Fairfield Halls, Croydon - 29 March 2008

[Caitlin]

Hi everyone!

A quick report before I head off to bed. I've just set my clock forward so now it's nearly 2am!
The band was fairly small but it had a large sound. They played loads of movie music, and easily recognizable pieces. Even people who aren't very fond of bands would likely have enjoyed this concert due to what was being played. Hayley performed in the second half and did a fantastic job. I shall leave you guessing as to which dress she was wearing but I'll give you some clues.
1. knee length
2. short sleeves
3. black
4. silver shoes
She did a fantastic job singing the five or six songs (I can't remember how many at the moment) she did. And the band was a great accompianment for her.
That's about all for now. I will likely be back with more later and besides I figured I should let the others tell different pieces of the evening.

<3 Caitlin

[Andrew]

Hi Caitlin,

I'm sure you must be feeling totally "Westenwowed" once again?

Great job! Thanks for getting back to us so soon after the Concert! We really appreciate that here as you know... It seems to be the 'HWI' custom to logon as soon as one gets home to tell the others what the Concert was like and how Hayley was dressed too- doesn't it? I'm pretty sure I can picture the style of black dress which Hayley was wearing now - thanks to you! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif I'm sure her silver shoes looked great with her dress too!

Sleep well Caitlin... (If you do actually manage to catch any sleep at all?)

I'll look forward to hearing more from you later.

Andrew xXx

[Dori]

Hello Caitlin,

Now I can't wait for photos!! I'm guessing she was wearing either the dress that was black and gold which she wore to her Christmas concert, and Music of the Spheres promotion, OR, the black dress she wore to a number of concert last year which had a spiral-like bust.

Can't wait to hear more!

Dori

[Joe]

Hi Caitlin,

Thanks for writing a report as quick as you could. I'm very much looking foward to seeing photos from the show.

Pleasant dreams,
Joe

[Richard]

Hello folks!

I'm suffering from BST lag this morning, so I'll just give a very brief report too. The band was actually quite large, comprising about 40 musicians, but we couldn't see most of them from the front row.

Hayley sang seven songs in the second half of the concert:-

• Hine E Hine
  
• Abide With Me
  
• Both Sides Now
  
• Lascia Ch'io Pianga
  
• In Trutina
  
• Pokarekare Ana
  
• Encore - Amazing Grace

Hayley gave a brilliant performance, and it made a pleasant change to hear her accompanied by the Central Band of the Royal British Legion. After the concert we spent a delightful 45 minutes or so in her company at the stage door, and several of us gave her cards and presents. I was meeting her for the 22nd time! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I'm sure there will be more reports and some photographs later, so watch this space.

Richard

[Mark]

Hi everyone

Thanks to Caitlin and Richard for your reports. You did well to post that before you went to bed Caitlin

I really enjoyed the warm and full sound of the band - the selection of music was excellent. It was a real change to hear Hayley accompanied by a band, I thought they did a wonderful job, particularly with Pokarakara Ana

I know that Grant will have some supurb shots of Hayley after the show. I managed to sneak a few shots during the performance, although not whilst Hayley was singing. The lighting was very harsh from where we were sitting and with my small camera, I'm sorry to say that the quality of the shots is rubbish However, I hope it will give you a flavour of the show.

Hayley welcomed on to the stage by the conductor





The Band





More later - and a full report

Best wishes
Mark

[Martin]

Thanks Caitlin, Richard and Mark for your initial comments despite losing an hours sleep! Sounds like another great time was had by all together with the customary meet and greet afterwards. 45 mins is an honour considering the weather conditions last night.

Martin

[James]

Hi everyone,

Another great concert last night. Reports and more pictures to follow (Grant was on "official photography duties, so you'll have to wait for him to get home for the best pics )

Hayley was on great form both during and after the concert.

Here's a little something from after the show to whet your appetite (recognise the coat Dori, Tim and Graeme?):

Click on the image to enlarge.

James

I reduced the size of the photograph.
Richard

[dutchjoyce]

Hi Caite,Richard,Mark and James.
Thank you for the first reviews and pictures.
It is great to hear you all had a fantastic evening.
Best wishes from the Netherlands<JOYCE

[graemek]

james said:

Hi everyone,

Another great concert last night. Reports and more pictures to follow (Grant was on "official photography duties, so you'll have to wait for him to get home for the best pics )

Hayley was on great form both during and after the concert.

Here's a little something from after the show to whet your appetite (recognise the coat Dori, Tim and Graeme?):

i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/jimmybobjimbo/P1000051redeyefix_cropped-1.jpg

James

Yes James,
I think I just might....she looks very cuddly in it ,
Graeme

[James]

I arrived at about 16:15, to find Richard, Grant, Gordon and Roger already at the venue. We were soon joined by Libby, Jim, Irene and Mark and a bit later by Caitlin and Postscript. As ever, the few hours before the concert flew by and before we knew it, we were taking our seats in the theatre, HWI filling out the centre of the front row (again! ) although this time it was row C because the first two rows had been removed in order to extend the stage to accommodate the large band.

Part One
The first half of the concert started at 19:30 and consisted of the band playing eight pieces, many from films including a couple of medleys. This half finished at about 20:30.

As many of the audience members left the auditorium for half time refreshments, Ray (Hayley’s driver) turned up onstage with a high stool and glass of water and placed them next to the central microphone and we chatted briefly to him. After an interval of about 20 minutes, the band returned to the stage for one more number before introducing their very special guest...

Part Two
Hayley walked on stage to rapturous applause (from the front row in particular) wearing a black knee-length short sleeved dress with silver trimming across the front.

She launched straight into Hine e Hine, which actually worked quite well with the band, allaying my fears that the arrangement would be too harsh without any strings. Pausing at the end of the song for the obligatory sip of water, Hayley then introduced her next song, “a well known hymn called Abide With Me”. It was here that things went slightly awry, the flautist giving Hayley a starting note and Hayley singing the first verse a capella. Unfortunately the band were so (understandably ) mesmerised by Hayley’s singing at this stage that they missed their cue to come in! Without a hint of panic and with calm assurance, Hayley very professionally looked at the conductor, stopped singing and said "I don't know what happened there, but I think we should start again!" This time it was a flawless rendition, so we managed to hear Abide With Me one and a half times!

Next up was Both Sides Now, before Hayley left the stage for a breather and the band played one more piece. Hayley then returned to the stage to sing three more numbers, the first of which was Lascia Ch’io Pianga, followed by In Trutina, which Hayley introduced with a speech about how it was the first piece she had recorded with a full orchestra for her album Pure in Air studios London. To finish off, we were treated to Pokarekare Ana, this time the album version where the band took the place of the choir from the record. It was interesting to hear this version live for a change, as Hayley usually sings the Vocalise version found on the Pure bonus disc.

Hayley left the stage, only to be brought back by the conductor to receive further applause and flowers, presented by one of the band.

The band then finished off the official programme with a medley of Andrew Lloyd Webber pieces. However, this was not the end of the concert, and Hayley came back for an encore to sing Amazing Grace and again left the stage to further rapturous applause. The band finished off with a quick march and then it was lights up and concert over.

We then headed downstairs and out to the stage door, buzzing after our first concert of 2008...

James

[Dave]

Thanks for your reports/photos Caitlin, Richard, Mark & James, it sounds like a good evening was had by all. Glad to see Roger and Elizabeth made it to the concert! (welcome back to the UK Elizabeth! )

I love it when Hayley takes control (as in Abide With Me) and you were honoured by such a lengthy stage door chat after the concert!

I look forward to reading more and perhaps to seeing more photos when everyone's able to do so.

Cheers, Dave

[Nordly]

I love that dress!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the pics/reviews so far!!!!

[Karsten]

Hi Caitlin, James, Mark and Richard,

Thank you very much indeed for your quick reports and pictures from me, too. Can't wait to see and hear more about this first U.K. concert 2008.

I suppose the "official photographer" Grant is still in the dark room.

Counting the days to Buxton.

All the best,

Karsten

[Mark]

HI everyone

Thanks James for your report and photo. I'll just fill in around the edges a little.

I arrived at Fairfield Halls around 5.pm after setting out at 2.30pm - a journey which took an hour longer than planned due to traffic hold ups Never mind, I still had plenty of time before the show started and it was a pleasure to meet up with my HWI friends again after a three and a half month break. Roger, Grant, Libby, Gordon, Richard and James were already there. Jim & Irene arrived shortly afterwards, with Caitlin & Peter arriving around 7pm.

A quick (unexpected) snap before the show



Gordon, Richard, unknown man with a tub of ice cream, Grant, James


As James has said, all 11 HWI members present were sitting, centre stage, on the very front row There was no doubt that Hayley would see us i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif In fact, she made it quite clear that she had seen us within minutes of coming on stage, as she looked down and smiled quite a few times

As you would expect, Hayley handled the slight error when performing Abide With Me like the true professional she is, by stopping the performance and then asking the audience if it as alright to start again - to which the reply was a unanimous YES !

I felt that Hayley was in top form - both with her performance and after the show. When it was my turn to spend a few minutes with her, she signed my program of course and then I asked her how she was and said that we had missed her over here in the UK, to which she replied " Ive missed you guys too".

A couple of shots of Hayley signing - you can see the back of Grants head in the first shot i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif







I'll be back with more later.

Best regards
Mark