London - Barbican 22 Dec 2010

[grant]

Happy Christmas everyone!!

More later

Best wishes
Grant

[Karsten]

Hi Grant,

Many thanks for the last part of the report and your photos. Here's the last one from me...

A peaceful Christmas to all,

Karsten

[Dennis S.]

Very nice pictures, thanks guys!

Looks like everyone who attended those concerts had a real blast.
Oh well, my turn will come someday...

There's one thing that I keep wondering about:
How come none of Hayley's Christmas tours ever made it to DVD?
Most Christmas songs are centuries old and are no longer copyrighted, so they shouldn't run into the kind of legal limbo that they did with Live in Northern Ireland.
Or am I missing something else here?

[Libby]

Dec 24, 2010 13:58:16 GMT davidm said:

Thanks Jillian for putting me right re Winter Magic.

You're welcome, but you may call me Libby. :wink:

[dutchjoyce]

Thanks to all, for their reports and pictures.

Greetz Joyce

[Jillian]

Hi Grant!

Thank you for your very interesting report! I like phrases like 'an exciting year ahead' and 'things in the pipeline!' i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif I don't suppose any further little hints were dropped ? Ha ha ha - just trying to squeeze every last drop of details out of you!

Hi Karsten - thanks for all your great photos - the ones from this concert are my favourite of all the tour! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Cheers,
Jillian

[martindn]

Well done Grant and Karste.

I see you both save the best till last. Wonderful photos guys.

Martin D

[Belinda]

Awesome Photo' i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifs everyone and reports sounds like everyone had a awesome time.

Belinda

[timj]

Thanks for the picture's and reports EVERYONE, and Merry Christmas to ALL!.....TimJ

[grant]

Hello everyone

A few more pics from after the concert

More later

Best wishes
Grant

[Juliette]

Hi everyone!

Phew... What can I say...?! What an amazing night!!!!

I was so happy to be able to meet Hayley!! Thank you to all the HWIers presents to have given me this opportunity.
It was great to meet you!

I'm sorry for my late report, but my flight was delayed on Thursday, because AirFrance has a partnership with KLM and we had to wait for our crew who was stucked in Holland because of the snow chaos! I was fearing so much that my flight would be cancelled!! But finally everything went right and I could go back!

I'm sorry to hear you had troubles to go back Karsten...

I'm going to post my report, but I'd like to say once again a big thank you to the HWIers because without you, I wouldn't have been able to meet Hayley, and also a big thank you to Hayley for this wonderful night!

Lots of love,
Juliette

PS: I don't know if it's me who helped Hayley during 'River' because I heard several people shouting the lyrics to her. However, it is true that I shouted them as well.... i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif So it may be me David is referring to!

[Juliette]

Before the concert

I've always loved Christmas carols and Christmas time, most probably my favourite moment of the year, and I had been wanting to go to a Hayley concert since a long time, so it was without thinking twice that I booked for this concert. But, when I did in August, all excited by the the thought of it, I had forgotten about an element that happens around Winter and that can cause chaos...snow! In last April, I already had to cancel a London trip because of the volcano, so when all flights started to be cancelled a week before the concert, I began to stress and to think that between England (or London) and me, it wasn't working.

But, actually, it is! I was very relieved to have my flight, and when I arrived in London, I went to the Barbican to meet the other HWI members. Richard, Grant, Karsten, Gordon, Mike and Billy were already waiting and when I arrived, they all welcomed me very kindly. John joined us a bit after I arrived. We waited for Hayley, who wasn't really decided to arrive! At some point we were too cold, so following Grant's initiative, we went inside to wait for Hayley. She finally arrived and I could speak to her. I introduced myself and Hayley replied she was pleased to meet me I then asked for a photo and Grant proposed to take it for me -indeed, when I arrived and I saw the cameras of Grant and Kartsen, my little camera felt very shy and didn't want to show itslef However, my little shy camera has a surprise for you, that I will post after my report – But, I immediately said 'yes' to Grant's offer, because between the camera of competition and the camera, 'just' camera, you inevitably choose the first option
Hayley then disappeared to go to the soundcheck and we all decided to have a hot chocolate to warm our cold bodies (thank you Richard! ).

We waited patiently for the concert. We chatted a lot and I had to concentrate myself deeply to understand everything! I'm sorry, by the way, if I seemed strange sometimes or if I answered very oddly to the questions, but I have to admit that it was quite hard to understand everything. I have to work my oral comprehension and I know what can help it: going again and again to a Hayley concert, that way I'll be in England and I'll be able to work it!

At some point, I decided to go to my hotel to check-in and to change. When I was back, Martin, Steve, Stuart and Peter had arrived. Later, Larry and Nicola joined us. I was very pleased to meet all the HWIers and, if I was a bit anxious of going all by myself in London, all of you have been so nice, helpful and friendly with me that I felt at home. Thank you very very much to all of you.

Soon, the concert was about to begin so we all got to our place. I was sitting next to a very sweet girl whose Grandma is a Rhydian's fan. She told me before the concert that she had only heard about Hayley but never seen her live. And she was amazed by Hayley's talent. And so was I.

[Juliette]

The concert - First part

The concert began with the choir who sang two songs. They then left the stage. The moment after was quite funny: on the programme, the Barbican direction ask the spectators to restrain coughing during the songs to not disturb both the performers and the spectators, but to wait "until the normal breaks during the performance". And after the choir's performance, many spectators followed the advice: they coughed their lungs out, it was as if they were thinking: 'Oh, in any case I may want to cough during the performance, better do it now!'

Then Hayley's band came on to the stage. Michael, who was playing the drum kit, started to beat the rythm. And Hayley appeared. She walked through the stage by little steps beating the rythm with her feets. And she started 'The Little Drummer Boy'. From the moment she set foot on the stage, she was in power of it. It amazed me how she can control the stage. The musicians are all very good – I've, on my part, been especially blown away by the pianist. But she is the real star. For the 4 first songs, until Rhydian came on to the stage, my eyes were hurting because I couldn't watch anything else than her. Nonetheless was I deeply happy to see her live for the first time, but moreover, from the moment she starts her show, she immediately owns the stage and the audience. I brought my camera with me but at the beginning I didn't want to use it, just to become soaked with the show, with Hayley and with her talent.

Then she sang 'Veni Veni Emmanuel' with the moment full of emotion, and a lot more in concert because she puts all her heart in it, of the Gaude. This moment really gave me shivers as her strong, powerful and very intense voice sounded all in the theatre.

After the song, Hayley said 'Good evening' to which we replied a loud 'Good evening' which surprised her, and she said: 'We're in London after all!' She spoke about Christmas and how much she loves that period, and that she was very happy to be in the Northern Hemisphere for that because the Christmas songs don't fit really well with the NZ Christmases when they are all eating barbecues She introduced the next song by saying that if we weren't already in the Christmas spirit (on my part, I already was!), the next song would help us. And we had 'The Christmas Song'. I love that song because it sounds so 'Christmas', and I find Hayley's version on Winter Magic perfect for the spirit, but the live version didn't fail to please me at all: it was wonderful, so Christmas, so cozy, so sweet At that point, I was totally in the Christmas spirit!

The next song, 'Love Came Down at Christmas' was a song I had heard about but never listened to and it is a very sweet song. Hayley said that the lyrics dated back from the 18th c. and they were written by a poet, and that several melodies were put on them but the one Hayley chose was an Irish one.

Then it was Rhydian's part who sang two songs. I don't really enjoy Rhydian. He's got an amazing voice, and live it is quite impressive. He has wonderful possibilities. But all his outfit... Mike rightly said that he fancies himself. On stage, he plays a role, everything is calculated and planned. I feel there is no place for 'emotional surprises'. I felt it was too much and somehow funny to see him act like this. But I have to admit that his voice is impressive.

Hayley returned on to the stage with 'Mary Did You Know?'. Wonderful performance once again.
For the next one, 'The Little Road to Bethlehem', Hayley told us that it was the Boston Pops who proposed it to her when she sang with them for a Christmas concert.
We had then 'The Coventry Carol' for which Hayley was joined by the choir. Very beautiful, it's a song I love, so I was very happy to hear it live.

The next one was a real treat, if not more than that. It's a song I had never heard before, and it's such a beautiful song! It is definitely my highlight of the concert. Hayley was perfect on it, and it was a perfect way to end the first half. The song's called 'When a Child Is Born'. Hayley sang it accompanied by the choir, and I was totally in heaven!

The first half was then over. The HWIers asked me how I felt, what I thought of Hayley. The only word that came to my mind was brilliant. It was totally brilliant, awesome, wonderful, amazing and more than that. Hayley in concert is an amazing experience. It is when you see her live that you realize how much talent she has.

[Juliette]

The concert - Second part

The second half started with 'Carol of the Bells'. I was looking forward to hearing that one live, because nonetheless is it a fun and great song, but also because on the CD version, as it is a fast song, sometimes Hayley starts singing a part while she hasn't finished to sing the previous part. Obviously, in studio, it is made in several recording. But I wanted to know how Hayley would man age in live. And she did great! Sometimes, she could only have a little breath but she kept the rythm and gave a great performance. Very professional our Hayley!

Then, Hayley sang 'Corpus Christi Carol'. It is a song I'm not a big fan of, so the performance didn't leave a mark on me. Not that Hayley didn't sing it very well, it is just the song.
After, Hayley introduced 'Silent Night' by saying that in Oberndorf, a little town in Austria, they had to create a new carol for the Christmas service, the organ was broken and they composed a song solely for guitar and voice. Hayley didn't sing it only with Andy, but Silent Night kept that special Christmas sound and spirit it has always had.

Then, we had 'Peace Shall Come', a song I loved on the CD and the performance was really great.

Rhydian returned on the stage and once again, he played his part
He then started 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' and was joined by Hayley. It was a very sweet duet, jazzy and beautifully interpreted, by both performers.

After, Hayley made a little enquiry, looking for the Kiwis in the audience. She said that Tim, a Kiwi too, and she wanted to add a Kiwi song to the concert's repertoire. She sang the very lovely 'Te Harinui' and, with no break, she sang 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'. It is a very sweet song that I heard first sung by Chloë Agnew. But, despite Chloë's sweet version, Hayley's is definitely the best and unbeatable.

Then, it was 'Sleigh Ride'. Before singing it, Hayley said that she had lots of fun with the bells last year, but she thought she wasn't the best at it so she let Michael do the job
After, Hayley sang the lovely 'All With You'.

She finished with the gorgeous 'O Holy Night'. She introduced it by saying that it was one of the favourite carols of all time. And it is one of my favourites. So I was very looking forward to this one. I love Sissel's swedish version of it, and I was hoping Hayley would reach the "perfectness" of Sissel's version. And she absolutely did (how could I even wonder?). It was such an amazing performance, so powerful and full of emotion. When she took it again 'Christ is the Lord', it gave me shivers as it was strong and beautiful.

Hayley announced it was the end of the concert. But actually, not completely as she returned with Rhydian on to the stage for an encore, 'The First Nowell'. She made us stand and sing together. It was a very funny and festive moment!

After the first encore, I was determined to have a second one. As the clapping were fading a bit, I was keeping to applaud with all my strength in hope to see Hayley coming back. The clapping in the audience was reviving and Hayley came back!! She sat on the piano and did a song she most probably hadn't done for quite a long time as she couldn't remember the lyrics of the second verse It was of course 'River'. When she sat on the piano, Hayley said she should practice with high heels more often, to what some spectators answered 'Take them off!'. She giggled and said she couldn't because her toe nails weren't done But she finally did it. Wonderful performance. I couldn't expect a better encore and a better end.

The concert was then over, Hayley seemed to enjoy herself a lot on stage and I had a brilliant time.
But not everything was over! We could meet Hayley at the backstage door. She was very sweet and gave us a lot of her time, so thank you very much Hayley for that! I could have a picture signed and talk to her, and I felt so happy and over the moon!!

I would like to say a big, huge thanks to all the HWIers to have given me the opportunity to meet Hayley and to have been so kind and helpful with me. It was an amazing day and it was so worth the journey!

[Juliette]

Thank you very much Grant for the photos of Hayley and me!!

Yes, Jillian, I was VERY excited!!

Lots of love,
Juliette