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Ross and Batiste performed separately, with Batiste opening. Each celebrated their own iconic songs and some from other artists’ catalogs. Batiste showcased his multidisciplinary talent throughout his set, rotating between singing, playing a grand piano and the guitar, and jamming on the melodica.

Clad in a black-and-gold tailcoat covered in golden moons and stars, Batiste took St. Louis back home with him to New Orleans as he opened the show with the song “TELL THE TRUTH,� which paints a picture of his family life back in Louisiana to the sound of snare drums and horns. He kicked off the co-headlining performance with intense high energy, a standard he maintained through his 40-minute set as he danced around the stage.

Batiste’s song selection was an emotional rollercoaster as he swung between upbeat and slow, melodic records. He hit spin moves and executed flawless falsettos during “FREEDOM,� with accompaniment from background vocalist Desiree “Desz� Washington, whose voice resounded through the theater as big as a mass choir’s.

Despite releasing his ninth studio album “BIG MONEY� five days before the show, Batiste only performed one song from it. Instead, he gave the audience a heavy dose of his NOLA, bayou-infused flavor and paid homage to music legends like Earth, Wind and Fire; Beethoven; and Chuck Berry with his jazzy covers.

Batiste is a master of taking one sound and transforming it into something else. “FREEDOM� morphed into Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Can’t Hide Love.� Midway through that song, he spun it into a rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In� that felt like a second line parade on Canal Street.

There were many moments during Batiste’s performance that were soul-stirring. During “Für Elise – Reverie,� he transitioned effortlessly into the “Star-Spangled Banner.� It was bold and powerful, with deep gospel undertones and hints of both sadness and joy in the anthem.

He thanked the audience afterward, reminding them that his performance was more than entertainment but a spiritual experience, before launching into “BIG MONEY.�

The audience screamed in excitement when Batiste brought St. Louis-based band “What the Chuck!� on stage to perform “Johnny B. Goode.� The band, which is comprised of Jahi Eskridge, vocals, and Charles Berry III, guitar, the grandsons of rock ’n’ roll pioneer Chuck Berry, duck walked to their grandfather’s songs with Batiste accompanying on the keys.

The Academy Award-winning performer encouraged crowd engagement throughout the show, and at the end of the set, he brought his entire band down into the audience. ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ walked and danced through the aisles and up the stairs, playing a medley of songs from the Fugees’ “Killing Me Softlyâ€� to “You Are My Sunshine.â€� The audience danced and sang under the night sky.

After a 30-minute intermission, Ross delivered a timeless performance that took the audience on a journey through her life.

But it arrived with no connection to Batiste’s set, despite it being a perfect occasion for the pair to perform a duet or for him to accompany Ross on one of his many instruments. With his set being noticeably shorter, Batiste’s standout performance felt more like a support set than a co-headliner, with a stark drop in energy and excitement once he left the stage.

That’s not to say Ross disappointed. Her set list flowed like the montage of her life. After kicking things off with “I’m Coming Out,� she ran through a few Supremes classics like “Baby Love� and “Stop! In the Name of Love.� She remained center stage for most of the performance, without much movement beyond swaying, as she sang “Endless Love� and “Touch Me in the Morning.�

But the audience didn’t come to see Ross dance. They came to hear their favorite songs and, with a career spanning nearly 70 years, singing was second nature to Ross.

Her voice was precise and crisp as she sang “Why Do Fools Fall in Love� and “The Boss.� She brought out her daughter, singer and songwriter Rhonda Ross Kendrick, to perform a duet of the song “Count on Me� as photos of their family floated across a screen.

Ross also sang a slew of songs from the various films she’d starred in, including “The Wiz� and “Mahogany.� Midway through the 20-song set, Ross performed a cover of Billie Holiday’s “Don’t Explain.� Violinist Karen Briggs delivered an electrifying solo, and Ross’ performance of the 1946 ballad was smooth and soft as she sang. It was heartfelt and classic, like a black-and-white film that slowly shifted back into color as she launched into “Love Hangover.�

She concluded her performance with an encore of her song “Thank You.� It was a memorable night of music at the Muny, with Ross creating a core memory for St. Louisans and concertgoers leaving wondering when’s the next time they can see Batiste perform.