Fan Fiction

[stevemacdonald]

THE CONCERT

Part 1

It was a warm and cloudless early Friday evening in June as the Hollywood Bowl opened its sturdy gates to thousands upon thousands of Hayley Westenra and Il Divo fans. Many had journeyed vast distances, crossing oceans and continents just to see their idols perform on this glorious night. Just as many lived close by and carpooled it with their friends, everyone delirious with anticipation for what would be an experience of a lifetime.

A secret group of Hayley fans calling themselves "The Fixers" were also there in force. They consisted of competent sound technicians, printing press operators with expertise in surreptitiously modifying concert programs, brawny bar room bouncers who knew how to get people to sit down quickly, and an amazing merchandiser who could instantly deliver "Pure" and "Odyssey" to anyone wishing to buy one. The Fixers blended in deliberately well with the multitudes filling the amphitheatre, some going as far as to sport the bright red scarf-of-devotion to the Il Divo headliners.

At 7 p.m. sharp an unannounced Hayley strolled gracefully onto the Bowl's colorfully-lit stage, holding the battered and rusty mic given to her by a sleepy crew worker. She gazed out over the audience and saw that fully two thirds of those attending had not planted themselves in their seats yet. Most of the women in the crowd were searching their programs to see who this opening performer was. Undaunted, Hayley collected herself for a moment and began to sing beautifully -- into a dead mic!

To be continued....

[fusilier23]

Here's a trip forward in time:

It was August 2012, and despite the bittersweet beginnings in 2005, the Olympics had finally come to London. They were using mainly existing facilities, but two great new ones, including the magnificent Mountbatten Windsor Stadium, had risen to join them. It was that stadium, on the outskirts of the City, that would host this night's opening ceremonies, featuring the Isles' best.

At 8 PM Greenwich mean time they began, after a thirty second countdown for each Olympiad that had gone before, with five brass bands, each in one of the five colors of the Olympic rings, marching out into the infield and playing a long fanfare composed for the occasion by the conductor of the Royal Philharmonic toward five sides of the stadium. After one circuit of the stadium they broke formation and formed again with no regard to color.

After a few more pieces, they moved to the side of the stadium and played a fanfare once more to introduce the Prime Minister and the Royal party. To a solemn version of Elgars Pomp and Circumstance march in A Major King George VII, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, and the rest of the delegation entered, gravely resplendent in blue uniforms and sashes, and took the salute as a scarlet-coated detachment from London's elite Coldstream Guards raised the Union Jack over the stadium to the stolid but faithful old strains of "God Save the King." After a brief speech welcoming all, His Majesty declared the games open, to loud applause.

Bass-baritone Bryn Terfel was the first to sing out, with a rendition of the rousing, if somewhat pretentious, mini-cantata he had sung for the opening of the Millenium Centre in Cardiff some years back, "In These Stones Horizons Sing."

Then it was time for the athletes to enter, with the Greek team leading as is traditional. Lusty cheers greeted the teams from the Republics of Afghanistan and Iraq, entering only the second Olympiad since the end of tyranny, and only slightly less greeted the U.S. and Aussie teams, like it or not, still Britain's best friends. Only polite applause greeted the Germans, and very little greeted the unpopular French. Of course the greatest was reserved for the home team as they entered last.

With the athletes assembled, it was time for the feature presentation. The theme, this time, highly appropriate to the UK, was "honor." Over a lengthy cantata on the meaning of honor, sung by Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins and the Royal Philharmonic chorus, the story unfolded, with a mirror-armored King Arthur drawing the sword from the stone, a somewhat less idealized King Alfred chasing pirates away, and a mounted Richard Lionheart with cross banner displayed prominently. A laser show marked out the limits of the British Empire, and showed the outline of the great Exhibition under Prince Albert, before shrinking to a darkened Europe with only the UK showing bright, marking the darkest days of WWII, then the brightening of Europe again into the blue of NATO and the light blue of the EU.

The Olympic flag was then carried in. Among its bearers were actress Catherine Zeta-Jones and former Prime Minister John Major. Bluejackets of the Royal Navy raised it over the stadium to the rousing Olympic anthem, calling on the spirit of honor to be with the competitors.

After the oath was taken on behalf of the athletes and officials, NZ soprano Hayley Westenra took center stage. No longer a teen prodigy, at 25 she was now in the full flower of her abilities, and lovely as ever in sleeveless gown of palest blue. To delicate but strong orchestral accompaniment she sang "All The Difference" specifically composed for these Games to words by the winner of a worldwide contest for lyrics. Her voice, which some criticized in her teen years, is beyond reproach now, with strength in both upper and lower registers, though this song did not call for coloratura fireworks. Thunderous applause hailed her as she curtseyed and stepped down.

The Olympic flame was then carried in and handed to 1984 Decathlon winner Daley Thompson, who carried it up the steps to the cauldron, and, with a flourish and a blast of fireworks, lit the flame.

The ceremony concluded with 'th people's tenor" Russell Watson, singing "Faith of the Heart" as yet more fireworks were released.

[fusilier23]

Ah, I never said that honor and England automatically went together, just that that was the theme of this show. Whether or not the viewer believes they do is up to the viewer. I reserve judgement