OTTAWA -- There are few times when the National Arts Centre Orchestra gets dwarfed by a single solitary singer, but that's exactly what happened at last night's pops concert with k.d. lang.

Arriving barefoot for the second half of her Hymns of the 49th Parallel tour, lang appeared positively Buddhist, draped in a flouncy topcoat, bowing to her enthralled audience.

It was a subdued first impression from the famously loud and theatrical singer. She seemed wrapped up in her own thoughts during an effortlessly seductive Don't Smoke In Bed and Love is Simple.

This was not a calculated act, but a show of how comfortable the famously private lang is on stage.

But I caught another glimpse of lang. Like Jann Arden -- another singer from Alberta known for her sense of humour -- lang's a gifted singer who can wrench more emotion out of a song than anyone. That's her first calling.

That being said, lang's schtick was funny, particularly because it was unscripted and off the cuff.

For example, she warned she wasn't going to say anything about today's election, which coaxed calls from the audience for her to vote.

"Can I vote?" lang, who lives in the U.S., innocently asked.

"There's no way I'm voting down there, but up here doesn't look much better. Maybe I'll form my own party, the 'Miss Chatelaine' party (named after her song) on the platform that every Canadian is airbrushed in lipstick."

It was the only offbeat nod to her gay constituency, who rallied behind her loudly and often.

Then it was all business for lang, who delivered an impassioned, heart-wrenching version of Roy Orbison's Crying, which elicited an immediate and well-deserved standing ovation.

From there, lang surveyed her 20-year career. Accompanied by one of the best bands I've seen -- pianist Teddy Borowiecki, bass-player David Piltch, guitarist Greg Leisz and drummer Danny Frankel -- lang bounced like an out-of-shape ballet dancer through Miss Chatelaine from Ingenue, followed by songs -- anthems might be a better word -- from her new album, Hymns of the 49th Parallel.

On the album, which goes on sale next month, she treads familiar ground, covering Canadian songs she grew up with.

Lang unleashed her soaring vocals on Neil Young's Helpless and Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah before a delightful homage to her mentor, Tony Bennett, with Kiss to Build a Dream On and a gum-smacking "medley of my hit," as she put it, Constant Craving.

TEARS APLENTY

I spent much of the night just trying to keep up with lang's powerful performance, choking down tears and losing track of time. But there were moments when she should have reined in that huge voice, particularly on Hallelujah and Don't Smoke -- songs she probably doesn't even need a microphone to fill a sold-out Southam Hall.

It's not often you get an entertaining pop show from a talent as significant as lang.

I don't know about you, but screw the Tories and the Greens, I'm voting for the "Miss Chatelaine" party today.

JAM! Rating: 5 out of 5