Fire and Light CD and tour

[Ross]

It was a full house at the Harbour Light Theatre in Lyttleton tonight. Luckily it wasn't too hot this time.
The concert started with Fiona's niece introducing an eight minute movie on the making of the album , especially working with the Prague Symphony Orchestra.
Fiona appeared in a knee length purple dress with shin length black boots which of course didn't stay on for too long.
Fiona opened with Tangissimo which is on the CD.
The ZooKeeper was next.
Tchavolo Swing was on this years DVD.
Turkish Fantasie is always a crowd favourite.
Far Away
Fiesta Sun is on the new CD and was written in London on a rare sunny day.
The Willow Tree was inspired by a poem sent by her friend Wendy and reminds Fiona of the willows in the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch.
The Piper's Son is inspired by her mothers piano teaching of Bach and has a Baroque style with a celtic flavour.
After the interval Fiona and the new guitarist Tyson Smith came on stage and played Nuages which was also on the DVD.
Of course the next song needed a long introduction Memories of Martin and Mary, by the way they did go back to Ireland this year and found Mary but Martin had gone away.
House By the Harbour is about their house in Lyttleton Harbour.
Whisper Waltz is a fun circus type theme with lots of plucking and percussion.
FireFly
Harbour Light Magic is a new song on the CD about the fond memories of playing at the HarbourLight Theatre.
Cinema Paradiso
Sabre Dance is the theme song of the new CD and is very fast and tiring for Fiona and the band.
The encore was Hava Nagila with everyone clapping along.
After the concert Ian came up to me and shook my hands. It is amazing that they recognize me from February although I did have my HWI sweatshirt and Hayley cap on.
Fiona signed my CD and I said I hoped to get to the Rangiora and Christchurch Cathedral concerts.I haven't listened to the CD yet but here is the tracklisting:-
Tangissimo
Sabre Dance
The Willow Tree
The Piper's Son
Whisper Waltz
Fiesta Sun
House By The Harbour
Turkish Fantasie
Sounds Of Spring
I Found A New Baby
On A Branch
My Song For The Motherland (written while in Scotland)
Harbour Light Magic
Saying Goodbye

[Richard]

Thanks for the report, Ross!

Fiona appeared on One News Breakfast yesterday to promote her new album and tour. There are two videos HERE.

Best wishes from London,

Richard

[Richard]

Fiona has posted the EPK video for her 'Fire and Light' album on her website and at YouTube. I've also found an interesting video of her appearance on the radio show 'Breakfast with Spanky'.

Fire and Light EPK: uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JU_3u179KWY

Breakfast with Spanky: uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HWcgm5nJ5c4

Richard

[Ross]

I have a ticket for the Rangiora concert on 29th Nov which is in the Baptist Church. Rangiora is a farming town just North of Christchurch. I like the new album , especially the songs which has the Prague orchestra in them.

[Richard]

Here's a review of Fiona's concert at Palmerston North, from the Manawatu Standard.

Violinist oozes charm
Manawatu Standard | Monday, 03 November 2008

Fiona Pears in Concert.
Globe Theatre, Saturday.
Reviewed by Stephen Fisher.

In her third concert at the Globe, popular violinist extraordinaire Fiona Pears, now complete with a four-piece backing group, proved to be in better form than ever. She romped through a programme that was a mix of covers and her own works - all much to the delight of the audience.

As her compositions are an evocative musical picture of time and place, each concert becomes a journey - a journey bought to life by her charming commentary which ably demonstrates her sensitivity and sincerity.

However, Saturday night's journey also featured some brilliant musicians on stage, in particular Tyson Smith with some unbelievable beautiful guitar work and Ian Tilley with some great piano work. Together with bass and drums, they provided a very full backing for this superb violinist, and although there was a touch of heavy bass smudging the sound in the early numbers, this was soon rectified.

In spite of her increasing reputation internationally, it is obvious that Fiona Pears enjoys appearing at the Globe. Her sense of enjoyment was shared by the audience, which warmly responded to her marvellous musicianship, her infectious love of her music and her joy in performance.

Indeed an evening to savour, and I am sure we are all looking forward to her return in the near future.

Richard

[Ross]

Rangiora Baptist Church Nov 29th
It was a lovely hot evening in Rangiora. About 250 came to the concert.
There was a support act which was the Woolston Junior Brass Band which played for about half an hour and included some Christmas carols. The age of the players varied from about 7 to 70 who are learning to play their instruments and they did a good job. It wasn't until later that we found out the conductor was Fiona's sister Jill.
Then Fiona rushed onto the stage in bare feet and wearing a white knee length dress with red floral patterns on it. The play list was the same as the other concert I reviewed.
What was different this time was in the interval we had tea or coffee and a huge slice of cake. ( I had a lovely Banana cake). Fiona's sister Jill had spent the night before the concert baking 14 cakes. In fact the concert was a family affair with Fiona's Dad organizing the venue and doing door sales. Jill did the catering as well as Fiona's mum plus some nephews served as well.
After the concert I thanked Ian and Fiona for a great concert and a great CD. I got a hug from Fiona.Hopefully I will see them again in March when they play in the Cathedral.

[Richard]

Hello folks!

There are now press reviews of Fiona's 'Fire and Light' CD and her concert at Wanganui Opera House on her website:-

www.fionapears.com/press.htm

Richard

[Ross]

Asburton Art Gallery 1 Feb 2009

First of I have some very good news that was announced at the start of the concert.
While Ian and Fiona were on an evening walk on the New Brighton Beach in Christchurch a couple of days ago, Ian proposed to Fiona and Fiona said YES (She wondered why it had taken this long lol). At the end of the concert I congratulated Ian and later to Fiona. Ian said that he spoke to Fiona's Father and to Gerald (Hayley's father) beforehand. It was perfect timing as Ian's mother is here in Christchurch at the moment. They hope the wedding will be in NZ in Dec or Jan (so I guess where Hayley will be then).
So that started the concert in a good mood.
I was lucky I went to the gallery 2.5 hours before the concert as there were only 4 tickets left. The staff though did add more seats so everyone got in (about 100-130). We were in a large gallery with art on the walls to keep us occupied before the concert started at 4.30pm.
The band had shrunk to a trio for this concert with Fiona, Ian on the keyboard and Peter Fleming on the Double Bass. Fiona appeared in a lovely dress with a lot of thrills at the bottom. See the following article to see what colour it is. She did start with shoes but they disappeared at the interval.Here is the songlist (not in actual order as my memory isn't as good the next day and I might even have missed some songs):-
Tangissimo
Bolero
Fire Fly (not too sure if this was in the concert)
Turkish Fantasy
The Pipers Son
The Willow tree
Whisper Waltz
House by the harbour
Gypsy Lament
I found a new baby
Cinema Paradiso
Tchavolo Swing
Memories Of Martin and Mary (Of Course)
Limehouse Blues (Reinhart song she hasn't played for a long time)
Sabre Dance (This is a high energy song and the threesome had to work hard on it)
For the encore they did Dark Eyes (Otchi Tchornya)

They received a standing ovation which was well deserved.
After the concert I saw one of my old school teachers (I come from Ashburton) he is also a Hayley fan and like me had first seen Fiona at a Hayley concert - probably the Odyssey concert).
I then went to my parents place for the night.
Here is todays article about the concert in The Ashburton Guardian:-

[roger]

Hi Ross,

Thanks very much for the report. It sounds like a great concert and I'm glad you had a good time.

Thanks also for relaying the news of their engagement. I have sent them both a brief congratulatory message on behalf of everyone at HWI.

Roger

[comet]

Oh I am pleased for Fiona and Ian and wish them all the happiness and joy in the world, congratulations to them both.

Thanks Ross, for the concert reports, I have been playing Fiona's CDs here quite regularly since seeing Fiona and Ian in Belfast and Derry last year..

[grant]

Thanks for the concert report Ross, sounds like a nice intimate evening for everyone. I'm also delighted to hear of Fiona and Ian's engagement, they're a great couple and I'm very happy for them.

Thanks Roger for sending a congratulatory message to them on behalf of HWI, I know they will appreciate it.

Best wishes
Grant

[Richard]

Thanks for the report and the good news, Ross!

Congratulations Fiona and Ian!

Richard

[roger]

I called my email to Ian and Fiona "News travels fast!". Here is Ian's response:

Hi Roger,

Yes news does travel fast! Thanks so much for the lovely email. Fiona and I are still in a bit of shock to be honest but we’re both very happy! Please send our best wishes to everyone and we will of course send you a photo from the big day.

Best wishes,

Ian

Roger

[Martin]

Thanks Ross for this great news and Roger for the prompt congratulatory email.

I can see the future concert programmes now:

" Mr & Mrs Ian Tilley on piano and violin".............

Martin

[postscript]

Feb 2, 2009 9:54:02 GMT grant said:

Thanks for the concert report Ross, sounds like a nice intimate evening for everyone. I'm also delighted to hear of Fiona and Ian's engagement, they're a great couple and I'm very happy for them.

Thanks Roger for sending a congratulatory message to them on behalf of HWI, I know they will appreciate it.

Best wishes
Grant

Here here, Grant/Roger.

I am very pleased for both of them and wish them well. Someone posted, 'what took so long?' here here. I recall having had a post deleted by the Mods (quite properly) because I was so far ahead of them from general observance that they themselves hadn't yet realised they had a relationship!
Peter S