The Barefoot at the Symphony Tour was concert tour by American actress and singer Idina Menzel. This marks Menzel's first concert tour after giving birth to her son Walker Nathaniel Diggs. The tour featured Menzel performing a diverse repoitore of classic pop, musical theater favorites—including hits from Wicked, Rent, Glee, and songs from her third studio album I Stand—all accompanied by major symphony orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and more, featuring symphonic arrangements by Musical Director and pianist Rob Mounsey. The show in Toronto was recorded live for a CD, DVD, and a PBS airing. Several shows on the second leg, the orchestra would be based on local musicians from the town Menzel was in. The tour also included her Carnegie Hall debut in early 2013. It was originally set to take place in October 2012, but was delayed due to Hurricane Sandy.
Set list
Act I - The Orchestra
The orchestras that accompany Menzel plays a 15–20 minute set before a brief intermission. Music variously changes.
"Where Do I Begin" from I Stand was performed at the Jacksonville, Fl show only.
"Gorgeous" from I Stand was performed at certain shows.
"Embraceable You" was performed at certain shows.
"What I Did for Love" was performed at certain shows when Marvin Hamlisch conducted.
"The Way We Were" was performed at certain shows when Marvin Hamlisch conducted.
"Where or When" was performed as a duet with Menzel's husband Taye Diggs during the first Toronto show only.
"Poker Face" was added into the set list during the first night of the Dallas show.
"Heaven Help My Heart" was added into the set list in place of "Never Never Land" at the London show at Royal Albert Hall.
The San Francisco and Toronto shows were the only concerts that featured Menzel in two acts.
The Kitchener Waterloo Symphony did not play a 15–20 minute set at the Toronto shows. Because the show was filmed for PBS, the filming crew spent about 15 minutes filming closeups of the audience before jumping straight into Menzel's set.
Act I - The Orchestra
The major orchestras that accompany Menzel plays a 15–20 minute set before a brief intermission. Music variously changes.
15–20 minute intermission Act II - Idina Menzel
"Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz / "The Wizard and I" from Wicked
"Auld Lang Syde" was performed at the New Year's Concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, CA at midnight.
"Falling Slowly" from Once was performed as a duet with Declan Bennett only on April 24th, 2013 at the Hackney Empire in London Show
"I'm Gonna Be " was performed only on April 24th, 2013 at the Hackney Empire in London Show
"Life of the Party" from The Wild Party was performed on this leg only on April 24th, 2013 at the Hackney Empire in London Show
"I Stand" from I Stand was added into the setlist on April 24th, 2013 at the Hackney Empire in London Show
"Poker Face was performed on this leg only on April 24th, 2013 at the Hackney Empire in London Show
"I Know Him So Well" from Chess'' was performed as a duet with Elaine Paige only on April 24th, 2013 at the Hackney Empire in London Show
Tour dates
Album
The Toronto performance was recorded for a live album, released as Live: Barefoot at the Symphony. It was released on March 6, 2012 by Concord Records and peaked at 53 on the US charts.
The Toronto performance was also filmed for a PBS special, that was later released as a DVD. It goes by the same name as the album, and has gained rave reviews.
Radio broadcast
One of the London concerts was recorded and aired live on BBC Radio. The concert featured:
