Eisteddfod - 10-15 July 2007

[keithp]

graemek said:

Hi Kieth & welcome.
As you've noticed, we were all desperate for Hayley news.

And the news is good.Thank you very very much.

The Llangollen TV site is excellent & I've already watched many of the clips including the Tower Choir.

Have also been rather hoping that Hayley was televised & recorded.
What's annoying is she most likely was....but whether we ever get to see the clip who knows?

I bet you meant this dress didn't you? ......Graeme.....thanks Grant

That's the dress

We were fortunate enough that the TV in the merchandise area was actually showing live footage from the Paviliion stage when we arrived, so we saw some of Hayley's soundcheck as a pre-cursor to the real thing

[keithp]

grant said:

Hi Keith!

Welcome to the Forum and thank you for your review. Several of our 'old hands' were supposed to be at the concert, but we've heard nothing of them and presume they must have lost their way home!

As you didn't mention it, I guess you didn't get to meet Hayley after the concert which is a shame, but very glad you enjoyed it all the same. If you look at the concert threads (particularly, Chichester, Cardiff and Telford) you should see the dresses you refer to. The Emerald Green gown is my all time favourite!

Anyway, happy you've joined us Keith, you will find out lots of things about Hayley and her concerts, Albums, Books TV appearances etc. etc. and I look forward to your future posts and hopefully meeting you at a concert soon.

Have you booked to see Hayley at any other concerts this year?

Best wishes
Grant

Thanks for all the info. Will try to catch up over the next week or so I am going to see Hayley at Woburn on 28th and I had booked for Celtic Woman because of Hayely's expected presence with that at Symphony Hall (must catch up with all that thread too). I haven't yet met Hayley in person. There were so many 'guests' (including Terry Waite) at Llangollen on Friday that I am guessing Hayely would not have had much chance to meet her fans.

Does she get chance to meet fans after many of her shows ?

[keithp]

graemek said:

Another question for Keith. Was this the other dress?

Thanks to Dave for this pic.

I'm not sure. The length is the same but my memory was that the dress had some sequinned trim around the waist but perhaps the shining star who was wearing it has confused me

[gordon]

Review Part 2

The concert did commence at 8.00 with the traditional singing of the Welsh and British Anthems by the audience. As a non Welsh speaker I kept my mouth shut during the Welsh one unlike a Conservative Secretary for Wales some years ago who made himself look a prize idiot whilst pretending to know the words and was caught on camera. We were then entertained by the Mount San Antonio College Choir from the USA, celtic fiddler Graham MacKenzie who was accompanied by his mother on piano,the Loughgiel Folk Dancers and pianist David Secchi. The folk dancers who were from Northern Ireland put on an exceptionally good performance and judging by the reaction of the audience were probably the favourite of this part of the evening.
At 8.55 Hayley came on stage preceeded by Fiona Ian and Mischa. Hayley's dress for the first half was the knee length black one with sparkling diamonds that she wore at Canterbury Cathedral last October. Her greeting to the audience was in both Welsh and English,this being much appreciated by all.Her first song was Pokarekare Ana followed by Ave Maria and The Water is Wide. At this point Hayley commented on the lovely smell of the beautiful flower arrangement on stage but said that she was allergic to lillies and could end up paying a visit to a hospital. Before singing her final song in this half Danny Boy, Hayley explained the love for this song that was given to her by her grandmother.

Part 3 to follow

Gordon

[Mark]

Hi Keith

A very warm welcome to the forum firstly. Thanks so much for your report - I think I know the black dress you mean.

The answer to your previous question is -YES, Hayley does quite often meet her fans after the show. However, its fair to say that this is usually at the smaller venues and you are most likely right that she may not have had the chance to meet fans after the show at Eisteddfod. She always says that meeting her fans afterwards rounds off the evening for her and "we" certainly enjoy it

Shame about the weather but, as you say, all is forgotten when listening to Hayley

Gordon - glad you got home safely and had a good time. Thanks for your report so far - now waiting for the next instalment

Best regards

Mark

[grant]

Hi Keith

Maybe it was this one then?



Or perhaps this?



Best wishes
Grant

[gordon]

Actually Grant it was the one in your first photo.

Gordon

[grant]

gordon said:

Actually Grant it was the one in your first photo.

Gordon

Interesting Gordon! Don't think we have seen her in that one since Telford last year.

Best wishes
Grant

[timj]

Thanks for the reviews Keith and Gordon!!!!......TimJ

[gordon]

Review Part 3

Following an interval of about 15 minutes Hayley returned to the stage wearing the green gown that Grant is always raving about.Her first song was Scarborough Fair and before the second Prayer,Hayley explained the relevant part of the story of Hansel and Gretel. Summer Fly was next and then it was the turn of The Tower New Zealand Youth Choir to take the stage.They performed three items Samoa Silasila,O Nata Lux and Aotearoa, the later being a recreation of the Maori first coming to New Zealand.
The Choir then left the stage and Hayley and the band returned for May It Be. Needless to say Hayley did not waste an opportunity to talk about Lord of the Rings and her lovely New Zealand asking for a show of hands of those who had been there.Before singing In Trutina which was produced by Giles Martin the son of Sir George Martin [The Beatles producer] Hayley said that before she had met them both she had not really appreciated the music of the Beatles.After the next song Amazing Grace the Choir then returned to join Hayley in Hine E Hine., the Maori Lullaby. Hayley told us of the time when it was used at the close of New Zealand television each evening when a little cartoon Kiwi would curl up in a satellite dish and go to sleep.Hayley asked the choir if they remember this but they indicated that it was before their time. She also expressed her delight in meeting many of her old friends in the Choir again.
At the close of this song the audience was very vocal in indicating that an encore was required but Hayley said that they had not rehearsed anything else with the Choir. However with the Choir still behind her she peformed Sonny to bring the evening to an end.As my car had been parked in the mud all day I decided it was time to rescue it and not wait behind having met Hayley in Chichester the previous Monday anyway.
In conclusion I must say that I was very impressed with the organisation at the Eisteddfod and could well pay it a visit in future years.

Gordon

[grant]

Many thanks for Part 3 of your review. Pity you didn't get to see Hayley afterwards. Hope you car wasn't to much of a "stick in the mud"

By the way, did you see Katie or Peter on your travels?

Best wishes
Grant

[Mark]

Hi Gordon

Thanks very much for the rest of your report. I haven't heard Hayley sing Hine e Hine live for quite some time, I'm guessing that it sounded lovely with the choir and Sonny to end - fantastic

Best regards
Mark

[gordon]

Sorry Grant no sign of the others.

Gordon

[graemek]

Hi everyone &
Many thanks from me too, Gordon for your coverage of Hayley's part in the Eisteddfod. I couldn't believe the weather !!!

[You'll find too that a lot of raving has gone on from many HWI members, re that gorgeous green dress, but with good reason I feel, as I've got to include myself here. ]

I tried yesterday to check up with Llangollen TV to see if Hayley's performance had been included at all.
I could not access the site so had to assume that all the loved ones of the competitors were trying to get a glimpse of their darling or friend performing.

Anybody who hasn't, to this stage, accessed any of those excellent clips please make an effort & do !!!! They are first class clips of first class performers.
Even the Adjudicator's summary had a clip & he was a very capable & interesting man.
One of my favourites was a group of girls from Barbados' Bishop Anstey School who began their set by singing the 23rd Psalm.
Their faces were radiant as they sang....magnificent.

But for Hayley herself we can only say: You've excelled yet again !!!!

Graeme

[Joe]

Thanks for the reports, Keith and Gordon. Very detailed too! Glad you enjoyed yourself, despite the weather and muddy conditions (ala Glastonbury)!

Many thanks
Joe