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Post by drew on Aug 9, 2008 8:05:40 GMT
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jordi
Junior Member 
Posts: 66
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Post by jordi on Aug 9, 2008 9:11:37 GMT
Thank you very much for your reports, photos and videos, you really know how to transmit the feeling of being there!!!
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Post by grant on Aug 9, 2008 9:12:22 GMT
Hello everyone Here are the first few pictures from me. Hayley doing her sound check without a microphone!    Best wishes Grant |
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Post by grant on Aug 9, 2008 11:06:17 GMT
Hello everyone A few more pictures from St James's "To Mike or Not To Mike, That Is The Question" Hayley Listening to Will Incidentally, and for the technically minded, I was very pleased with these last two as I had pushed the camera up to 3200 ISO for the first time and didn't know what to expect! Best wishes Grant |
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Post by loveyou on Aug 9, 2008 11:23:28 GMT
I'm still coming back down to earth after such a wonderful concert, so I've only just realised I didn't comment on the Christchurch Cathedral Choir's performance. I probably forgot it was really their show. I thought they were excellent, and their programme was varied and entertaining, as you could see from Roger's scans. They sang an extra song at the end, John Rutter's 'The Lord Bless You And Keep You', which was the perfect ending to one of the best concerts I've ever attended. I must add my personal thanks to Hayley, Dame Malvina, Will and the Christchurch Cathedral Choir for a truly memorable and uplifting experience.  Richard  Yes, If lack the support of leaves, Flower couldn't be perfect. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif |
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Post by martindn on Aug 9, 2008 11:52:21 GMT
Hi Drew, Thanks for the fabulous videos. The three I've downloaded so far are all brilliant. And I agree with those of you who were there, just watching these videos I can see that this was a wonderful performance by Hayley perhaps her best ever. She both sounds and looks more beautiful than ever. It must have been mindblowing! It comes across as an even better performance the the iTunes festival the week before. Part of it might be the acoustic of the building - I Imagine St James to be a big barn of a building, it looks pretty spacious on the videos. The real reason for my impatience is that I will be flying out to Sydney on Tuesday, and although I hope to have internet acess there, it is not certain. I will have my work laptop though, so I thought I might put some of these on a USB stick to give me something nice to watch when I can't sleep! Once again Drew thanks for doing this. Watching these videos is the next best thing to being there. Martin |
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Post by roger on Aug 9, 2008 11:55:55 GMT
Those members who attended the soundcheck have mentioned that Hayley didn't use a microphone for all or part of it. As she used one for her solo performances in the concert, then surely, it wasn't a "souncheck" in the true sense? In the above photo taken by Grant, Hayley is seen singing but holding the mic away from her and Steve is seen apparently assessing the sound without it. I am now wondering if they played safe by using the microphone for her solo performances but used the duets to judge how well the sound would carry without one when the church was full. If so, I think we can all confirm that it was highly successful in which case, will we see Hayley performing unmiked at suitable venues in the future? Only time will tell. If that is not the explanation, I don't understand why a mic was used in the performance but not at the soundcheck. Roger |
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Post by postscript on Aug 9, 2008 12:19:30 GMT
Hi All.
On first posting, this time sequence might seem out of kilter. The reason is because I have thought long and hard for the last three days about posting, wondering particularly if I was being too clever for my own good and whether I could express myself in a manner in which the intention comes over and is acceptable. In deciding to post in the end I hope everyone will feel it is in context and not inappropriate. My guiding light is that in any form of spiritual worship there is the juxtaposition of confession, penance and forgiveness and ‘in the midst of life we are in death’. The significance of that sentence will, I hope, become apparent.
Guessing those near, or in London, would perhaps have posted before I even arrived home, I prepared myself a cheese sandwich and a GandT and settled myself to reliving the evening. Two stiff GandTs later I decided I could do better justice in the morning. It is now just over 24hours since some of us met in the Red Lion that I try to offer my view on this night. I am still reliving the emotions this night has embedded in me. In fact I had to stop talking with a friend on the telephone this next morning because I got too emotionally wound up recounting this night, so before I start I’ll read what others have said to avoid repetition.
In sequence of posting, ‘thank you’ somewhat belatedly to Ross, for his post of the farewell concert in Christchurch where Dame Malvina sang before the tour departed. Looking back on that and noticing the nights drawing in here, when perhaps they have not yet started drawing out there, I feel I understand how the choir may be feeling: “Gosh, only yesterday it seems it was all ahead of us”. I have a sense of the nostalgia Hayley must have felt, may still be feeling, to have ‘home’ suddenly appear in her life for a few fleeting hours.
I thought of offering a first succinct post summing up the whole experience in one word, ‘awesome’. However, on reflection, I think that one word would be ‘emotion’. This was an evening of many emotions. The unexpressed consensus with which we parted at Piccadilly tube station was that dust should be allowed to settle on what should be cast away and forgotten. However, I am going to refer to that history, as one disturbing the calm air whilst in the act of laying a dust sheet over what should now be put away.
Interestingly, having now read what everyone else has posted so far (although I have this Saturday morning found an additional 3 pages), I have no need to change what was in my head to write while I was there. Other than to pay compliments to our photographers. I hope HWIers know me well enough to accept that this first bold statement is no theatrical pretence nor claim on Northern Lights’ psychic talents. On that subject, Northern Lights, I had wondered before it became apparent if that subject interested you and will only say here that I share that interest but this is not the Forum for more than passing observations on such matters. What I write now is simple truth. Everything that happened this night was exactly as I had anticipated would happen the moment the press announced Dame Malvina’s intentions. Perhaps ‘fervently hoped for’ might be nearer the mark but I do not think I exaggerate.
I wrote earlier that one word would express tonight, ‘emotion’. What ever we may feel about the furore at the beginning of the year (and I have expressed some pretty damning ones!) we need to remember the mix of relationships and mix of loyalties and opinions. Hayley has been tutored by Dame Malvina, Dame Malvina has known Dame Kiri since their student days. Inevitably two such great people may occasionally have diverging views on musical interpretation and presentation.
The relationship in all their involvement, on diverse levels is ‘friendship’. I have a local friend whom I love dearly but she doesn’t half drive me up the wall at times!
It is arguable that my seeming prescience is more to do with the practicality of my marketing background than feelings of emotion. When faced with bad publicity how do you set about protecting your ‘product’ in the most effective yet positive manner without seeming defensive and further fuelling the fire ?
Take Dame Malvina’s position. A student she admires and has tutored has been cast an unexplained and unjustified backlash at a moment when she might be considered very vulnerable—a point in her development when she might be ready not to use the microphone but not yet be ready for the more strenuous vocal gymnastics? For Dame Malvina to speak out the press would love nothing better than the two greatest figures in classical music in New Zealand slugging it out. How do you remove such politics but still give a riposte, while remaining friends and keeping loyalties all round and not inflaming the situation? Very simply, ‘I’m in London with your home choir, are you free, would you care to join me? In that one moment she has taken the heat out of the argument by presenting her riposte simply by proving the counter-argument to a live audience in reality, not as counter-opinion.
Envisaging this possibility is the key reason I did not post my expectations in advance. Raising that aspect I could confound her intentions and add the very politics she was avoiding. Interestingly, by neutrally presenting the facts she proved both points! First, Dame Kiri said in musical terms something as obvious that ‘water runs down hill.’ So what? The statement is as ‘blinking obvious’ as the nose on one’s face. It is a basic reality of life, so why mention it? Second, it was the manner in which this was expressed. It could have been presented in the abstract, if not better expressed by not having been expressed at all.
Tonight, what did we have? Well, I’ll start in sequence. For me, I thought I had pipped Richard. I was about to walk into the church when who should walk out but Hayley, Steve and two ladies.
“Good heavens, this should be Richard not me! Has Dame Malvena arrived yet?”
There was a little giggling and Hayley introduced me to the lady next to her. “Delighted to meet you,” I said. “I’ve been chasing this girl round the country almost since she arrived,” I said with a casual informality that didn’t dawn on me until we had parted, they to lunch and I inside where I met Richard and discovered he had been there first after all, over an hour previously!
Totally relaxed, with a higher than usual exaltation of expectation, our waiting for tickets was barely noticed. Having sorted out our pews and settled down we noticed Ian and Fiona about to ensconce themselves in a less than favourable position in the further aisle. I suddenly realised there was room for two more next to me and after a little persuading they joined us for a better view. As they took their places Ian remarked to me that it felt odd being ‘this side of events’. Regretfully they could only stay for the first half and left after the interval before Hayley had appeared. However, on the point of leaving Ian saw a friend and the three of them spent the interval working out how they could meet for dinner before they departed their different ways for the longer term.
Others have given you the sequence of events and programme details, so I will deal with my emotions. Dave expressed astonishment that I had not recognised at the Classical Brits a well known (to him) diva, whose name I have already forgotten. Frankly, it is not until Hayley that I have really noted performers. Perhaps because, like my father, I have difficulty remembering names and putting names to faces, which is why some people regard me as standoffish. It is simply, like my father, because I am desperately trying to remember who it is and why I met them, especially if the situation is outside the context in which we met originally.
In those pre-Hayley days I was a ‘the song is all’ man and Hayley is the main person about whom I can say ‘it is the singer not the song’. She can sing anything and I will listen. Perhaps that is why I am happy with a wide range of musical presentation, while Roger and others have expressed less interest in choirs and opera. It is the presentation of music as a collective whole that interests me not necessarily the offerings of a particular artiste or troupe.
The opening was traditional choral presentation but singing a cappella the choir told us immediately this was a body of sound to be noted. Then Will Martin, of whom I was aware from reading the NZ press—the papers are available in the NZ Embassy foyer if you want a free read . He impressed Ian as being someone who had places to go. Chatting with Will afterwards I expressed the opinion that he could well build himself into a one-man product of being his own show. His light-weight, casually delivered monologues, interspersed with singing and piano-playing I think could make a full length show in his own right. Singing while looking at the audience and playing more than simple keyboard accompaniment showed his mastery of that instrument.
Then came Dame Malvina. Instantly I was back in my girl-chasing twenties when I was a Friend of Covent Garden. The advantage was reduced-rate tickets, the disadvantage was very advanced booking. I always bought two tickets on the grounds I could always sell the spare if I didn’t have a girl to take. Occasionally, this might mean the first or second time out together, which built over-high expectations for what subsequent nights out might mean! It some times meant taking someone inappropriate. I remember one girl who seemed to have been brought up in the belief that for the likes of her Covent Garden meant only fruit and vege. As we walked up Drury Lane her jaw seemed to drop lower and lower, let alone when we got into the foyer. If she remembers the night at all it will be for the Opera House and not the guy who took her. In a way I rather hope that is the case. She might be more opera-orientated than I am at present—I haven’t been in the place since the restoration! It is the way one’s life cycle runs.
However, as Dame Malvina proceeded through her programme I became increasingly worried. I knew the obvious fact that water runs down hill but there are gently babbling brooks and sedate majestic rivers. Would there be too great a contrast? But the programme indicated at least one duet. I remember once, for some reason, having a similar fear at a Hayley concert. My fears had proved groundless and Dame Malvina would assuredly not let anything untoward happen.
Part 2 came with a lovely rendition of George Shearing’s arrangement of some of Shakespeare’s songs and sonnets. Then our Hayley. Slightly nervous, what artist wouldn’t be nervous in the presence of one of her art’s greats, she opened a cappella. She’d bitten the bullet and was on her way. While Dame Malvina said that Hayley could have done the whole evening without a mike, my gut feeling is that Hayley wanted to ensure a 100% delivery to be truly worthy of Dame Malvina. For once—and this was true at both Dunstable and Orwell—the sound system was excellent, it did simply amplify the natural voice. We had both to note the difference. Whether it is technician ability or quality of equipment—and I think the mike she had tonight was a very expensive one—but if amplification is necessary, amplify is all it did.
We were in the right place for acoustics and auditorium size. She won’t do this every time yet. It will depend on the event but I’ll hazard a guess she’ll do it next time she is in Dunstable.
As for the accompanist, Hayley used the same one as Dame Malvina, who may have been the person who introduced them to one another. I am hoping to see her again. I have a feeling Kirsty Simpson, who seemed also to know Ian’s past friend in the interval (Royal College violinist) is experienced in arranging, judging by some superb keyboard runs she demonstrated when accompanying Dame Malvina and I rather suspect is just as happy improvising: all essential requirements to cope with Hayley.
With Hayley and Dame Malvina we had presented to us a wonderful expression of the student paying homage to her mentor, not out of duty but out of a naturally-flowing admiration and thanks and the mentor paying her tribute to a student with whom she was proud to be associated. A friendship stemming from mutual respect. From friendship comes understanding.
Through understanding comes love, compassion… forgiveness. W e were in a church. Before the altar was the mentor, at the top of her tree in total mastery of her art and the rising young star. Between them lay an entire life-long musical career, the alpha and the omega (Revelations).
It is almost a year since I heard Dame Kiri live in Cadogan Hall. Thinking of that evening now I can say a warmth was lacking compared with this night. Personalities are different and in this case seem to correspond with performance delivery. I would describe Dame Kiri’s voice as more brittle in sound to Dame Malvina’s. With her a duet with Hayley would not work. Between Hayley and Dame Malvina it works because there is a similarity of tonal values, an assonance (which perhaps is an odd way to use the word). The sound of both voices is soft, mellifluous, gentle, yet gentleness can also be delivered with power. More importantly, the young songstress can indeed sing without the microphone—she just did.
To sum up the night as a whole? When speaking to Dame Malvina afterwards I said. “I know that tonight I have heard one of the greatest voices in the world. It has been both exhilarating and very humbling. It has been a great night.”
Peter S.
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Post by Karsten on Aug 9, 2008 12:35:33 GMT
Hi Peter, Many thanks for your in-depth report. Hi Drew, I've just seen your third video. To second Martin, many thanks again for sharing these professional and simply fabulous videos. Hi Grant, Thank you for these wonderful pictures from the sound check - what a great opportunity to take part in. I wouldn't have expected such results with ISO 3200, at least with my camera. With you, Steve and Drew on location a full coverage is secured in any case.  Looking forward to the next pictures. Thanks again and all the best, Karsten |
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Post by grant on Aug 9, 2008 12:40:25 GMT
Those members who attended the soundcheck have mentioned that Hayley didn't use a microphone for all or part of it. As she used one for her solo performances in the concert, then surely, it wasn't a "souncheck" in the true sense? Interesting point Roger! But surely a 'soundcheck' is to establish the adequacy of the level of sound relative to a particular venue, whether that be electronically or through vocal mastery. Just a thought. I totally agree Roger, and hope very seriously that the answer to your question is a resounding "yes!"Best wishes Grant |
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Post by Richard on Aug 9, 2008 12:42:13 GMT
When speaking to Dame Malvina afterwards I said. “I know that tonight I have heard one of the greatest voices in the world. It has been both exhilarating and very humbling. It has been a great night.” Hello Peter!  You should have said two, not one. Richard |
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Post by roger on Aug 9, 2008 13:26:41 GMT
Before the altar was the mentor, at the top of her tree in total mastery of her art and the rising young star. Thank you, Peter. The above quote from your report serves as the perfect cue for me to relate a small but significant incident that I observed on the night. Surprisingly, I don’t think it has yet been mentioned. The mentor and the young rising star were standing side by side on the stage. As we now know, this was the first occasional on which they have performed together in public – surely a significant event for each of them. It may come as no surprise that one curtseyed to the other. In the presence of her mentor, that might be exactly the kind of respectful gesture that you might expect from Hayley. But I have deliberately painted an inaccurate picture of the event because Hayley did not curtsey to Dame Malvina – it was the other way around. Dave mentioned afterwards that this may be a customary gesture between two leading performers in the operatic world and that, maybe, Hayley forgot. That may be right but the message that came across to me was far more meaningful. It implied that Dame Malvina was saying to Hayley, “Ya made it kid; you’re the star now”. Roger |
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Post by grant on Aug 9, 2008 13:48:52 GMT
Hi Roger I cannot believe that I forgot that!!  To expand on your observation a little, Dame Malvina would almost certainly have known that Hayley had never performed in concert without a mike before and may even have given that little bit of extra encouragement to persuade Hayley to 'go for it'. Alternatively, Hayley may simply have said "This will be my first time without a mike, I hope it works!" Either way, Dame Malvina's curtsey was a very sincere way of letting everyone see the depth of feeling and respect the great lady has for Hayley. It seems everyone associated with Hayley shares the 'down to earth' nature that we treasure so much. I had a feeling that Dame Malvina wouldn't disappoint in that respect and I have the greatest admiration for her because of it. Best wishes Grant |
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Post by graemek on Aug 9, 2008 13:53:15 GMT
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Post by Paddy on Aug 9, 2008 14:20:41 GMT
Steve H, I've been around a long time and have seen thousands (by now) of photos of Hayley, but I have to say I was stunned beyond all words by your "Hayley in conversation". This is the most striking picture I have ever seen of her. Just like her voice, it stopped me in my tracks! Unbelievably well done! Steve, Graeme and Dave, I agree totally: That photo is pure artistry - that seems to capture Hayley in all her thoughtfullness and natural beauty. 'True Art conceals art' (Ovid). Another 'treasure' is Grant's second photo (in post 153), aptly titled 'Hayley' It too seems to characterise (the real) Hayley. HayleyPaddy Sorry, Grant, for reducing the size. It might be too big to comply with Dave's reminder (a few posts ago) about reposting full size. |
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Looking forward to the next pictures. 
