Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Throughout the process of revisiting the classic “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” collection in honor of its 30th anniversary and putting together the landmark “Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery” documentary about the entirely female festival, Sarah McLachlan seemed to be taking stock of a trailblazing past, while determining how to apply it to the present.

The result is “Better Broken,” her first proper long-player in 11 years, which finds the Canadian singer/songwriter/pianist/guitarist tapping back into the pop, folk and acoustic angles that led to over 40 million albums sold, a trio of Grammy Awards and a dozen Juno Awards, yet are housed within a contemporary framework featuring the latest round of soul-searching and socially-minded lyrics.

There wasn’t a seat to be had in the acoustically pristine Auditorium Theatre, where across almost two hours, the conversational, humorous and vulnerable McLachlan liberally pulled from the acclaimed project, plus traced much of the 1990s and 2000s.

Either way, the headliner maintained warm and wonderful vocal form, beginning the intimate evening all alone behind the keys for revealing renditions of “Better Broken,” “Possession” and “Only Human.”

“I Will Remember You” started on the same sparse note, eventually introducing a five-piece band that produced a glorious arrangement of “Adia” and continued “Building A Mystery” around the new “Reminds Me,” amongst many others.

The hypnotic hits included the gorgeous glow of “World On Fire” and the sensitivity of “Sweet Surrender,” while “Answer” returned to the earlier solo piano format, but found the musicians putting down their instruments to simply serve as a backing choir.

Everyone resumed their usual duties come the charmers “Elsewhere” and “Ice Cream,” followed by the even more emotive likes of “If This Is the End…,” “Fear” and “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.”

During the encore, McLachlan brought the intimate approach full circle for the piano-based ballads “Gravity” and “Angel,” the latter of which was presented in heavenly three-part harmony and sent fans soaring on their way out of the Auditorium’s historic doors.

For additional information on Sarah McLachlan, visit SarahMcLachlan.com.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concerts at the Auditorium Theatre include Sting (Nov. 24); Sleeping At Last & Chicago Philharmonic (Nov. 29); “Elf The Musical” (Dec. 2-14); Pink Martini (Dec. 17); Modi: Big Deal Comedy Fest (Dec. 18); “The Holiday” & Chicago Philharmonic (Dec. 20); Not For Radio (Jan. 10-11); Martha Graham Dance Company (Jan. 24) and Patti LuPone (Jan. 31). For additional details, visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.

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