MONDAY 19 AUGUST 2019

GRANDE AMBITIONS

Ariana Grande’s show is a highlight of the year, full of pop wonder and

intriguing curveballs, says Douglas Greenwood

Performing has become therapy for this superstar (Getty/iHeartMedia)

O2, London

★★★★☆

The boundary between Ariana Grande and her public is both paper thin and impenetrable. At tonight’s O2
Arena show – the first European outing of the singer’s Sweetener tour – security is tight: sniffer dogs, police
presence, a “clear plastic bag” policy for 20,000 ticket holders. But later, you’ll find the star holding hands
with the front row and gazing into the eyes of her adoring fans. If Grande is trying to establish her own safe
haven, it’s somewhere in between: away from the spotlight and yet soaking up its glare.

Section 2 /Arts review