Friday Night is Music Night - 21 Sep 2007

[Stephany]

Hi everyone,

I hope you all have a smashing time at this concert.
Of course I look forward to reading your reports and seeing your pictures

Best wishes from Paris Manchester
Stephany i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[chrisw]

Hey all,

Just got home, and I have to say that it was a great night. As usual, it was good to see Steve, Stuart, Caite, Roger, Mark, Martin, Grant, Richard, James, Dave and whomever else I've managed to forget..

I'm sure that someone will post a review sooner or later, and that Steve, Stuart and Dave will have some pics from the night for everyone. Needless to say, listen to BBC2 on Friday evening - you're in for a real treat!

G'night all..

[drew]

chrisw said:

Hey all,

Just got home, and I have to say that it was a great night. As usual, it was good to see Steve, Stuart, Caite, Roger, Mark, Martin, Grant, Richard, James, Dave and whomever else I've managed to forget..

G'night all..

and Drew, that makes eleven twelve for HWI.

Thank you Stephany for finding this event.

All that I can say is: "I feel pretty".

PS. We also saw Steve and Hayley. Once again, Hayley kept the taxi waiting, just for HWI. Thanks for your excellent response Chris. It is good to have memories so quickly.

PPS. Sorry Marianne, it wasn't Vittorio, but young Tony did try hard. Somehow he lacked the Mediterranean passion.

[Joe]

Hello Chris and Drew,

Thanks for your prompt posts after the performance. Great photos Chris...I am looking forward to everyone's reports and additional photos!

I'll try to listen to BBC2...only the reception isn't so good in the USA! Just kidding. The programme airs from 7:00 to 10:00 BST.

Here is BBC2's West Side Story page for Friday night...
www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/musicclub/events_westsidestory.shtml

Hayley's bit...
19.30-21.15
Paul Gambaccini presents a special edition of the show celebrating the works of Leonard Bernstein and the 50th anniversary of West Side Story, with guests Hayley Westenra, Michael Xavier, Jacinta Whyte and Jon-Paul Hevey with Capital Voices. Recorded at London's Mermaid Theatre, Martin Yates conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Joe

[Dori]

Great photos!! That dress again!

Dori

[Stephany]

Thanks Chris & Drew for the pics and reports.

I look forward to hearing a more detailled review (Grant, are you home yet? ) and seeing other pictures, especially from Dave and the Hayters of course!

Lovely to hear that you all had a great time at the Mermaids Theatre. What did Hayley sing by the way?

Best wishes,
Stephany

[chrisw]

Thanks everyone The shots weren't too bad for a very small camera that was sitting on my lap and being sneaky

drew, oops.. sorry mate, but we had twelve people there which isn't bad for a weeknight!

I have to say that I really wasn't sure what to expect, for a variety of reasons, as it was the first time I'd been to such a venue, but I found it to be a highly stimulating evening.

Caite, you were saying about how it brought back memories of tap-dancing on 42nd St.. for me, it was memories of walking through a foot of snow in Central Park, the Xmas tree and ice skating at the Rockefeller Center and so many other good memories of NYC. Such a great night; I'd love to do it again

Steph, she sang "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere" and others too - except my mind has gone nothing new there

~C

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

Gordon was also there, making thirteen members of HWI in attendance. This was Hayley's fourth appearance on 'Friday Night is Music Night', but I believe this was the first time HWI had turned out in force, so well done Stephany for being on the rugby ball! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

All the music during the concert was written by Leonard Bernstein, but you'll have to listen to the programme on Friday for the full listing. Hayley only appeared during the second half, which featured the 50th Anniversary of 'West Side Story'. She came on for four numbers, 'One Hand, One Heart' as a duet with Michael Xavier, 'Somewhere' as a solo, 'Tonight' as a duet with Michael, and then the real highlight of her performance, 'I Feel Pretty'. She looked it too in our favourite red dress! Hayley returned later for the ensemble version of 'Tonight' with the other guests, Michael Xavier, Jon-Paul Hevey, Jacinta Whyte, Mary Carewe and Capital Voices. Hayley sang beautifully, and the whole concert was excellent, so don't miss it on Friday.

Hayley had to leave promptly after the concert, but she did stop for a few minutes outside the stage door for a quick chat with us, which rounded off the evening perfectly. Many thanks Hayley, you were wonderful as ever.

I'm sure there will be some longer reports and more photographs to come.

Richard

[Stephany]

Good morning Richard

Thanks a lot for your great report. I certainly look forward to hearing 'I feel pretty'. Singing it live must be quite tough!
I'm also curious to hear how Hayley's voice blended with another 'Tony'. Oh well, I guess I have to be very patient until Friday. There's a small problem, though. The 'Friday Night is Music Night' radio program and the rugby match France-Ireland are scheduled at the same time

Best wishes,
Stephany

[Richard]

Hello Stephany!

You'll be able to listen to the show at any time during the following week via this link:-

www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/fridaynight/

Real Player is required.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[gordon]

Thanks for not forgetting me Richard!!
Yes it was a great evening, Hayley in the red dress singing I Feel Pretty certainly was the highlight for me. Thanks Stephany for bringing this concert to our notice and enabling such an admirable HWI turnout.

Gordon

[Mark]

Hi everyone

What can I say - It was a truly fantastic evening - thanks Stephany from me too, for finding this.

I didn't actually take any photo's last night , so thanks so much for taking those shots and posting them so quickly Chris . I know that Steve & Stuart have some more good shots for you later

I set off just after lunch yesterday, this time travelling down by train. Grant was waiting to meet me at Marylebone station when I arrived and we then set off for the tube to Blackfriars. We found Gordon & Richard loitering round the Mermaid theatre to find that there was no sign of Hayley as yet. Grant & I decided we had better eat before the "regular" Friday Night Is Music Night audience arrived to queue up !

We arrived back at the theatre just after 5pm to find that Caite, James & Chris had arrived - and no we didn't manage to get first place in the queue As the other members gradually arrived, we all settled down to a wait of the best part of 2 hours until the doors opened. Still, we found plenty to talk about

The BBC were kind and let us in a little early. Despite being 2nd in the queue, we managed to secure the front row (which actually was the 4th row as the first 3 rows were reserved !). However, it was the perfect position, as we were still close to Hayley and she could clearly see us

Richard has already gone over the song list - I can only say that Hayley was once again on top form and Stephany, her voice blended very well with the "new Tony". I noticed that he and Hayley obviously were enjoying performing together, there were quite a few smiles between them and just after they first came onto stage, he appeared to be pointing to his bright red shirt, as if to say - look I match your dress !! Hayley was obviously amused i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

After the show, once again Steve Abbott came out with Hayley and chatted with us all for quite a while. It was also a pleasure to meet Nicola, or Nic, as she introduced herself, from Bedlam, who very kindly went to ask Hayley in the interval if she would have a few moments to see us afterwards.

After saying thanks for another fantastic evening to Hayley, we all made our way to the local tube station where we gradually went our seperate ways. I would like to say my thanks to everyone who attended for your company and for helping to make yet another Hayley event both special and very memorable.

Mark

[Jeff]

stephany said:

Good morning Richard

Thanks a lot for your great report. I certainly look forward to hearing 'I feel pretty'. Singing it live must be quite tough!
I'm also curious to hear how Hayley's voice blended with another 'Tony'. Oh well, I guess I have to be very patient until Friday. There's a small problem, though. The 'Friday Night is Music Night' radio program and the rugby match France-Ireland are scheduled at the same time

Best wishes,
Stephany

Priorities, Stephany ! Hayley first, rugby second !

[drew]

richnorri said:

Gordon was also there, making thirteen members of HWI in attendance.
Richard

Sorry Gordon. I did see you. (I recognise you from all of the All Angels videos!)

There were only 12 HWIers seated together so no chance of bad luck. I was the only one to turn up on time (at 19:00) so I had to sit at the back. Sometimes 13 is lucky. We certainly were.

[Steve H]

Good Morning to all those who were Hayleywowed last night, and those who did not go but are eagerly awaiting the Photo's. I will concentrate on the closer shots of Hayley and let others post those taken of the full orchestra.

Steve H