London Palladium - Valentines Tour - 15 Feb 2009

[Steve H]

Steve H

[Martin]

Nice one Steve - Hayley singing "Never Saw Blue" (if only she had looked behind!)

Martin

[Richard]

Next time I'll take a mirror! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Richard

[Steve H]

More from Hayley's first session, don't worry all you Jonathan fans, there's plenty more for you later!

Steve H

[Karsten]

Many thanks for the reports and to Steve and Dave for the photos. Good to see that the camera police wasn't as strict as at Oxford and to hear that the concert was perhaps even better.

Dave, you had obviously no problems to assemble your SLR in the dark.

Thanks again and all the best,

Karsten

[Steve H]

Steve H

[Steve H]

... and a couple of Raven to finish this session.

Steve H [/size]

[jonfan]

Thank you Steve for your fantastic photographs, they really are spectacular,
Jonfan

[Steve H]

Thanks jonfan, I have plenty to post yet!

Steve H

[Steve H]

This is where Jonathan tells Hayley he is going to carry her off!

Steve H [/size]

[Steve H]

Kirsty from Raven





Natalie from Raven

Steve H [/size]

[david]

Hi all,

Many thanks Steve for your excellent photos, and to everyone who has posted reports on the evening, I'm glad you all had such a wonderful time there! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best wishes

David

[marian]

Hello, I am Marian also known as Madwoman over on Jonathan’s site. I thought I’d just pop over and tell you my thoughts of the tour in general and more specifically of last night at the Palladium.

But firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to say what a pleasure it has been meeting so many of you are the various venues along the way. Sharing stories and information have only added to a brilliant time had by all.

I first saw Hayley a couple of years back when she was on stage with Il Divo at Wembley. Admittedly, I initially went to see Il Divo, only ever having heard briefly of Hayley but I left enjoying Hayley far more than Il Divo! I thought she was a sweet girl with a very pleasant voice.

But a last year, after hearing her first duet with Jonathan on his album, it was obvious there was a chemistry between them. Giorno Per Noi is just brilliant and the performance they gave at the Classical Brits, which I had the pleasure of attending , was awesome but I don’t think I need to tell you guys that! Lol
I and Chelle Belle were also present when the two of them were appearing on Ready Steady Cook last spring and that is where we met Hayley for the first time. I could see then why she and Jonathan get on so well. They are very similar in character and outlook. Both very grounded and non assuming and their generosity with their time spent with us, their fans. Because of that, our loyalty will not waver. They are also fun loving people and it shows on and off stage.

I was able to catch up with Hayley and Jonathan again after seeing them both at the Don Black Tribute night and Amigos Para Siempre just blew me away along with most of the audience. I think it was then that a lot of us were starting to hope of more appearances from them together, maybe even a tour so I was extremely pleased to hear about the Valentine’s tour towards the end of last year.

I do like to get to see Jonathan as much as I can and so this time it would be no different and booked up for 7 of the nine shows.

Due to the poor weather, sadly I was unable to make the opening night at Rhyl but from all the reports I read I knew I was going to love the show. Luckily I had only to wait two days before my first time at Reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed it although, like any tour it gets better and develops night after night. It was the first time in a few years that I had heard Hayley sing on her own and I was riveted once again. My, how her voice has developed since then! She has become a very attractive and fun loving young woman too. She looked stunning in all of her outfits which I thought suited her and the occasion down to the ground. It was also lovely to see that she and Jonathan had coordinated their attire.

The choice of songs were a good mixture and I liked the fact they changed and swapped who was singing next interspersed with the duets so everyone was kept happy and wanting more. I did think at this show that Hayley had the majority of the solos so for me it was a little unbalanced, especially in the first half.

Raven was a wonderful bonus! Never heard of them before this tour, I am now an avid fan and have purchased their CD . Their arrangements of some of the most popular tunes were amazing and they are also great to watch.

My concerns from Reading were dispelled the very next night at Lowestfoft. After struggling with the atrocious weather, I was rewarded with the best show of the tour so far (no w being topped by last night!) Jonathan added the other song that was needed and there was something special about the whole night. Both Jonathan and Hayley seemed to enjoy this one a lot more, maybe because it was a sell out and also because it is one of the smallest venues of the tour.

It was a very intimate affair and there was a sparkle about them. Their voices sounded really well blended and balanced. This being the third show they were becoming more comfortable with each other on stage and it was wonderful to see.

Luckily for all the Jonathan fans, he decided to keep in the added song and they just got better and better throughout the week. I went to Oxford and then Bristol before ending up last night, very tired mind, at the London Palladium.

By now, not only am I saying hello to all my friends from the JA site but also saying hello again to many of you. It is wonderful to turn up at the stage doors to be greeted by a load of smiling faces and to renew acquaintances.

I think we all knew this was going to be a special night. Sunday Night at the Palladium doesn’t come more prestigious than this! I was in the second row and had a wonderful view of the stage. The acoustics of this venue are wonderful and it didn’t disappoint last night.

Each and every song sung by Jonathan and Hayley were at their best. I could go on for hours and hours about Jonathan last night but I must not put Hayley to the side as if it wasn’t for her, the duets would have been a disappointment. They both raised their game and it was magical. Not many other performers make me take my eyes off Jonathan when he is on stage but I was also glued to Hayley’s face as she tells a story with expressions on her face and not just in her voice. Jonathan is the same and that is why this professional teaming up has worked so well.

Hayley’s solos were also breathtaking. Never a note wrong and she is another one who seems to make it all look so easy and effortless.

For me the highlights of the show were Hayley’s “I Know You By Heart,” Jonathan’s “Canto Della Terra” and “Amigos Para Siempre” for best duet. Saying that, I am not taking anything away from any of the other songs, not one of them I would have thrown out of the show.

I really didn’t want the night to end.

I think Raven were also there at the top and pulled off their best performance so far, a lovely group of girls with huge talent. I would love to see them go far.

As for Jonathan and Hayley, they triumphed last night and I can only hope, when their solo schedules allow, that they will be able to do more along these lines in the future and maybe take it down to New Zealand and beyond. An album together wouldn’t do amiss either! Lol

To wrap up my ramblings as I have probably bored you enough, I want to say thank you Hayley fans for sharing so much with us, you are legends. You have some brilliant photographers amongst you, the photos I have seen on this thread alone are amazing!! Thank you so much.

I hope to see some of you at the last night in Dartford

One last thing before I leave you in peace! I would like to buy one of Hayley’s albums and I was wondering which one you would recommend for my first one. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I would like to buy them all but budget restricts!! lol

[Steve H]

Thanks David, this is probably the last set for tonight, plenty more for tomorrow though!

Here are some photo's of Jonathan with Natalie and with a member of his own forum. If any members of Jon's forum recognise the young lady please advise her that if she wants the high resolution masters she can PM me for them here.

I thought i would end with this great gesture from Hayley!

Steve H [/size]

[grant]

To The Concert

To kill time after we’d eaten, Richard led us a merry dance around Carnaby Street until we eventually ended up back at the stage door to find Roger had arrived. As the time to the concert drew ever closer, we made our way round to the Palladium main entrance, waving to Steve Abbott’s party in an adjacent restaurant as we did so.

The doors are still closed and, as we waited on the pavement for them to open, the expectant buzz grew louder as more people joined. Eventually a young chap in a red frock coat and white dickey-bow came and stood at the top of the steps, politely shouting instructions about what we should do when we are eventually allowed inside.

Once again there is a very well stocked sales stall – this one also has four copies of Hayley's DVD which caused me to remark that I didn’t think that I had ever seen more than a couple on sale at any one time anywhere before. As the bar area began to fill up, Roger recognised Nicola and she came over with her friend to chat. “Hi Nicola, it was good to meet you at last!” Tony and his wife Anne joined the group as did George and his ‘family’. I also spotted ‘Empire lady’, Kay I believe her name is, who I sat next to at Bradford and we exchanged waves.

At last the auditorium doors are opened and we made our way in. This is my first visit to the London Palladium and I am very impressed. The auditorium is magnificent and the seats seem more comfortable than any of the recent venues. My only complaint is that I am not over impressed with Seetickets through whom I booked and I’ve ended up with B5 which is way over on stage left pretty much adjacent to the side wall of the stage. However, the saving grace is that the stage is high and set fairly well back beyond the orchestra pit so my view won’t be quite as side on as I’d expected.

Eventually the lights went down and the musicians appeared on stage. Now, several people at HWI and over on Jon’s forum have felt that the previous concerts would have benefitted by having a more ‘Valentine’ feel in the décor and I agree entirely. It was clear from the outset that tonight’s concert would address much of that concern, largely due to the splendid lighting effects.

I won’t go into detail as Peter has already covered most of the technical aspects in his earlier posts so I will limit myself to my own observations, this being my third ‘Valentine’ concert and I would certainly rate it as the best. That is, in part, due to the lighting, the candles and the theatre’s acoustics but in the main, down to the performers.

I knew from earlier experience that I enjoyed Hayley and Jonathan dueting together, and had been totally blown away at the Classical Brits last year, so I would have to book for one of the concerts. In fact I booked for three and I am so glad that I did.

I’ve already said that I think live duets bring out a dimension in Hayley that is new, very refreshing and very powerful but at the first concert I sort of shut off whilst Jonathan sang solo – I’m generally not a great fan of the male voice anyway, but I have to admit that Jon has grown on me and last night I found myself concentrating on his solo’s to a far greater extent than I had previously.

At one point, I think it was during “Cassa della Terra”, he came and stood for a time on the narrow walkway in front of the orchestra pit, only a few inches from my seat and I was mightily impressed by the effort that went into that performance – it was clear that he had put everything and more into it and actually looked quite drained.

I should perhaps add at this point that the seat next to Martin on the front row and at the end of the centre block had remained empty during the first half, so I moved over for a better view.

The set list remained unchanged from Bradford and, like many who have commented so far, “I Know You By Heart” remains my Hayley favourite. I find the sentiment behind the song very moving and cannot get the words out of my head, I think it’s the way the title line of the song is sung – almost trailing away as if it’s intended to be a thought rather than spoken or sung. As an aside, I made sure at Bradford that Hayley knew that I, at least, felt that she had indeed done it justice.

The only other change of any significance that I noticed was after “How Many Stars” when Jon carries Hayley off. This time, rather than argue about who’s turn it was for solo’s, Hayley pleaded to be allowed to stay on stage because “They’re such a lovely audience” all to no avail and once again Hayley left the stage perched on Jon’s shoulder!

My overall favourite of the concert? No contest! It has to be “Amigos Para Siempre”. There is so much passion in this duet and there is nothing spared in the performance, Hayley and Jonathan giving almost everything they have. I say that because they’re even able to turn it up for the all to short (for us but, I suspect, not for them) reprise.

Tonight, the ovation remained standing throughout the reprise which was nice and I think appreciated. Jon seemed quite emotional at one point towards the end and dedicated one song to his fiancé who was in the audience.

There were several celebrities in the audience, Hayley mentioning Debbie Wiseman and Don Black during her chatter with the audience. There is also an after show party and no one seems to know how long it will go on for. Sadly it looks as though this may be one occasion that we will not get to say hello to Hayley after the show. Disappointing, and probably the first time since “Toast New Zealand in July 2006, but now I’m feeling very pleased that I made it back to town in time to at least say hello this afternoon!

Best wishes
Grant