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Post by graemek on Feb 10, 2009 0:28:37 GMT
And Dilog, thanks so much for your extremely interesting article including the stagecraft detail !!! I had no idea what was meant by your dress quotes but was awed by your instant recognition of (I suppose) the designer. Hexagon Theatre Sunday 8th February 2009Jonathan's voice arrives closely followed by the rest of him on stage, grey suite, white shirt, red tie and very nice black patent shoes. Hayley joins him on stage wearing a short read halter neck dress. a tad fussy for my liking but with fabulous high silver sparkly open toed shoes, her hair is straightened with the front section clipped back. Thought JA would have looked even better with his red shirt open necked to complement HW’s dress.
....... HW comes on in a short black and sapphire Jacquard silk dress to sing a number of solos and is joined by JA in his dinner suit and black tie to sing How Many Stars from Bombay Dreams. JA gives us the translation to Se which is gorgeous before he sings it, followed by Canta Della Terra and the surprise To Where You Are – not a dry eye in the place. HW comes back wearing her long black and gold gown (think the long dresses suit her best) and they end with Amigos Para Siempre – which is truly superlative and I still don’t know why they did not sing this at the ALW party in the park. As an encore they sang the perfect song, Time To Say Goodbye and received a sporadic standing ovation.
..... individually they have exceptional voices but together they really are magical could even be unique – so hope they manage to record an album together and get some songs written for them to complement those they already have. If they are going to do more together they need to work on the visual image as that too could and should be as unique as the combined voices. Graeme 
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Post by comet on Feb 10, 2009 1:59:37 GMT
BIG THANKS Grant
Keep 'em comin'
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Post by postscript on Feb 10, 2009 8:22:42 GMT
This is the first concert I have been to with either Hayley or Jonathan and I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it...to me both their voices were absolutely amazing and their duets were incredible, my favourite being Amigos Para Siempre which they sang at the end before their encore, which was a stunning version of Time to Say Goodbye- which was also incredible despite Jonathan stumbling a little on some of the words but he recovered very well. I loved all of Jonathan's solos too, the only thing was that it seemed that Hayley did more than him. All of her solos were breathtaking too- her voice really is magical to me..my two favourites were overall (a very difficult choice though) were Pokarekare Ana and I Know You By Heart which is actually my favourite Eva Cassidy song. I loved it, she sang it so well- I really hope she records this one soon!! will post more later (hopefully) ...Sing x Delighted you are so Hayleywowed. You have clearly been properly introduced to this forum! :2fun: Clearly she has not lost any of her magic. I'm sorry to hear Jon's grasp of words still eludes him. It must be very irritating for Hayley. She is a perfectionist par excellence and to her it would be falling down on the job. While his fans may regard it as a characteristic endearment it must drive her up the wall. Peter S. |
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Post by Richard on Feb 10, 2009 9:03:17 GMT
Thanks for your fantastic reviews, Di and Grant!  While we wait patiently for the photographs, I'll post the link to Jonathan's forum where there are more reports: jonathanansell.forums.umusic.co.uk/t/2200.aspxThanks to Willowy for posting the link to this thread on Jonathan's forum.  Best Wishes, Richard  |
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Post by postscript on Feb 10, 2009 9:03:35 GMT
A very good description Di, so good that I feel I can entirely endorse what you say without actually being there. Hopefully someone on their team will read this and ensure something is done for the Palladium.
This is a very interesting comment. Many of us do not feel that Hayley solo shows fit well with audience participation. Her audience and by your comment is the implication that Jon's supporters don't want participation either. I have responded in nthe past once I've got the feeling the 'rest of the audience' isn't giving Hayley the response she expects or wants but one has to be careful not to presume to thrust oneself. I have no problem with audience participation in a pantomime situation but I believe that the majority of her/their audience absorbs themselves deeply in the artists and their presentation and don't want to unsettle that uniformity of performance.
In the light of your overall impression may I suggest the change of 'stodgy' to 'slow'? As yet I have no idea what a Jon solo audience is like but slow is the nature of Hayley's, which is why I am the one that most often gives her the response she wants, which echoes my earlier comment about this not being the type of show (primarily because of the excellence of the artists) for audience participation. Slowness does not indicate a lack of participation but is perhaps an indicator of the audience's total absorption in artist and their presentation.
Here we have the advantage of a woman describing her dresses. I agree that I prefer her in a long gown.
Di, I apologise if I have missed earlier reports from you but this is one of the best critiques we have ever had. Although 'new' in the sense of few posts to date in my opinion you are a very ably productive participant amongst us. Superb presentation. Thank you for your time and effort.
Peter S.
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Post by postscript on Feb 10, 2009 9:12:30 GMT
As usual, Grant, a superb report. Thank you.
Peter S.
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Post by postscript on Feb 10, 2009 9:22:20 GMT
Well done, Grant, superb close-ups as usual. Remind me, the camera you are now using, please?
Peter S.
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Post by graemek on Feb 10, 2009 9:31:03 GMT
Hi All, Another gem from Marian the one they call Madwoman.
Hayley's lovely "Songbird".....Marian, youre a marvel !!!! Songbird Reading
Graeme |
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Post by natalie on Feb 10, 2009 9:35:57 GMT
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Post by graemek on Feb 10, 2009 10:02:50 GMT
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Post by Mark on Feb 10, 2009 10:23:36 GMT
Hi everyone
Thanks to Martin, Di, Sing & Grant for your reports. Oh I can't wait for tomorrow now - its seems such a long while since seeing Hayley last.
Great accounts all of you of Sundays concert. Thanks Grant for the warning on the performance part of your report - I didnt read it so It will be fresh for me tomorrow.
I am looking forward to being able to post my report of the Oxford concert on Thursday.
Best wishes
Mark
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Post by grant on Feb 10, 2009 11:55:07 GMT
Hi Peter Well done, Grant, superb close-ups as usual. Remind me, the camera you are now using, please? Peter S. I normally use a Canon 40D but at Reading I was using my old 300D which is less bulky. It was playing up on Sunday so I might just pention it off for good now!  Best wishes Grant |
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
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Post by Martin on Feb 10, 2009 14:22:16 GMT
The video from "madwoman" shows off the colour of the red dress much better than the photos. But how, sat in the middle of the front row , did she get away with filming the concert with the camera police close by ? Perhaps the camcorder was tactfully concealed?  Martin |
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Post by grant on Feb 10, 2009 14:40:45 GMT
Hello everyone Here are the first pictures from the post concert meeting with Hayley at the stage door. Sorry to have kept you waiting but unfortunately, I've had some 'non Hayley' things to take care of! Best wishes Grant |
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Post by Tin on Feb 10, 2009 15:10:57 GMT
Great, it's been some time since I last saw any photos of Hayley taken by HWI members. She looks as alive and charming as before! Thanks grant Tin |
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