Post by Martin on Nov 30, 2009 11:37:05 GMT
Hi All
A bit belated but I just want to add a few more comments on the Banbury concert.
The diary of events on Saturday has been more than adequately covered by Grant, Mark and Ben so I’ll skip all the detail other than to say that when the barman knocked my full glass of lager beer over my newly delivered dinner it gave a whole new meaning to the name of the dish that I had chosen; namely “Beef and Ale Pie”!
It’s too easy to use superlatives when attending one of Hayley’s concerts but in this instance every one would be justified. It was obvious that the experience of the three previous concerts had paid dividends because the performance was slick and highly entertaining. Apart from a couple of sound balance gremlins (thought no fault of the engineer since the acoustics in the church were rather challenging), this concert was in Grant’s words the best I have ever attended.
There is something “haunting”, yet exciting about Christmas music and without question the more traditional carols such as Veni Veni Emmanuel really give Hayley the opportunity to project the full quality and power of her voice. The highlight for me was “O Holy Night” which I was first introduced to on the video from the Christmas Presence concert in Cardiff a few years ago. And in the same way that Nicola was emotionally drained by Hayley singing “I know you by heart”, I too was by this carol. Hayley really nailed this one and my emotions not only soared but also somersaulted backwards! What a pity it wasn’t included on the album.
I thought the three choirs were delightful and when I asked Tim Evans afterwards if it was difficult working with a different school choir each time he said in his inimitable modest manner “Not at all”!
I mustn’t forget to congratulate Raven on their probably best performance to date and they revelled in the warm applause they received. I have to agree with Nicola though from a personal perspective that the arrangement of the “Godfather” has now run it’s course but I mustn’t forget that probably at least 95% of the audience at a Hayley concert is hearing it for the first time.
Hayley and Raven must be thanked for their last minute change in plans and have a signing because having performed four concerts in six days, travelling to each from London, and knowing that the next one was on the following day, they were all quite tired. It just goes to show that not only were they repaying the marvellous audience, they were also still high on that magical show business “buzz” that a performer gets after a great evening.
This was a concert that I never wanted to end and I went home knowing that I had witnessed a unique event (well at least until my next one in Exeter! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif)
Martin
ps Well done Hannah from Bedlam who manned the merchandise stall during the interval and after concert. It looked hightly successful.
A bit belated but I just want to add a few more comments on the Banbury concert.
The diary of events on Saturday has been more than adequately covered by Grant, Mark and Ben so I’ll skip all the detail other than to say that when the barman knocked my full glass of lager beer over my newly delivered dinner it gave a whole new meaning to the name of the dish that I had chosen; namely “Beef and Ale Pie”!
It’s too easy to use superlatives when attending one of Hayley’s concerts but in this instance every one would be justified. It was obvious that the experience of the three previous concerts had paid dividends because the performance was slick and highly entertaining. Apart from a couple of sound balance gremlins (thought no fault of the engineer since the acoustics in the church were rather challenging), this concert was in Grant’s words the best I have ever attended.
There is something “haunting”, yet exciting about Christmas music and without question the more traditional carols such as Veni Veni Emmanuel really give Hayley the opportunity to project the full quality and power of her voice. The highlight for me was “O Holy Night” which I was first introduced to on the video from the Christmas Presence concert in Cardiff a few years ago. And in the same way that Nicola was emotionally drained by Hayley singing “I know you by heart”, I too was by this carol. Hayley really nailed this one and my emotions not only soared but also somersaulted backwards! What a pity it wasn’t included on the album.
I thought the three choirs were delightful and when I asked Tim Evans afterwards if it was difficult working with a different school choir each time he said in his inimitable modest manner “Not at all”!
I mustn’t forget to congratulate Raven on their probably best performance to date and they revelled in the warm applause they received. I have to agree with Nicola though from a personal perspective that the arrangement of the “Godfather” has now run it’s course but I mustn’t forget that probably at least 95% of the audience at a Hayley concert is hearing it for the first time.
Hayley and Raven must be thanked for their last minute change in plans and have a signing because having performed four concerts in six days, travelling to each from London, and knowing that the next one was on the following day, they were all quite tired. It just goes to show that not only were they repaying the marvellous audience, they were also still high on that magical show business “buzz” that a performer gets after a great evening.
This was a concert that I never wanted to end and I went home knowing that I had witnessed a unique event (well at least until my next one in Exeter! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif)
Martin
ps Well done Hannah from Bedlam who manned the merchandise stall during the interval and after concert. It looked hightly successful.