersweet to see him struggle a bit, and I didn’t know the extent of his loss of face, but it’s amazing that he’s still such a fantastic environment in a location of that caliber’
The pop star, 29, released Live At the Royal Albert Hall this week. It is the singer’s very first live album and contains grand symphonic reinterpretations of the biggest hits from her discography, such as Levitating and Don’t Start Now, as well as the Radical Optimism album in its entirety.
‘The audience was completely hooked: we danced and sang along with Dua and the orchestra from the start, but Elton John’s surprising performance made the evening a highlight.’
This latest appearance follows Sir Elton’s candid public admission that he lost his sight earlier this year due to a serious infection.
At the London premiere of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical, he shared his struggles with the condition and thanked his husband, David Furnish, for his continued support.
“I’ve lost my sight,” Sir Elton revealed, explaining that he now relies more on sound than sight to experience performances.
At the musical’s curtain call, Sir Elton was joined on stage by 62-year-old David.
He said, ‘And [thanks] to my husband who has been my source of strength, because I have not been able to come to many of the previews because, as you know, I have lost my sight.
“It’s hard for me to see it, but I like to hear it.”
Elsewhere during the concert, Dua Lipa performed 19 of her songs, reimagined with a 53-piece orchestra and a 14-piece choir, with her seven-piece band.
The show also featured the live debut of Dance The Night, from the soundtrack of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie.