*Legendary* Defying Gravity - LA Closing

Eden Espinosa sings Defying Gravity. Final Performance of the Los Angeles production of Wicked. Megan Hilty is Glinda. January 11th, 2009 at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.

[@toskafr]

lifes were changed when this happened

[@yummdiddy]

When i was there for this performance in LA, i thought this was the best singing i had ever heard in a musical. I had goosebumps from start to finish.

[@tudorconducta1929]

What a performance!!! This must be one of the most emotional DGs on the internet. Fantastic singer. Such a beguiling mix of force, power, but also vulnerability. The two flat notes just make her sound so human, vulnerable, and endearing. And there’s strength, so much strength behind her performance. I can’t believe that she was Idina’s standby. Idina did originate the role, but I’ve never heard her quite so convincing in a DG, even in the studio recording.

[@allenmovies]

I will never forget that night 😭😭😭 Being in the audience was beyond epic.

[@travis3125]

I was there as well! Sat in front of Stephen schwartz’! Beyond epic is a complete understatement.

[@donnieanderson612]

I wish that I was there

[@juliangines6764]

HOW do you not just STAND to your feet at the end of that song?!

[@HisRoyalMajesty_Bob_the_Sponge]

their duet is so pretty together 🥹

[@oneandonlyprecarious]

So if you CAAAARE to fIEnd meEHEEEE

[@oneandonlyprecarious]

Lookto the WESTern skieee

[@oneandonlyprecarious]

Also... EEEHHvry one DEsEEEeerves the CHANCETOFLYYYYYY

[@waterbottle1067]

what dates do you have with eden?????

[@bunkerhillguy2542]

I’m always surprised the Director let Eden change
“And if I’m flying Solo”
“Take a Message Back from Me”
She musically changed the “solo” and the “me” part significantly from the original. And from what I heard, the never really want the leads to deviate much from the original…. But this is the most changed.

[@CaseyBlizzard]

Eden often struggled with the sustained hard E sounds. Like when she'd sing "message back from meeeee" or "meeeee down" as originally written without any alteration, she'd often go off slightly off pitch. It was prevalent during her Broadway run. In Los Angeles, she often adjusted those sections in different ways to prevent the issue. I think the MD allowed those changes because they sounded much better for her voice.

[@bunkerhillguy2542]

Thanks for the explanation and I agree they sounded better

[@space_9501]

@@bunkerhillguy2542Also incase you didn’t know, the “solo” riff was invented by Idina. Which Eden most likely picked up when she standby for Idina on broadway and used it throughout most of her wicked runs.