Aching hearts, tears on pillows - love hurts, and no one knows that better than Dionne Warwick, or so it seems when the lights go down and the lady starts to sing.

Dionne's haunting interpretations of Burt Bacharach,s music and Hal David's lyrics kept me company through many a broken love affair in the 1960s and 40 years later she can still bring a lump to my throat.

To celebrate those 40 years in show business Dionne is currently on a world tour and on Friday had a date in Brighton at the Dome Concert Hall.

Casually dressed in silver slacks she strolled on stage informally and unannounced.

"Relax and enjoy yourselves - that's what I intend to do," she said before proceeding to work very hard for the following 90 minutes.

First the classics - but then, every song Dionne has ever recorded has become a classic and there are so many of them.

Don't Make Me Over effortlessly merged into Walk On By and Anyone Who Had A Heart, the audience enthusiastically cheering every instantly recognisable opening note.

"Join in if you know the words," said Dionne and of course we knew the words but when Dionne sings all you want to do is listen.

If you had to pick a Dionne Warwick favourite what would it be? A House Is Not A Home? Heartbreaker? Do You Know The Way To San Jose? Alfie?

They were all there, including I Say A Little Prayer, which she sang with her musician son David.

Later this year she's releasing a new CD of duets with stars such as Stevie Wonder, Elton John, George Benson and Gladys Knight.

Nowadays Dionne spends most of her year in Brazil and her musical tribute to that country had many in the audience leaving their seats to dance at the front of the stage.

Dionne ended her show with a softly spoken plea for peace in the days and weeks ahead.

"What the world needs now is love, sweet love," she sang.

Thank you Dionne, for those thoughts, for your music and for a memorable show.

Review by Vanora Leigh