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Post by Andrew on Apr 8, 2006 1:33:52 GMT
Concert Review: Glasgow SECC Clyde Auditorium
Friday 7th April 2006
Hayley Westenra
By: Andrew Fenning Tonight's concert attendance looks full, as it was last night, although to my surprise there are still a few empty seats in the front row! Those potential latecomers really don't know what they're missing out on. It's 7.30pm and the house lights are dimmed. The introduction to 'She Moves Through the Fair' commences before Hayley enters onto the stage in the darkness. Hayley's profile is highlighted by the projection of green and blue spotlights as she slowly recites this mesmerising piece. She then greets the audience, "Thank you very much, how are you tonight? Are you good? The weather is a little bit miserable, but anyway my name is Hayley Westenra and it's such a pleasure to be here in Glasgow this evening supporting 'Il Divo'... fantastic 'Il Divo'..." (Lots of "ooohing" and applause from the audience) "I'm very fortunate to be on tour with them" she says. Hayley then explains that 'She Moves Through the Fair' is a traditional Irish song, from her 'Odyssey' album. 'The Water is Wide' follows as a song which she "has just recorded recently- a couple of months ago". The reflective piano playing introduction opens the song before Hayley captures our hearts with beautiful crescendi and diminuendi in her vocal line. 'Both Sides Now' is the next number. Hayley comments that she absolutely adores Joni Mitchell's music and has built up a collection of CDs after a friend presented her with a Joni Mitchell CD. The acoustic guitar sound in the introduction is beautifully rich and Hayley soars to the heights of her dreams with this piece, dreams she has aspired to achieve since back in the haze of her former busking days. This rhythmic piece flows with a pulse as Hayley delivers a perfect tribute to Joni Mitchell. 'Scarborough Fair' is the next piece in Hayley's repertoire. The harp, violin and panpipe accompaniment in this piece weave beautifully with Hayley's celestial vocals. Hayley wistfully tells us a story of true love through this song. In my mind 'Scarborough Fair' and 'Both Sides Now' are both very evocative pieces. They are somewhat analogous in terms of the themes on which they are based too. Hayley introduces her next song 'Amazing Grace' as one which she first sang back in New Zealand when she was about fourteen years old, with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. In Hayley's words, "Quite an experience and a huge honour". Enthusiastic applause follows the opening bars of this piece before the whole auditorium is lulled into silence to listen to Hayley's every word. 'Pokarekare Ana' follows with Hayley describing the song as "one very close to her heart, since it's from my home country of New Zealand". She explains that this tragic love song is sung in New Zealand's national language about someone who has gone to sea and is pining for the loved one they have left behind. As one of Hayley's most well known songs, many members of the audience convey their acknowledgement. It is clear that this is one of the two strongest pieces of Hayley's repertoire this evening. Hayley concludes "Well this is my last song of the evening. Thank you very much you have been a fantastic audience" (with some happy giggles!) 'Across the Universe of Time' is the finale. Hayley leaves a lasting impression on a very appreciative audience once more. Andrew |
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Post by Andrew on Apr 8, 2006 1:39:34 GMT
Hi All Here's a quotation from 'Il Divo Forum member "Janey" from the Glasgow Concert of Friday April 7th: "BTW, Hayley Westenra was just beautiful again .... anyone who doesnt show up in time to watch her performance is missing out ... in mine and Lily's opinion, she has one of the most beautiful voices around." Regards, Andrew  |
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Post by Andrew on Apr 8, 2006 8:35:15 GMT
Hi All, Here are some pictures of the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow. This building is often nicknamed: "the armadillo" due to design being similar in shape to that of the animal. Unfortunately none of my photographs of Hayley singing in concert look good enough to post up, since I didn't use flash photography and they are consequently a little blurred. Here is a scanned image of my new edition of 'Odyssey' which Hayley very kindly signed for me. Regards, Andrew |
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Steve H
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team / Official Site Photographer & Videographer
Posts: 1,756
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Post by Steve H on Apr 8, 2006 9:00:24 GMT
Hi Andrew, Thanks for another very well written and descriptive account of the 7th April Show, I hope Hayley does not change her routine before I see her next week, you must be on a high at the moment, enjoy it and don't come down too quickly.
Take Care & thanks again!
Steve H
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Post by Andrew on Apr 8, 2006 9:31:59 GMT
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Post by george on Apr 8, 2006 9:58:31 GMT
Hi Andrew
You have had a memorable couple of days. Brilliant idea regarding the tartan.Thanks for your reports and photos.
Only one thing missing - Photos of Hayley from your prime front row position! Where are they? Or did you get a bad attack of the shakes?
Regards,
George
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Post by Richard on Apr 8, 2006 14:56:37 GMT
Hello again Andrew!  Many thanks for your detailed reports. I bet you'll keep reading them yourself to relive the experience of seeing Hayley two days running!  Looking at your photograph of the Clyde Auditorium, it looks as though the architecture is based on Sydney Opera House. If the Clyde Auditorium is older, then it's the other way round!  I've found some more photographs of the Clyde Auditorium here. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge. Best Wishes from London, four days before the Wembley concert! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifRichard  |
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715 
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Post by Joe on Apr 8, 2006 20:33:01 GMT
Hi Andrew, Glad you were able to see Hayley again! Another excellent review my friend...very detailed and colourful. Well done! Joe |
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,699
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Post by Dave on Apr 8, 2006 23:13:21 GMT
Well done Andrew, you sound like you had a great time and thanks for your reviews. What you did showed great initiative! Cheers, Dave |
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Steve H
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team / Official Site Photographer & Videographer
Posts: 1,756
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Post by Steve H on Apr 9, 2006 19:32:24 GMT
Hi folks, A few more comments regarding Hayley from the IL Divo Forum. suxi-wan wrote: Mrs D Wrote: Sojourner replied to Mrs D with: Thats the lot so far,  Cheers all! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifSteve H |
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Post by postscript on Apr 21, 2006 11:02:06 GMT
Hi Andrew.
Sorry I'm late in catching back on past absences. This is a superb tribute and you are winning me over to large arenas. To hold any theatre spellbound to absolute silence is an incredible artistic achievement and a wonderful feeling when you experience it. This is what I found so wonderful when Hayley was last at Huddersfield, the audience hung on every whisper of her breath and waited for the absolute silence of completion before bursting into applause. That is not only an attentive and appreciative audience but one that must be most satisfying for the artist.
We all know the cynicism that you don' believe all you read in the press and we all too easily perhaps forget, that in particular circumstances, reporters/critics have subjective attitudes to 'get out of their systems'. So, maybe some of the USA press reviews were overly biased by the critics' particular angsts.
What you describe is a concert I would have liked to attend BUT what do you have to say on the Il Divo part of the concert?
Peter
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Post by postscript on Apr 21, 2006 11:08:52 GMT
Hi All Here's a quotation from 'Il Divo Forum member "Janey" from the Glasgow Concert of Friday April 7th: "BTW, Hayley Westenra was just beautiful again .... anyone who doesnt show up in time to watch her performance is missing out ... in mine and Lily's opinion, she has one of the most beautiful voices around." Regards, Andrew So, apart from having a good time, perhaps she is widening audience appreciation of her for herself. The key, is if Steve is analysing the sales in areas where she has been and seeing a post-concert response, which could be for a couple of weeks following her appearance.. Perhaps that info is too commercially sensitive, or may be the industry isn't sufficiently geared to such detailed sales analysis. It would be nice to know. More particularly, does Hayley know, so she can build on such strengths? Peter |
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Post by postscript on Apr 21, 2006 11:26:20 GMT
Hi All, Here is a scanned image of my new edition of 'Odyssey' which Hayley very kindly signed for me. Regards, Andrew I am increasingly liking that photograph. I appreciate some of her regulars are not so sure of this new batch of photos but this is one of Hayley's difficulties, she has to be seen always to be moving on and developing. Fortunately, she is so diverse in her interests and in her desire to 'see what is out there' that her attitude towards 'moving on is absolutely right. However, she has to bear in mind that she doesn't want to lose what she has built while widening the appeal into audiences she has not yet plumbed. I reckon she's getting it right all the way along. Oh, yes, there will be people like me who react against Il Divo--although reports from 'our people' whom we can trust, are winning me over. Even then, perhaps they are learning from the US`reactions because some of our members were critical over there (but not of Hayley). And there are those here who have expressed disquiet about the new style of photo shoot. The key is for her to move on without actually losing anyone while welcoming in more and different. In that, those of us who hang back a bit sometimes are still helpful to her in how she gauges her pace of change. I reckon she getting it right all along the line. Peter |
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