Dublin, National Concert Hall, 13 June 07

[Martin]

drew said:

Anyone worried about the cost of travel to Dublin should checkout Ryanair's website this week:

www.ryanair.com/site/EN/

You can fly to Dublin 13/06/07 and return 14/06/07 from either London Stansted or London Luton for 2p (per person return).

These costs include all taxes and charges.

Just for once these are genuine fares (but they won't last forever).

Apologies to anyone who has booked another flight.

PS. There are still seats available in the front row (at the concert).

And a cup of tea onboard costs £20 !

Martin

[Stephany]

Comet, you're next!!
Two days left before your first Hayley concert.
I hope you have a smashing time on Wednesday!
Here is an article from the Irish press by the way.

Best wishes,
Stephany

Classical notes
10 June 2007
Sunday Business Post

*The young New Zealand singing star Hayley Westenra has a voice of amazing range and even the most hardened of traditionalists have been impressed by the ‘‘glacial beauty’’ of her tone. Westenra’s debut classical album called Pure, made when she was just 15, introduced a unique new talent who has so far sold over two million CDs, topped the British classical charts and almost made it to the top ten in the pop equivalent.

Already she has performed in front of presidents, prime ministers and royalty and has duetted with Andrea Bocelli, Jose Carreras and Bryn Terfel.

Westenra, whose family has an Irish background, makes her debut appearance in Ireland on June 13 when she will be backed by the RTE Concert Orchestra under David Brophy at the National Concert Hall.

Very definitely a night to savour.

€8 -€35; tel [phone]

[Richard]

Hello Stephany and everybody!

There is a small mistake in that article. 'Pure' spent quite a few weeks in the top ten of the British pop charts in 2003, entering at No.8 and peaking at No.7. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Have a great time on Wednesday, Comet. I'm looking forward to reading all about it!

Best Wishes,

Richard

[comet]

Hi Folks.
Thanks for all your good wishes.
I am looking forward to this like you would not believe.
Well... I'm sure some of you know exactly what it's like to be looking forward to a Hayley concert....

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee......

comet

[milewalker]

stephany said:

Comet, you're next!!
Two days left before your first Hayley concert.
I hope you have a smashing time on Wednesday!
Here is an article from the Irish press by the way.

Best wishes,
Stephany

Classical notes
10 June 2007
Sunday Business Post

*The young New Zealand singing star Hayley Westenra has a voice of amazing range and even the most hardened of traditionalists have been impressed by the ‘‘glacial beauty’’ of her tone. Westenra’s debut classical album called Pure, made when she was just 15, introduced a unique new talent who has so far sold over two million CDs, topped the British classical charts and almost made it to the top ten in the pop equivalent.

Already she has performed in front of presidents, prime ministers and royalty and has duetted with Andrea Bocelli, Jose Carreras and Bryn Terfel.

Westenra, whose family has an Irish background, makes her debut appearance in Ireland on June 13 when she will be backed by the RTE Concert Orchestra under David Brophy at the National Concert Hall.

Very definitely a night to savour.

€8 -€35; tel [phone]

This rumination would likely be more on topic on one of her "voice" threads, but I think someone should start collecting the odd adjectives people use to describe her voice...."glacial" is a new one on me, but it joins "desolate", "stark" and "melancholy" as words which are very odd things to say when they are obviously intended as a compliment....

Jon

[thomas]

I wish you, Comet, and everybody else who decided to go a wonderful time at the concert.
Review and pictures are expected! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif ... but I guess you know.

Thomas

[roger]

Hi Comet,

I hope you enjoy every minute of tomorrow's concert. Somehow, I think you will! Have a great evening and I look forward to hearing all about it as soon as you feel able to put a few words together!

Okay George, you can have a good time too!

Roger

[comet]

Good morning Folks

Hayley concert in 11 hours

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

comet George and D and Paddy and co

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Stephany]

Have lots of fun at the concert, Comet.
George&Denise, too!!
Enjoy every minute of today's concert!!

Stephany

[comet]

Hi Folks.
What else can I say.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

My wife and I arrived around seven to collect our tickets from the box office in plenty of time to await the arrival of Denise and George. After a little fussing over seat numbers and the like we took our seats in the front row at the centre of the stage.
The base of the stage about level with our necks and within touching distance, the soloists microphone stand about four feet from us. We were as close as you could get.

It took me a while to decide to take a few pictures without flash and sound bleep.
When I find out how to post a picture I will. The pictures are at a rather sharp angle the camera being at floor level.

For the time being I will give you the programme list of the music:

Overture to A midsummer Night's Dream.
Enter Hayley to sing the following:
Pokarekare Ana
Ave Maria (Caccini)
Santa Lucia
Hayley leaves the stage and the rather large RTE concert orchestra continue with:
Elizabethan Serenade (Binge)
Nocturne (Borodin)
Hayley returns for:
Prayer
Scarborough Fair
Shenandoah
The Fair Day (Harty) Orchestra only (I think)

There was an interval at this stage when Paddy of this very forum came down from his seat a few rows behind us and introduced himself. We all chatted for a while until the orchestra returned and played:

The Girl I Left Behind me (Leroy Anderson)
Hayley returns and sings:
In Trutina
River of Dreams (Arr. Sarah Class)
The Water is Wide

The orchestra continue with :
Nimrod by Elgar.
Pavane pour une infante defunte (Ravel).
Hayley returns for her last set of songs:
Lascia ch'io pianga (Handel)
May it be.
Hayley leaves the stage to great applause and returns some short time later and sings Danny Boy even better than I have ever heard it before and leaves the stage while the crowd stand and clap and cheer.. and clap .. and clap ..and clap.
As best I can remember the conductor and Hayley had left the stage the applause kept going until they both returned and performed Amazing Grace for the second encore to rapturous applause............

I will check with George about which other songs were sung in the encore.

This is just a brief outline of a very successful performance by Hayley.

I will get back with more details and photos as soon as I can.


Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

comet

[mariannek]

Hi Comet,
I love you...weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Thank you so much for the song list !!!
The concert MUST have been awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess Hayley sang a variety of songs from her albums to introduce the audience to all of her International CD's. Very clever I think !
I love encores...the audience really gets involved then...clapping until you hurt too much !!!
Can't wait for your next posts !!!
Love, Marianne

[postscript]

Well done, Comet--keep 'em rolling!
Peter S.

[postscript]

In reply to your #25 Marianne, I too love Pokarekara Ana. It must surely always be thought of as 'HER' song. Even though I have the CD I still love to hear her sing it live. I hope that will continue, now and again, at least.
Peter S.

[Martin]

Thanks for your initial report Comet - it sounded marvelous. Furthermore, Hayley sang twelve songs. I wonder if this is the highest number for Hayley at a live concert? Does anyone know?

Best wishes
Martin

[grant]

Hi Comet

Sounds like you all had a great night, however, what we really want to know is

Did you get to meet Hayley!!?

Best wishes
Grant