Steve H
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team / Official Site Photographer & Videographer
Posts: 1,756
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Post by Steve H on Jul 10, 2007 19:29:24 GMT
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
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Post by Martin on Jul 10, 2007 19:36:30 GMT
Here's a photo or two from last night:    Martin |
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Steve H
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team / Official Site Photographer & Videographer
Posts: 1,756
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Post by Steve H on Jul 10, 2007 19:51:40 GMT
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Post by Stephany on Jul 10, 2007 19:55:38 GMT
I better get some photo's up before Stephany gets back from dinner Very well-done, Steve. That was a wonderful dessert  |
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Post by roger on Jul 10, 2007 19:58:22 GMT
...I got separated from my Cameras as Dave and I got ushered upstairs before I could get back to Stuart and my bag! [/size] [/quote] I dunno! An official site photographer blags his way into a more advantageous position and he gets himself separated from his camera! Ya can't get the staff, ya know!  Great photos, guys - keep 'em coming. Somehow, i think they will!  Grant, I think Stephany is about to finish her dessert. Part 2 is therefore required urgently! Roger |
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Post by roger on Jul 10, 2007 19:59:08 GMT
That was a wonderful dessert See? Told ya!  Roger |
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Post by grant on Jul 10, 2007 19:59:21 GMT
PART 2
Some of attending tonight had arranged to meet up for a pre-show meal and when I returned to the Cathedral, Gordon was already there. Martin arrived a little later followed by Roger. The four of us found a suitable venue just across the road and sat down to a splendid ‘family’ dinner. Steve and Stuart were spotted passing the window and were summoned in to join the party. This only left Dave who joined us outside the cathedral as we were waiting for the doors to open.
First ‘plus’ of the night was the realisation that there were programmes, and at a reasonable cost of just £2.50! It also contained a full play list, obviating the need to take notes during the concert.
Our little group is spread around the Cathedral, but Martin Roger and I have seats together on row H (no doubt some of you will remember the fiasco regarding booking and allocation of tickets!!) We have a good view of the stage, which is, unusually facing into the Cathedral from just inside the main entrance. (They are generally at the other end!)
Mischa, Fiona and Ian came onto stage first for a bit of tuning and warming up, being fairly quickly followed by Hayley wearing a white dress, a picture of which, Dave has already posted. To me it looked very similar in style to the black one with the diamante adornments around the waist and down the front (yes, I know Caite would be able to give a much better description!). It has been suggested that it might be new, I for one have never seen it before and no one thought to ask her about it. Anyway, she looked gorgeous in it and it had a very fresh, summery feel to it.
Roger has already posted Hayley’s play list so I won’t go into great detail other than to make a few observations. She did say, however, that it was unusual for her to stick to a play list, preferring to saying she “preferred to make it up as I go along” From that I assumed she meant probably the day before or even in the car on the way up. Of course, tonight’s play list would have been decided ages ago to allow for printing of programmes.
As Martin has already commented, the sound was superb and Hayley in absolutely tip top form even to the point of almost doubling the length of the final note of Danny Boy despite it being the final song of the first half of the concert.
At the interval we wandered outside into a still quite light and reasonably mild evening. We have seen no sign of anyone who might be ‘with’ Hayley, but I did spot a sales table hidden away in one of the cloisters and went to investigate. Great!! Hayley IS going to be signing after the concert so hopefully there will be some photo opportunities.
We returned inside for the second part of the concert and walking past the stage, we spotted the play list and, as Roger has already said, noticed Hayley had written “Sonny” at the bottom. We returned to our seats clear in the knowledge of what we had to do!
Hayley returned to stage wearing her long green ‘Celtic’ gown, another one that I had never seen ‘live’ before. This dress does something to Hayley, difficult to explain, but it seems to elevate her to another plane –she could be a Celtic Maiden or a Greek Goddess, but Oh Boy! Does she look fantastic in it!
She opened the second half by introducing Pokarekare Ana as a song from her homeland and sung in the native language, Maori and a song she has been singing for as long as she can remember. “I guess you could call it my signature tune” she added. Well, you should have seen the look on the faces of the ‘three wise monkey’s sat on Row H! Roger wouldn’t be drawn, but both martin and I were certain that it was no coincidence. Think about it. We know Hayley does dip into the Forum occasionally and although she won’t have time to look in detail, don’t you think that if she spotted a thread entitled “Hayley’s Signature Tune” she’s going to have a look? I’m sure of it. Anyway it was nice to hear her say it.
Once again, on introducing “Shenandoah” she mentioned to 100 verses and I whispered “and the doors are locked!” just before Hayley said it, although this time she added “but don’t worry, I’m only going to sing 97 of them!”
It didn’t dawn as Hayley began to talk about New Zealand asking for “hands up who’s been and adding “and who’s seen Lord of the Rings?” More hands shot up to which Hayley commented “I’m impressed” She talked a bit about Christchurch and about how you can go trekking in the mountains in the morning and be swimming in the sea after lunch. “You must go there” she said, then “OK, back to the music and “May It Be” – the last song! The concert is almost at an end!
The applause was impressive, I have to say. No doubt the audience feeling as we did that we had just experienced Hayley Westenra at her absolute best. Out Hayley made the most of it though, not to eager to come back and my hands were already beginning to ache by the time she did return to sing “Amazing Grace”. I said at the time, and I must check my records to be sure, but I don’t think I’ve heard Hayley sing that live before.
Once again Hayley left the stage and the applause continued, and continued, more aching hands and I wasn’t the only one who resorted to shouting more!! As Hayley returned to stage for the second time I exclaimed, rather more loudly than I intended, “We’re going to get Sonny” and get Sonny we did!!
I said to Roger, as the final round of applause began to die down, “It was worth coming just to hear that!” and I meant it with all my heart. It’s one thing to hear the song, but totally another to watch Hayley ‘perform’ it. So expressive, you could almost hear the heart breaking. Yes, tonight was a truly unforgettable one.
To be continued….. again!
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Post by Stephany on Jul 10, 2007 20:01:40 GMT
Grant, I think Stephany is about to finish her dessert. Part 2 is therefore required urgently! Roger Perfect timing, Roger !  Grant, you have outdone yourself!! It was a lovely report and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I am very impressed at how well Hayley interacts with the audience (eg when she asks the audience about 'The Lord of the Rings'). I can imagine your surprise when she mentioned her signature tune.  |
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Post by Stephany on Jul 10, 2007 20:07:02 GMT
Hey Steve, The first picture in your last post is absolutely fabulous. Great caption, too. Very appropriate Stephany |
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Post by grant on Jul 10, 2007 20:07:11 GMT
Steve
Considering the difficulties you were working under, your pictures are amazing!!
I've downloaded mine and it look as though some from the sound check will be OK despite being 30th of a second at 1600 ISO!!
Best wishes
Grant
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Post by Mark on Jul 10, 2007 20:07:35 GMT
Hi everyone Thanks to Martin for your report and pics and to Steve for you pics so far, despite the distance from the stage and the lighting Thanks also Grant for part one of your report. You say that you felt Hayleys voice sounded amazing - better than ever. I certainly felt the same thing at Porthcawl, which looking back on my report, I may have only hinted at. I told Hayley I thought her voice had sounded fantastic and she said herself "it felt right" Pehaps now she has stopped dictating the book, her voice is saved for singing i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifSounds like you had a great time at the sound check - what a bonus. Cant wait for the next instalment i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifRegards Mark |
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Post by Stephany on Jul 10, 2007 20:11:22 GMT
I am also very pleased that you got to hear 'Sonny', Grant. I know how much you wanted this one. It's a heartbreaking song. Especially the lyrics of course, but I think Hayley's interpretation adds a lot. ...Mark, can you believe it, you had the privilege to hear it first!  Martin, thanks also for your lovely pictures. Do you know what Hayley was carrying in her hands (I think it's a HMV bag) ? |
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Steve H
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team / Official Site Photographer & Videographer
Posts: 1,756
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Post by Steve H on Jul 10, 2007 20:18:56 GMT
I finally got home in Suffolk last night at 2.30AM, and had to leave again at 5.30AM this morning to travel up to Stoke -on-Trent, I am still in the office and getting tired, but as Roger says you can't get the staff, so I will have to keep going I don't want Roger to sack me, I enjoy this job 
The first photo is Hayley after accepting her flowers, excuse the Chandelier in the way, I did say were up in the Gods!
..and a wee bottle for Ian, see how quick he grabs it, and just look at Fiona!
Ian Tilley, Hayley's musical Director talking to Roger after the concert.
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Post by roger on Jul 10, 2007 20:19:24 GMT
No doubt the audience feeling as we did that we had just experienced Hayley Westenra at her absolute best. I certainly echo that, Grant. Right from the beginning of the first song, I believed this was as good as I have ever heard her. As the evening progressed I was more and more convinced of it. What Grant may not have heard is that we were not alone in thinking this. Ian Tilley commented that she was sounding even better than when he had last heard her. For years, we have been asking if she can get any better. The answer is "yes" and she proved it last night. Roger |
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