For Elyse Evangelista, stepping on to the stage with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra is about more than singing the music of two of the most distinctive voices in a generation. It will also mark a return of her own.

Creating this concert gave me permission to use my voice and abilities without trying to fill a particular box

Saskatoon vocalist Elyse Evangelista. (Dylan Ernst)

The Saskatoon vocalist is getting ready to hit the stage with the SSO in the premiere of Amy and Adele, a new concert celebrating the music of Amy Winehouse and Adele. But, somewhere in the process of choosing songs, working on arrangements and shaping an entire concert, Evangelista rediscovered something she hadn’t had in awhile… Her own creativity.

“I’ve never had full creative control until now,” Evangelista says. “I’m not the kind of person that loves being told what to do. Creating this concert gave me permission to use my voice and abilities without trying to fill a particular box. This is not an impersonation. It’s a show built with music that I love, singing it as myself.”

We work a lot sending sound sketches back and forth, making it a show she would be comfortable doing with other ensembles

Donovan Seidel arranged the well known songs to suit both Evangelista and the orchestra. (Raeanne Schachter)

Working with musical arranger Donovan Seidel, Evangelista selected songs made famous Amy Winehouse and Adele, balancing some of her personal favourites with ones that the audience will immediately recognize. The performance includes hits like Rehab, Valerie, Rumour Has It and Skyfall. Evangelista and Seidel took it one song at a time.

“We work a lot sending sound sketches back and forth, making it a show she would be comfortable doing with other ensembles,” says Seidel. “It’s like working with a movie director. The music is always in service of the film. In this case, I’ve arranged the orchestral score to be in service of the artist so that Elyse’s voice shines through.”

I want the audience to cry with me, laugh with me and share the joy of these artists

The creative freedom of Amy and Adele has inspired Evangelista to return to writing and recording her own music that she’s releasing this fall. It’s a milestone that suddenly feels more possible after years where her own songwriting had been on the back burner. There’s also the possibility that Amy and Adele would become a touring show ready made to be performed with other orchestras. More than anything she wants to create a joyful evening with the SSO.

“I’ve been singing these songs to myself for a year,” says Evangelista. “I want the audience to cry with me, laugh with me and share the joy of these artists.”