It might go without saying, but you probably need to be an Adele fan to fully enjoy this show. In a love letter to the mega-selling artist, Sarah Borges (accompanying herself on guitar and piano) sings some of the global superstar’s most popular ballads as a hotel-bar crowd sit back and enjoy a drink.

Borges has an outstanding voice that can really do justice to these songs. It has a less sharp edge than Adele herself, but no lack of power or variety. On the whole, her guitar accompaniment works slightly better than piano, which comes across heavy in parts while her renditions of ‘Easy On Me’ and ‘Rolling In The Deep’ are particularly powerful, rich and varied.

But Adele’s music works best accompanied by those personal stories laden with passionate sentimentality. Between numbers, Borges recounts little details about the singer’s life and inspirations, an essential touch in such a tribute, and talks sparingly about why the music resonates with her. Ultimately, though, the emotive element is lacking, particularly in numbers such as the originally heart-wrenching ‘When We Were Young’. However technically brilliant their renditions, Adele’s songs become bland when their simplicity isn’t balanced with pathos. 

Le Monde, until 29 August, 3pm.