Okay, hi folks, it is the bearded wonder!
Having read all posts to date, thank you Grant for the initiative of reading the programme upside down from the stage floor! I needed that for I was without pen and paper and completely absorbed in her performance had I properly equipped myself. I am certainly grateful for those who take so much trouble to record her concerts. How do you do it? I am mesmerised by the girl who is completely impossible. For how much longer can she continue being impossible by doing the seemingly impossible time after time, resurpassing herself?
I suppose the moment will come, God willing I live long enough and I am in that audience, when it happens so I can spontaneously say of her what I said to Dame Malvina Major at St James' this summer. 'I know that tonight I have heard one of the greatest voices in the world. It has been exhilirating and very humbling.' It was she herself who said in the few words of comment she did make when the Kiri
faux pas entered the public arena, 'they don't need to be told this is great art, they just know it' When such great moments arise, yes, you do indeed 'know it'.
Richard criticised me on that occasion in July for not saying 'two (great voices) ' but I refused to be manipulated, saying that amongst her fellow musicians she would probably agree with me, if not to us. Why else do we have this site and so many of us traipse round the country after her as much as our individual circumstances allow? Because we
know she is someone very special. We have entered upon a journey with her, a journey of a young girl with an extraordinary talent growing and finding herself, exploring her art as her art explores her. They are developing together. We are in at the beginning of a great career developing and it is very, very exciting.
Tim from the USA and Thomas from Germany! The rest of us chasing all over the UK. We have all shared these moments with Hayley. The first time you heard her voice, you knew you had to find out more about that artiste. Why else do we have this site and its many supporters? This is not just a singer, this is a phenomenon.
Grant used the word in my head the moment she opened
a cappella. 'AWESOME'. It is only since July I last heard her live yet there seemed a change in her. I was in the front row but to the side where they placed the speakers, so I did not have a view of Raven at all. Mercifully they came forward for their main bits and Hayley stayed within a very tight circle by the mike.
For me, this was a repeated high, it was another moment of realisation. This was an all woman star in total command of herself, her stage, her audience and comfortably familiar with her fellow musicians. Her voice was good, was strong and my mind began pondering 'what are your intentions with this tour?' I think there is more to this tour than promoting a new CD.
The Caccini, which she loves, appeals to me only because Hayley is singing it. Tonight she showed me why I believe she loves it and as the evening developed I believe I know what lies behind this concert tour.
To her, the Caccini in particular and this concert generally are vehicles for expressing herself. I am certain I heard her go through more vocal gymnastics with the long drawn out notes of the Caccini than she has done before. The way she used her vocal chords was reminiscent of Dame Malvina's use in
The Merry Widow arias she sang. Tonight's Caccini was almost operatic in delivery. Then the contrast with 'Wuthering Heights', yet others also had their distinctive expression in their diverse way.
This is a concert tour to show the diversity of her delivery range. The same reason for her song selection on the CD.
Now, to the new dress. I remarked to someone that I did not like it but would not post my thoughts on it. Now that others have who seem to like it and that I can conclude positively on it, I will express how I received it. Someone called it 'lime green' in a post. With respect limes
are green, was 'lime yellow' actually in mind? The thought that came to me was 'Oh gosh, what has she done? That's the first dress she's worn that I haven't liked. How do I describe that in my post?' This led to me phrasing it this way, 'She then appeared on stage wearing a shocking lime-yellow dress over which it seemed a bookbinder had used his blocking press to stamp gold foil designs all over it.
I realised she had come on stage already singing. Could that be to drown the gasps of horror from the audience? The dress only lasted for one song before it was changed. I mulled this sensation for quite some time and as the little grey cells osmosed with one another (or if electrical) discharged amongst themselves, these mental pictures came to my mind.
I had a full-on side view. What that dress said, in its cut and length, coupled with the almost jaunty step with which she came on stage in full voice was 'late teens nice 'girl next-door' in 1950'. Was she trying to catch back her teenage years when she had worked hard instead of playing? They all went together. It was a match. This is a statement. 'Hayley's not in a rut with the style of her dresses, she can still ring the changes when she wants to. Don't make assumptions about me. I'm still capable of surprinsing you. That was when the idea of the concert and the tour being a vehicle came to mind. Hayley does not do anything without good reason.
I gain the feeling this tour is a
fin de cercle. A chapter of her life is closing, 2009 starts another cycle in her life! The CD for that year may well show a direction change
Peter S.
PS: My first experience of Raven. They are a superb group. I like their use of conventional instruments but do wish they would stay conventional and not mike them. Not just superb musicianship but super technical skill as well. I was close enough to note the quality of their bows and their stringing. I don't think their instruments were that expensive which adds to show their craftsmanship (its a bad craftsman who blames his tools etc) The quality of sound they produced, in complete solid unison. Hayley, stay with them. You and they are well matched.
Hope it waited until yoiu got in and didn't welcome you with a flood on the floor.
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