Salisbury Cathedral - 23 Oct 2009

[Richard]

Thanks for the photographs, Paddy!

Hayley looks absolutely stunning, and that blue dress could be my new all-time favourite already.

Now I'm really getting excited. Guess where I'm going later today... i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Richard

[Martin]

Hi All
Last night's concert was a very poignant and humbling evening in support of the Armed Forces charities and Hayley reflected this entirely in her performance and continual support.

I will write a full report tomorrow (have to get ready now for the Alban arena) but here are a few photos from the evening and the soundcheck:


The Royal Artillery Band in rehearsal


The wonderful stained glass windows overlooking the stage together with six trumpeteers, also in rehearsal


Hayley poised ready to rehearse "Ava Maria"

[Martin]

A bit cool when Hayley first arrived!

[Martin]

Total concentration from Kirsy and Rachael (again in the soundcheck)

[Martin]

Hayley was only too pleased to pose for us (the lady on the left was the concert organiser)



Hayley and new road manager (Jean Marco)

[Jillian]

Thanks for the great photos! Must have been cold at the beginning if Hayley was wearing a jumper AND a scarf AND that big leather/sheepskin jacket! (But the camera man is wearing a short sleeved cotton shirt???)

The 'Ave Maria' shot is particularly nice. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[grant]

Thank you Paddy and Martin for the pictures and initial report.

I don't know Hayley's "driver" either. He was tour manager for Dudley and that was the first time I had seen him. If he's with Hayley today we'll have to find out

I also like the new dress!

Best wishes
Grant

[Mark]

Hi Martin, Paddy

Thanks for the photos - I just love the dress - its a colour I dont think I have seen her in before and it really suits her.

It was good too that you managed to get in to see the soundcheck, always a special treat. It sounds like you had a very enjoyable evening. Looking forward to the full reports.

Best wishes
Mark

[Martin]

Oct 24, 2009 9:05:41 GMT grant said:

I don't know Hayley's "https://i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifriver" either. He was tour manager for Dudley and that was the first time I had seen him. Grant

Hi Grant
Yes, he will be at the Alban arena today and all the Winter Magic tour concerts. (Dave is busy).

Martin

[martindn]

Thanks for the photos and reports Paddy and Martin. I'm look forward to tonight at St Albans.

Martin

[Jeff]

Yesterday did not go according to plan. Things started to go awry at Southampton Central where my connecting train to Salisbury had broken down. The internet timetable's assertion that there was another one at 13.53 was news to the station staff. (First Great Western: Neither first nor great.) Eventually I got the Cardiff train and by around 3pm found myself at the west door of St Mary's Cathedral where Martin pointed out I looked a little lost and confused! He had already sneaked a peek at the band's sheet music and found Hayley was to perform 4 songs. Since she had not yet arrived I wandered round the magnificent Gothic building (built 1220-1258) which is well worth a visit on itself. It has stunning stained glass windows, as many as there are days in the year and the spire at 404 feet is the highest in the country and was added 100 years later.

Hayley arrived just before 4pm but I didn't pick her out straight away.Her brown leather coat and brown jeans meant she blended in with the surroundings! After a 20 minute soundcheck with Raven, Martin and I introduced ourselves. "Hi Jeff! Nice to meet you again !" Hayley said as we shook hands. I was so amazed she remembered my name after 7 months I couldn't think of what to say next but instinctively pointed to my poppy and she thanked me for wearing it. (REMEMBER TONIGHT GUYS. POPPIES TO THE FORE AT ST ALBANS !) I was struck again just how slightly built she is ( not always evident when she wears her gowns), a slip of a lass really which makes it all the more remarkable how such an amazing voice comes from such a small frame. She then did an interview with vision-news.tv but I haven't had time to check if it is yet up on their website.

Salisbury, a city of rivers and spires is a bit like Oxford so while Martin went in search of Paddy, I took a walk round Mill Road and the beautiful watermeadows, then to Stoby's Fish Restaurant in Fish Row (where else?!) where I enjoyed a hearty extra large cod and chips, bread and butter and mug of tea all for an impressive £7.50. (I promised the waitress a plug!)

I returned to the cathedral for 6.45pm to be met by a squaddie who asked "VIP, sir?" "No," I replied, "just an ordinary bloke." "Like me then" he said, pointing me in the direction of the growing queue at the north door. Although the cathedral was well illuminated, the grounds were dark and some people resorted to torches. Luckily the rain showers of earlier relented.

The concert was delayed for nearly 15 minutes while the VIPs retuned from their champagne reception, which was to have unfortunate consequences for me later on. A silence was observed before the National Anthem to remember those in danger or in need of healing. The compere was Richard Allinson(of Radio2 fame) who pointed out the spire in fact leans 21 inches to the west and 17 ins to the south but it's stood for 750 years so we should be safe !!

The Royal Artillery Band was formed in 1762 making it the oldest orchestra in Britain and they began with the Duke of Cambridge's March by Malcolm Arnold then the Festive Overture by Shostakovich. Then on came Raven who gave a sparkling performance of Ravels' Bolero although I do find this piece a tad repetitive. Much more to my taste was Gabriel's Oboe by Morricone or more like Gabriel's Cello ! There is a vocal version of this (Nella Fantasia) and I wish Hayley would do it. However she emerged to loud applause in a stunning turquoise dress (which I don't think we've seen before) to perform Hine e Hine. Caccini's Ave Maria followed which Hayley explained is her favourite version. It struck me how much better the accoustics were for Hayley's voice than the band. The Posthorn Gallop by Koenig was the band's most popular item with the audience as 2 players in the gallery were answered by 2 on the stage.

The 20 minute interval stretched to 30 minutes due to long queues in the rain for toilets. With the second half starting at 9.10pm I feared I would have to leave early to get my train to avoid disturbing other concert goers. I moved to the south transcept where I sat by the door and observed proceedings on the big screen. This brought the unexpected if draughty benefit of seeing close at hand the artists as they made their way out of the door and along the cloister to the stage. The clip-clop of stiletto heels on stone floor signified Raven on their way to perform their fantasy on the Godfather theme. Unlike in Bournemouth this time the audience did clap in the right place. I was particularly amused to see next time the girls went by they had removed their footwear to ensure silent passage. "I bet that floor is cold!" I said to Natalie as she tiptoed by in her bare feet. She giggled: "No, it's warm !" I think she was joking.

You've probably gathered by now that after Hayley had sung her show-stopping signature piece Pokarekare Ana my mind had started to wander. Although the band played a long medley including the Battle of Britain march and Royal Blue and a lone piper marched the length of the aisle to the tune of The Thistle, Hayley and Raven's share of the evening was far less than the band who took the lion's share as I had expected. Around 10pm a woman from the ABF charity started what looked to be a long speech thanking everyone and asking for donations which is fair enough but it did make the concert even longer and it must have ended around 10.30pm, well past its scheduled 9.45pm finish, some 3 hours since people had first sat down, a long time on wooden seats with no cushions in a cool and draughty cathedral. People sat in their coats, Hayley had a cardigan round her shoulders. The band played Holst's Jupiter and Hayley brought the evening to a rousing climax with Amazing Grace. At least I assume she did. I left at 10.05pm to get my train.

[Paddy]

Hayley - From a distance:

[Paddy]

A Real Scottish Piper - from Edinburgh

[Joe]

Hello Martin,

Thanks for sharing your photos! I like pic of the stained glass windows and seven? trumpeteers

Hello Jeff...

Wonderful review! Sounded a bit dodgy at Southampton Central. Glad you made it to Salisbury at last to enjoy a lovely evening!!

Cheers to you both for a great job,
Joe

[comet]

Oct 24, 2009 4:56:47 GMT Libby said:

Ooh, such a pretty blue dress! I love the design of the blue jewels! Could this be one she got in the shops in Japan? It seems a bit chilly for that dress, but then, we rarely see Hayley perform in a very warm dress, anyway!

I would have thought the girls would be sharper on colour

TURQUOISE