Between the dazzling stage lights and the roaring applause, the backstage world is a completely different place — quiet, still, and filled only with the sound of one’s heartbeat and breath.
During his Asia tour in the 1980s, Engelbert Humperdinck brought his romantic voice to dozens of stages — from the grand theaters of Tokyo to the elegant halls of Singapore. Fans crowded the entrances, sending flowers and handwritten notes even before the show began.
But behind the curtain, in a rare private moment, a photographer captured Engelbert with a bright, genuine smile and eyes filled with anticipation. What stood out was the way his hand gripped the microphone tightly — not out of fear of losing it, but as if holding on for calm before stepping into the spotlight.
Even after thousands of performances, Engelbert still carried the same nervous energy he had on his very first night. He once said, “If the day ever comes when I’m no longer nervous before a show, that will be the day I stop singing.”
That moment, bathed in the soft glow of a backstage light, showed not just a world-class performer, but a man who still felt the thrill and gratitude of singing for his audience.
His Asian tours left him with countless memories — the scent of orchids backstage in Manila, the sound of rain tapping on the roof of a theater in Seoul, and the endless applause that seemed to stretch forever in Bangkok.
This photograph, never widely released, stands as proof that no matter where in the world he was, Engelbert always held his microphone as if holding onto faith — making each show a performance from the heart.
On Tour in Singapore! (Tuesday Museday Week 49)