Il Divo - Switzerland, Zurich - 12th May 2006

[Dave]

Media previews/reviews and fan reviews/photos of Il Divo's concert in Zurich, Switzerland on 12th May (preferably those mentioning Hayley!) should be posted in this thread, together with any follow-up comments.

By the rules of Proboards forums, only reviews and messages in English may be posted.

Please stay on topic to this concert; off topic matters should be discussed in a more suitable thread or board.

[graemek]

For an introduction for those who haven't been to Zurich,
it is very beautiful click the following:
kopernik.cc.fmph.uniba.sk/~leskovsky/photos/zurich.png

Graemek

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

There are a few mentions of Hayley's performance in Zurich on Il Divo's forum.

Anne wrote:-

I love Hayley so did the audience. We applauded when she first came in and then between each song and even before a song she introduced but I can’t remember which as she introduced many. She first sang «She moves through the fair » which was a perfect song to slowly capture the audience’interest. My favorties songs of her were ‘Scarborough Fair’ which I didn’t know was a traditional song ( !!) and I thought « oh very nice, a cover of one of my favourites’ Simon & Garfunkel songs !!! » I also love the Joni Mitchel cover ‘Both Sides Now’ .She said how much she loves that song and how she could listen to it over and over and how this song has many meanings. I think she ends her show with a very rocked up version of ‘The Water Is Wide’ but I’m not sure of the song. She even danced a little along during the rocked up bits. She said how much she loves Switzerland and how she would have liked to spend more time here. She also said that we were a fantastic audience. I would have loved for her to sing a few more songs ….At the end she received a huge bouquet and several flowers and maybe a prezzie.
Having read the reports of previous conterts, I knew she would have the voice of an angel. But her voice was soooo pure. And what suprised me the most was how much I liked her songs. I didn’t expected that. So during the break, I bought her CD and the employee at the merchandising stand told me that she would come and sign autographs. He also brought old programmes with her in it. The programmes that were sold otherwise were the new ones with Kane Alexander and the AMTM page.

Sonja replied:-

And i was one of this ladies who gave a flower to Hayley. She is really amazing!!!

Doris wrote:-

...I totally forgot Hayley.
So sowwy...
She was lovely as always, I really love her voice and each time I see her it amazes me how powerful a voice can be at that young age.
I also gave her a beautiful rose and she even recognised me.
Thanks again Hayley.

Bye for now,

Richard

[graemek]

Thanks Richard,
lovely to hear (well..... read anyhow).
She's a champion!
Hope somebody comes up with a
video clip!!
Graemek
I don't understand the ref. to Kane Alexander.

[graemek]

From Gingerella, Il Divo forum:
The Hallenstadion is huge and was really full but I thought they had taken our money . The important was to be there anyway and it was a fantastic experience to be there. We should have taken your nighbours seats, Anne. LOL
Hayley has really a fantastic pure voice. She reminded me absolutely of Loreena McKennit, a canadian Celtic (?) known singer. The audience loved her and she got applauded more and more, we were discovering her singing. She's really cute. I think her voice sounded great in the Hallenstadion because the orchestra was not life...

I was wondering a bit about how the sound would be in the Hallenstadion before the concert. There are even Ice hockey games there... so it's a good place for Rock concerts but I really think that there are much better places for the sound of a group like Il Divo but these places would be too small. Anyway like Anne said, the sound of the orchestra overwelmed the voices at times and PQTME was a real "cacophonie" as she said.

[graemek]

From Mrs. D Il Divo Forum
I have been to America, all over my own country and to lots of European cities but this was special!!!!!!!!
As an uber I wanted to do this concert more than any other and I am so glad that it lived up to my expectations!
The crowd were warm and wonderful - they gave Hayley a good reception but they reserved their affection for their own son! He was so obviously overcome by the reception - it was very touching!
As everyone has already said Mama was magical!! Yes he was a little upset but it wasn't embarrassing, it was touching and the pride in his mami's eyes was something to see - I have a daughter who is a singer so I know something of this feeling!!
I have been in a lot of different venues now and I don't think the sound was that bad at all - the magic of the live performance makes all the little inconsistencies worth it to me!
I had a wonderful time overall - Switzerland is a truly beautiful country - we spent the afternoon cruising on Lake Zurich before leaving for the airport. And I have to tell anyone out there who is interested - it is the land of beautiful men - no wonder Urs is so special!!!

Small extract from Anne E ID forum: She began 10 minutes late so there were only 20 minutes before the Divos came out.

[Richard]

Hello again everybody!

Here is a comment by June Wood of Christchurch, New Zealand, from the Zurich thread on Il Divo's forum.

I must tell you all that Hayley Westenra is also from Christchurch my home town, here in New Zealand and we are all extremely proud of her, not only is she a fabulous singer, but also a lovely and sensible young lady, completly unaffected by her stardom.

Thank you June! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Richard

[postscript]

An interesting point in Annie's response that Hayley 'danced a little' to the rocked up version of The Water is Wide. This comes over in her singing of the Wuthering Heights and is so obvious in the DVD. It is that contrast of interpretation that makes that CD and is the point behind my concerns about the balance/contrast, showing her diversity for the next CD.

Peter