Buxton Opera House - 22nd August

[grant]

Hello everyone

A few more pictures of Hayley's arrival at Buxton Opera House

Best wishes
Grant

[hammer]

It was good to see you all yesterday .I like the picture Grant ,of Hayley signing my CDs when she arrived .Thank God I am not in the picture ,it would have been a shame to ruin such a lovely shot! Great reports about the concert, and I have to agree it certainly is one of the best I have seen .( I am obviously not in the same league as some of you ,with regards to the number of concerts seen .Yet!) See you at Salisbury .

[dutchjoyce]

Hi,
Thanks to all, for the wonderful reports and pictures.
@ Grant. Always a pleasure to read your detailed report.....I LOVE THAT !!!, and of course your pictures.
@ Karsten, for the first pictures, appearing here, so short after the concert !!!
I realize i have missed something special......but you can't have it all.

Also good to see that Paddy and Eugene were there !!!

Greetz JOYCE

[maryt]

Thanks for all the lovely pictures and reports.
I was actually at the concert.
I did not arrive very early about 1830hrs I think.
Enjoyed the first half very much but I was not feeling very well I had a terrible headace and tummy pain (had taken a pain killer to no avail)so I made the decision to leave at half time because of the drive back.
I was very dissapointed as it is the first time I have seen Hayley in her own concert for quite a while.

Maryxx

[martindn]

Phew, what wonderful reports and photos. Doesn't leave me much to say does it? I was thinking of writing a full report myself, but Grant and the rest of you have saved me the trouble. Time is always limited, so it means I can get to my photos a bit earlier.

But perhaps I can add some personal reminiscences.

Sue and I chose to follow the AA's recommended route to Buxton in the end, which goes through Derby, and I'd forgotten all about the horrors of its ring road, which I think is even more stop/start than Leicester's. As it happens we arrived a bit later that I had hoped, and parked the car in the Pavilion Theatre car park, which is close to the opera house, and on returning from the ticket machine 5 quid poorer saw Mark driving into the car park. That's the second concert in a row where the first HWI member I met was Mark, and we then went together to find the other members. As usual, they were waiting outside the venue, but we had missed Hayley's arrival by about 15 minutes, just as we did at Nottingham.

Others have mentioned the very pleasant meal we had together and the walk around the lovely gardens.

The show too had been well described, and was fantastic. The Opera House is a fantastic venue, really beautiful and ornate especially inside. Sue and I had front row seats, which actually meant looking upwards to see the performs. Sue said it wouldn't be a good place to watch a ballet from, and I think she might have preferred to be a little further back.

Hayley was in brilliant form, I loved her choice of songs, many of my personal favourites, several times I felt water in my eyes. For the fashion fans, there were three dresses, all of which I admit I have seen before, but none the worse for that.

As the show went on Hayley seemed to warm to her task, and really opened up on the final two songs, Both Sides now (I told her afterwards I though that was the finest performance of that song I have ever heard, even topping her own high standards in previous concerts), and of course the real belter, Wuthering Heights. The way she belted that out with such immense power was awesome. At one didn't the backing suddenly seemed to step up a gear in volume, and so did Hayley.

I think Hayley likes the Buxton Opera House. I have seen her perform there twice now, and both were exceptional and memorable performances. I'm sure several of the songs were the best performances that I have ever heard from Hayley (or anyone else, that goes without saying). Like all Hayley concerts, the time went far too quickly. But it seemed her voice sounded stronger and her vocal technique better than ever. I thought it deserved a standing ovation, but for once it didn't happen. Pity.

Hayley had a large crowd to deal with at the stage door, and set about doing so with her usual good humour, I'm sure she enjoys meeting her fans. Lots of signing and photos, and we all got a chance to have a word with her. So i was able to thank her for following me on twitter personally, an also thank her for the wonderful show. I mentioned to her that I had been photographed with her at her last Buxton concert, and never since, and it might be nice to do it again, and Hayley was happy to do so.

Then nothing for it but to drive back home, this time avoiding Derby, which seemed quicker. When I got home there were already reports and photos here, thanks to Karsten and Grant.

All in all, a fabulous evening and one I won't forget. It reminded be of what we have been missing whilst Hayley has been busy recording and hence not doing stage shows. But, it seemed to me that Hayley was determined to make up for lost time by "singing her heart out" as she put it in a tweet afterwards. She certainly did that, and it was wonderful.

Martin D

[Karsten]

Hi,

Many thanks for the reports and pictures posted whilst I was on the way back.

As already mentioned, we've got another remarkable concert - and I don't want to hesitate to add a few further (pictorial) impressions within the next few days in a random order.

And of course I don't want to hesitate to thank all involved in the show: Hayley (both for her great performance as well as for her usual patience before and afterwards), Raven, Andy (in particular for the impressing 'Jolene'), Tim (really a wonderful show for his parents, I suppose , Phil, the staff and in particular the volunteers of the Opera House for the relaxed atmosphere and last but not least our (this time not very) little HWI group.

Well, here are the pictures...

To start with Hayley and Andy - by now sorry for the quality, but with the exception of a few moments the lighting wasn't really favourable

[Karsten]

Raven

[Karsten]

Hayley at the piano - River

[Karsten]

The last moments of the first half

[Karsten]

Last part of the second half - Hayley in her 'summer dress'

[Karsten]

[Karsten]

and joking with Andy and Tim a few minutes before

Bye for now - unfortunately I've to work tomorrow.

Best wishes from Germany,

Karsten

[graemek]

Thanks !!!! everyone for your fabulous pics & reports !!!

I've just raced thru them & downloaded the pics which means I can do them more justice later today.

What a great concert obviously !!!!

Bravo Hayley !!!

Graeme

[grant]

Hello everyone and thank you for the recent photos and reports.

Here are a few from the stage door after the concert - more tomorrow

Best wishes
Grant

[grant]

Hello Mary

Aug 23, 2010 19:11:29 GMT maryt said:

Thanks for all the lovely pictures and reports.
I was actually at the concert.
I did not arrive very early about 1830hrs I think.
Enjoyed the first half very much but I was not feeling very well I had a terrible headace and tummy pain (had taken a pain killer to no avail)so I made the decision to leave at half time because of the drive back.
I was very dissapointed as it is the first time I have seen Hayley in her own concert for quite a while.

Maryxx

Sorry to hear that you were unwell last night and missed part of Hayley's concert.

Hope you are feeling better now.

Best wishes
Grant