Hurtwood Park Polo Club 25th August 2007

[Karsten]

Hi,

here's another source for the concert on the RPO website:

www.rpo.co.uk/c_t_rpo_season_detail.asp?ConcertID=1011


Proms in the Park with Hayley Westenra

Saturday 25 August 2007 7.30pm
Hurtwood Park, Polo Country Club
Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra

Proms in the Park With The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra And Special Guest Star Hayley Westenra and Hosted by Oliver Tobias


Conductor - Gareth Hudson
Soprano - Hayley Westenra

Concert Promoted by CBM
For ticket bookings and further ticket information and availability, call the booking office on: 0871 911 1827


Karsten

[roger]

martin said:

I've just noticed that this thread is rather bare! Is anyone out there going? I'm still in two minds as Sherpherds Bush is only six days later.

Martin

Hi Martin,

Have you decided yet? The event is still being advertised on Classic FM so, presumably, there are still tickets available.

In answer to your question, yes, HWI will be represented. Dave, Grant, Gordon and I will be there. Anyone else?

Roger

[grant]

Come on Martin! You know you want to!!

Dig a folding chair out of the shed, pack the wet weather gear (although the weather forecast says it's going to be fine! ) pack some sandwiches, some fruit, chocolate, drink, cuddly toy etc. and come on down!!

Best wishes
Grant

[Karsten]

Hi,

I'm a little bit confused... - is anyone going to this concert ? Martin ??

If so, have a great time on Saturday.

Looking forward to reports and photos,

Karsten

[thomas]

roger said:

HWI will be represented. Dave, Grant, Gordon and I will be there. Anyone else?

Roger

Hi all!

Everybody who is going, have a lot of fun on Saturday!
Don't forget to warn Hayley that there will be a big HWI appearance next week. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Thomas

[dutchjoyce]

Hi Guys, Have lots of fun at this concert.
As far as i can see now, you will have good weatherconditions this weekend.
And yes i agree what Thomas said before, tell her about what is going on next week, and maybe you can ask her if she likes to join us at the WALKABOUT for lunch!!! :DGreetzzJOYCE.

[roger]

The forecast for Saturday in the Cranleigh area (that is the nearest village of any consequence) is 22°C / 71°F, sunny intervals, no rain and virtually no wind. That'll do nicely.

I suppose we could warn Hayley that so many of us will be at Shepherds Bush. The trouble with that is, she will only have six days to get used to the idea!

Roger

[Dave]

Got my 2 tickets, all new and shiny! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Phoned the club today.

Bring your own towel, stool or chair. Grass at the front, then chairs, then gazebos at the back. Warning: The grass is wet today and it takes quite a while to dry out!

Tickets will be available on the gate. All unreserved. Tickets still available (as always with outdoor things like this).

See you there guys (the ones who are going). I had to do this one due to missing out on Shepherd's Bush due to betting mania!

Cheers, Dave

[drew]

Enjoy the picnic guys (those who are lucky enough to be going). A perfect day for Hayley's favourite kind of concert: outdoors.

Please try to hide any "tricoloures" that you see around the park, they would probably be like red flags to a bull this week.

Don't forget to take some hay (or sugar lumps) for the ponies in your picnic baskets.

Don't forget to take some G & B for the All Black Mascot, in your picnic baskets.

[grant]

drew said:

for the ponies in your picnic baskets.

Sorry Drew, but I don't think we have any ponies in our picnic baskets!

Best wishes
Grant

P.S Signing off now. Got to drive to a polo club down in Surrey somewhere to see Hayley perform again! It's a hard life!

[roger]

Picture the scene if you will. I am sitting on the grass with two friends eating a picnic on a glorious summer's afternoon with Hayley singing live just a few feet away, backed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Fairy tale stuff, isn't it? Well, it really happened!

Grant, Gordon and I took up our positions soon after the gates opened at four o'clock. Hayley had already begun her soundcheck and I expected to hear one or two more songs if we were lucky. We were more than lucky for we heard virtually the entire concert!

Hayley spotted us and commented that we were there early. I looked around and noted we we not the first! Unfortunately, Dave only arrived shortly before the concert began and so missed out on the soundcheck.


Hurtwood Park stands in a beautiful setting, about which Hayley later commented. During the concert, she said it was one of the loveliest settings in which she had ever appeared. As she said it, she was facing roughly south-east which meant she was looking in the direction of my house just ten miles away! Later still, she pointed out the almost full moon which was rising in front of her as she sang. From her position, the sea of heads that suddenly turned to look at it must have been quite an amusing sight!

The concert included several orchestral works but Hayley's schedule was as follows:

Pokarekare Ana
Ave Maria (Cacchini)
The Water Is Wide
Prayer
River of Dreams
May It Be
Scarborough Fair
Lascia Ch'io Pianga
In Trutina
Danny Boy
Hine e Hine
Rule Britannia
Land of Hope and Glory

And, for an encore...

Amazing Grace.

In traditional HWI fashion, we waited after the concert in the hope of meeting Hayley. We didn't have to wait long! At that time Peter25, who only joined this forum today, made himself known to me. I am sorry we didn't have longer to chat, Peter and hope we have another opportunity to do so at a future event. Meanwhile, welcome to the forum!

And so another thoroughly enjoyable evening drew to a close. I will leave it to Dave, Grant, Gordon, and perhaps Peter to provide any further details.

As for me, I have been completely Hayleywowed all over again!

Goodnight all!
Roger

[Dave]

roger said:

Later still, she pointed out the almost full moon which was rising in front of her as she sang. From her position, the sea of heads that suddenly turned to look at it must have been quite an amusing sight!

Hello Roger and everyone,

Here is what Hayley (and all the turning heads) saw - the moon was low down directly behind the audience and this is the photo I took of it, a few minutes later... it was a striking sight for Hayley... and everyone!

Hayley's Moon, Hurtwood Polo Club, 25 August 2007

Yes, a thoroughly enjoyable concert on a beautiful evening - even for those of us who missed the sound check! It's very late (3:20 am) so i'll leave you with a single photo of Hayley in the first of three dresses she wore this night, taken while it was still daylight. Her feet aren't chopped off, they were hidden behind the monitor speakers!

Hayley Westenra, Hurtwood Polo Club, 25 august 2007

Cheers and goodnight!

Dave

[scoobedoo]

Hi Guys,wow looks as though you had quite a night and a nice setting too by the sounds of it. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

A Nice program too, a good cross section of music from Hayley.

Just one question. How did “River of Dreams go”? thats one of my favorites,

cheers,

Rodders

[Joe]

Hi all,

Thanks for the reports and photos so far. Sounded like a lovely evening for a concert!

I agree with Rodders, the set list was excellent. A good mix of Hayley's singing styles.

Looking forward to read posts by Peter25, Gordon, Grant, and any future members !

Joe

[roger]

Hi Rodders,

I must admit, I was slightly surprised when Hayley included 'River of Dreams'. It is a long time since we have heard that performed live and, with two albums since it was recorded, I assumed she would not include that song again.

In answer to your question, it went down very well. I think it is one of those songs that is instantly recognizable by all her fans (which is not necessarily true of every song she has ever sung). It is one of my favourites too and it certainly got a very enthusiatic response from the audience.

Roger