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Post by roger on Aug 6, 2008 21:54:05 GMT
The forecast for tomorrow is for light showers and maximum temperatures of only 19 C. Hopefully, most of us will have to walk in the open air no further than the distance from Piccadilly Circus to the church (only a few hundred yards) but, if the queue to pick up tickets extends outside, we may get wet.  See you tomorrow but I'm still unsure of my time of arrival. It will be well before 6pm though. Roger |
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Post by Belinda on Aug 7, 2008 5:23:22 GMT
Hi Roger, Rain we certainly have had plenty of that.  Is that all garfunkels,  gone.? Remember the place like yesterday.(St James) Very very special concert/Day i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Omg makes me just want to  thinking about it Church has street lights inside well they reminded me of them  Easy for Hayley to spot people  Cafe/Bar had horrible coke though (i drink a lot of that) so im an expert Everyone enjoy yourselves, i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifand of course say hi from me. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifThe last time i saw Hayley and Dame Malvina in the same concert was at the opening of Burnside High Schools new Performing arts centre. T 2001 Belinda |
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Post by Richard on Aug 7, 2008 7:26:33 GMT
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Post by comet on Aug 7, 2008 9:37:51 GMT
Hope you all have a great time !
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Post by Paddy on Aug 7, 2008 13:32:50 GMT
'Just a few more hours ...'
Enjoy the Kiwi show - one of a kind.
Paddy
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Post by natalie on Aug 7, 2008 19:53:21 GMT
Oh I hope someone will put up review soon
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Post by Mark on Aug 7, 2008 22:53:54 GMT
hi everyone
I am just on my way home from the concert. It was fantastic. Arrived at 3.45 and watched Hayley and Will in the soundcheck for an hour. Dame Malvina was stunning and she performed 2 duets with Hayley. L"Ots of photos to come and Hayley had a lovely chat with us afterwards. Sorry its only a short report but I am on my phone.
Best wishes for now
Mark
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Post by Nordly on Aug 7, 2008 23:33:26 GMT
Hi Mark,
Glad you enjoyed the concert! I can't wait to read the reviews and see the photos! Did Hayley sing Lascia Ch'io Pianga? I have a feeling she did and my last feeling that Hayley would sing a certian song that night was right (In Trutina)
Was it too rainy there? It certainly is here and has been for the past few days!
~NL
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Post by roger on Aug 8, 2008 1:06:04 GMT
Oh I hope someone will put up review soon Hi Natalie, I think your request for a report was made approximately midway through the interval! Despite our endeavours, we haven't quite mastered the art of reporting on Hayley's performance before she has come on stage... but we're working on it! Did Hayley sing Lascia Ch'io Pianga? I have a feeling she did and my last feeling that Hayley would sing a certian song that night was right (In Trutina Yes, Nothern Lights, she sang Lascia. There you are, Natalie, Northern Lights can report the event before it happens! Mark, reporting by mobile phone doesn't count! Okay, here we go. How often have we said that this was a night we will remember forever? How often have we said "this one was special"? How many times have members said "this was the best concert ever?". Well, forget it. They were all telling lies but tonight was all those things and more... Hassocks! That's what we need chaps, hassocks! Without them, the hard wooden benches were a constant reminder that we were sitting on... er, well, hard wooden benches. Perhaps I should explain that I have never been the world's greatest fan of choirs. I can enjoy a good Welsh male-voice choir, especially if they are singing something patriotic but, other than that, they don't really inspire me that much... unless it happens to be the Christchurch Cathedral Choir. Was I so enthralled by them simply because they come from Hayley's hometown or were they really the best I have ever heard? I don't know but I was amazed at how much I enjoyed their performance. After they had sung their way through three songs, the first guest artist was introduced. Before tonight, I had only heard one brief clip from his forthcoming album but that was enough to pre-order it. I was really looking forward to seeing him perform live if only to see if he is as good as Stephany says he is! I had somehow acquired this pre-conceived idea that his voice would have the male equivalent of Hayley's clarity, purity and, dare I say, beauty. Could any male voice have such a quality. Yes, provided its owner is Will Martin. I haven't got a clue what he sang but I was totally absorbed in his performance, his incredible voice, the apparent ease of his delivery and, to my very pleasant surprise, his sense of humour. This was a world class performance. Now, those of you who know your Hayley history will be familiar with the name, Dame Malvina Major. For anyone who hasn't been paying attention(!), she was Hayley's voice teacher for some years and appears in an interview on the DVD. Right, here we go again. I am not a lover of operatic voices. I have heard quite a few live and, although they may be technically brilliant, they simply do not appeal to my less than technically brilliant ears. Nevertheless, I was really looking forward to seeing Dame Malvina simply because of her connection with Hayley. Was I pleasantly surprised by her performance? Nope. I was absolutely blown away by it. Yes, it is trained operatic but it retains its natural beauty. It is gentle and beautiful and, if I can fine a CD of hers (are there any?), I would buy it like a shot. Following another performace by the choir, we arrived safely at the interval whereupon I think we were all relieved to stand up and part company, temporarily, with the hard wooden benches. During the 15-minute break, I commented to a few of our party that, even without Hayley, this would still be a splendid concert. Knowing that our special girl would also appear in the second half was almost beyond belief. More to follow... Roger |
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Post by fusilier23 on Aug 8, 2008 1:12:12 GMT
Hmmm, HWI cushions might be an interesting item to sell...
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Post by Nordly on Aug 8, 2008 1:24:12 GMT
Oh I hope someone will put up review soon Hi Natalie, I think your request for a report was made approximately midway through the interval! Despite our endeavours, we haven't quite mastered the art of reporting on Hayley's performance before she has come on stage... but we're working on it! Did Hayley sing Lascia Ch'io Pianga? I have a feeling she did and my last feeling that Hayley would sing a certian song that night was right (In Trutina Yes, Nothern Lights, she sang Lascia. There you are, Natalie, Northern Lights can report the event before it happens! I was actually right??? That's twice in a row! Now I have to see if someone will pay me for reporting concerts before they happen! I'm laughing as hard as I dare because I'm supposed to be brushing my teeth now, but if this were an hour earlier then you all would have heard me no matter where you are!!! The Psycic NL (remind me to add that to my signature tomorrow and to find or create a psycic smilie!) |
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Post by roger on Aug 8, 2008 1:39:37 GMT
The second half opened with the Christchurch Cathedral choir (well, it was their concert) before the final guest artist was announced - Hayley!  It seems to be the custom that she begins with Pokarekare Ana and tonight was no exception... or was it? To those of you who were there - was this really the best we have ever heard it? Maybe the acoustics helped but, for me, this was the performance of a lifetime. Truly beautiful. Hayley then said how pleased she was to be a part of this event and added, "I feel so proud to be a Christchurch girl right now". That, quite rightly, got a round of applause! Hayley then sang Caccini's 'Ave Maria' and 'Lascia Ch'io Pianga' (just for Northern Lights!). Up to this point I wondered how Hayley's voice would sound in duet with Dame Malvina. Both are magnificent in their own right but would they really compliment one another? Within seconds, I knew the answer. They sang the 'Barcarolle' from The Tales of Hoffmann and, even though they sang in harmony, there were times when I couldn't tell which was which because their voices blended so perfectly. This was so lovely that I had difficulty in fighting back the tears. Then came, for me, the duet to beat all duets - 'Hine e Hine'. To hear Hayley singing this magnificent song in duet with her former voice teacher was out of this world. I gave up my fight and an occasional tear escaped. The final song was 'Vilia' by Franz Lehar sung by Dame Malvina and the Christchurch Cathedral Choir whose numbers were enhanced, for one night only(!) by two additional singers - Hayley and Will. Absolutely fantastic. The performers left the stage to tumultuous applause. Moments later, I witnessed something I have never seen before at any concert I have ever attended. As they returned to the stage, I looked around to see a total standing ovation. Not one person was still seated and I am sure it was nothing to do with the hard wooden benches. This was genuine appreciation for a world class concert. I think it was Martin who said that this must be the best eighteen pounds he has ever spent. I couldn't agree more. Roger |
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Post by roger on Aug 8, 2008 2:20:35 GMT
Mark suggested that someone should scan the programme. Why he should want to see mine when he has his own escapes me for the moment but here it is anyway... Page 1 (front cover)  Page 2  Page 3  Page 4  Page 5  Page 6  Page 7 (only contains an advert. As Murray and Co aren't paying me to advertise their name, I'm not scanning it, so there!) Page 8 (back cover)  Roger |
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Post by roger on Aug 8, 2008 2:31:35 GMT
I think there were about sixteen members at tonight's event including at least four with *professional* cameras of whom mine is not one! Nevertheless, here is my one contribution...  Dame Malvina Major and HayleyWas it too rainy there? It certainly is here and has been for the past few days! No, Northern Lights, we never saw one drop of rain all evening. But, at 3.30 in the morning when the excitement of the evening is tinged with sadness because it is over, I can close this report with the final words of a review I wrote years ago. "It is raining now. Somehow, that seems appropriate". Night all  Roger |
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715 
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Post by Joe on Aug 8, 2008 3:37:25 GMT
Thanks Mark for your fast report by phone! That was good of you.
Also a thank you to Roger, for scanning the programme for all of us to view. May I commend you on your report and photo from St James's.
I am looking forward to further reports and photos!
Best wishes,
Joe
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gone.?
thinking about it
