There may have been snowflakes falling outside Roy Thomson Hall on Friday night, but inside all the roads were clear on the Freeway Of Love as soul legend Aretha Franklin delivered a thrilling, heartfelt show before a sold-out crowd of 2,800 besotted fans.

Franklin, who turns 54 on Monday, hasn't performed in Toronto since her 1993 concert at Massey Hall, and it seemed she missed us almost as much as we have missed her.

"What a pleasure it is to be back with you in Toronto," said Franklin after a rousing rendition of her opening number, Sly and the Family Stone's I Want To Take You Higher.

"We've had a beautiful, beautiful time," Franklin said of eating at the local Movenpick restaurant and hearing Christmas carols.

"Why can't we do that in Detroit?" she asked. Franklin was a dazzling vision of white in a snug-fitting, sequined, floor length dress, an overcoat and an impressive collection of pearls and diamonds around her neck.

But over the course of her 11/2-hour -- following a brief performance by The Nylons -- she proved to be a diva that delivers without any attitude. Just a powerful, velvety voice and an exciting but welcoming stage presence.

Franklin was joined by a formidable group of musicians -- 16 in all -- including an organist, a piano player and a 10-piece brass section from Toronto -- whom she called "world class musicians." Plus there were three backup singers, two tambourine players and her conductor.

All eyes, however, were on Lady Soul as she belted out -- and occassionally lifted her dress hem to wiggle her hips along -- to some of her best known songs from the '60 and '70s.

There was Chain Of Fools, Natural Woman, Think and a speeded up version of her signature song Respect.

She was even a compelling storyteller as she recounted seeing two lovers embracing on New York City's Park Avenue oblivious to the traffic around them during her introduction to one of the most beautiful ballads of the evening, Call Me.

Newer songs included the Babyface-penned Hurts Like Hell from the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack but it was the aforementioned Freeway that had everyone on their feet and clapping for a solid 15 minutes towards the end of the show.

So when the time came for Franklin to ask us to do her a favor we happily obliged.

"It would be especially meaningful to me, if you guys would sing Happy Birthday to me," she said.

How could we refuse?

Franklin was even presented with a dozen, yellow, long-stemmed roses.

A classy gesture for a classy lady, who should come back sooner next time.

SUN RATING: 5 STARS (out of five)