King's Lynn Festival 24 July 2011

[postscript]

Hi Everyone.

Looking at things from a distance, my impression is that this is their annual stunt and relies, as so many of these things do, on the support of enthusiastic and willing but not necessarily as well organised or experienced as they would like to be, people.

I suspect the main failure was that which brings train delays to the headlines--a failure to communicate early enough. Had informative announcements been made at an earlier stage, or at all, I suspect a lot of the ill humour would never have acquired ground from which to swell but then this is not a venue of truly professional theatre, it is community related venue out in the sticks. My little experience of this area is that it is one of those 'dead and alive' holes. The natural fauna being of a somewhat reticent inclination and the civilised boisterousness derives from visitors, primarily waterways preoccupied. It did strike me at the outset as an odd venue but it is all to the fore in promotional and audience widening/testing out.

The key thing is the second review which implies a self-questioning upon the competence of the original reporter. Was he a 'stand-in', was he more used to local am. dram., was it his subject? I remember being in a play at the Abbey theatre St Albans which got slated, as much for the choice of play as the performance. It later transpired the local reporter had that after-noon attended the funeral of a relative and the play started with a coffin coming on stage and progressed through the funeral, with the mourners reliving their experiences with the young girl in the coffin, who was also on stage. No wonder she was somewhat off the play!

"Each song was sung with a depth of feeling and passion lacking in many of today’s artists and it’s rare to hear a live voice that gives you goosebumps."

Now that is one heck of a statement from someone who understands theatre. Of statements like that we take notice.

Peter S.

[postscript]

Hi Everyone.

Thanks Karsten for your 'family' shots. Sorry I wasn't there. Well done Drew on your roses. Mine are blooming lovely in two pots outside my front door but they are prone to rust and I have to keep spraying them.

Cheers.

Peter S.

[grant]

Hello everyone

I get the impression from Stephen Hayters review that he was expecting something totally different from what he got. Sounds like he was expecting a musical or something as the other reviewer commented.

This is the problem with media reviewers, unless you have a reviewer who likes/understands what he/she is watching, then the chances are they'd rather be somewhere else.

I rather wish Stephen Hayter had been somewhere else - it would have meant an additional seat for someone who wanted to be there! Maybe he hadn't heard that this concert sold out in record time or that many people were commenting that they had never expected to see such an internationally renowned performer in a small town like Kings Lynn and what a special night it had been.

I award Stephen Hayter's review 0 points!

Best wishes
Grant

[martindn]

Yes, I tend to agree Grant. There will always be some people who don't like any artist, and Hayley is no different. He was probably the only person in that audience that felt like that though. In my book that show was well worth the ticket price as well as the expense of travelling there. Grant, Karsten and some others had the expense of accommodation too, but were happy to pay that price for the chance to see Hayley perform. She was worth every penny.

I hope Hayley will not be put off by one guy's opinion which was mot shared by anyone I spoke to who was there.

Kings Lynn has got one over on we Leicestrians - we are still waiting for Hayley to perform in our city.

Martin D

[grant]

Hi Martin and everyone

Aug 3, 2011 20:29:21 GMT martindn said:

Yes, I tend to agree Grant. There will always be some people who don't like any artist, and Hayley is no different. He was probably the only person in that audience that felt like that though. In my book that show was well worth the ticket price as well as the expense of travelling there. Grant, Karsten and some others had the expense of accommodation too, but were happy to pay that price for the chance to see Hayley perform. She was worth every penny.

I hope Hayley will not be put off by one guy's opinion which was mot shared by anyone I spoke to who was there.

Kings Lynn has got one over on we Leicestrians - we are still waiting for Hayley to perform in our city.

Martin D

I think for the very reasons stated here, most performers will look at their reviews to see if there is anything constructive for them to consider but not take negativity too seriously.

For me, Kings Lynn was one of the top five - probably even number 1 because of the songs Hayley chose to sing. I thought at the time when Hayley introduced "The Moon Represents My Heart" that the vast majority wouldn't have a clue how special that song was - maybe it shouldn't matter - as long as the audience enjoy what they hear, then Hayley has succeeded, but for those of us who see her perform often, those little gems mean everything.

Value for money? Too right it was! And that's with concert ticket, petrol, overnight stay and food at £100+

Best wishes
Grant

[martindn]

Well, Grant. I don't rate it No. 1, but it might be No. 2. No. 1 for me is the Birmingham Symphony Hall last December. My favourite hall, my favourite singer, and right in the middle of the front row - it doesn't get better than that.
But then Hayley seems to get better and better each time I see her. Her voice is fuller and more powerful, the shivers still go down my spine, and the water still comes to my eyes, even after all these years.
But this show had a superb setlist - stuff I have rarely heard her sing, some stuff I have never heard her sing or imagined she would sing in the UK. It was special for sure. And her voice was superb. So, if that guy didn't enjoy it, he just doesn't appreciate Hayley - that's all I can think. And considering that Hayley is currently the world's most popular soprano - and everyone else I spoke to loved it - well, it can't be her fault.

Martin D

[Libby]

I thought it was most successful, not necessarily most popular.

[martindn]

Well, Libby, I think it is best selling this century. If you judge success slolely by record sales you are right. It you judge it by how quickly her concerts sell out she could well be the most popular.

Martin D

[Libby]

Okay, I wasn't sure if it was the same thing or not.

[Sing]

Thanks everyone for the photos and videos...I havent looked/ listened to all the videos yet but I love Hayley's performance of Whisper's in a Dream and I Dreamed a Dream...this sounds like another great Hayley concert despite everything...and I love Hayley's red dress she looks lovely here
Sing

[martindn]

Just been indulging myself again, watching the videos, mine and Drew's, from this concert. Just look at the way she interprets these songs, the expressions on her face and the body language. WOW what a performer. I almost find myself comparing her to the likes of Janis Joplin, for those of you with long memories. It is all so expressive. She didn't do that a few years ago, or even last year. At least not to the same extent.

Reminds me of the Beach Boys song, "She's not the little girl once knew". I was too far back to see a lot of this at the time, but my camera (and Drew's) captured it. Fabulous.

Martin D

[hammer]

I have just read Stephen Hayter's review of the show , I suggest he sticks to the likes of Westlife and Boyzone ,which are probably more his level!!!

[postscript]

Just for the record Hammer, it is perceived that the Stephen Hayter quoted in the newspaper is not our Stephen Hayter.

Peter S.

[martindn]

No, our SteveH wasn't there. And I know he would never write anything like that about Hayley. This one should spell his name Stephen Hater!

Martin D

[mattmonteith]

Hey everyone,

What an enjoyable way to spend my evening! Being new to this forum, I decided to explore a little and came upon this thread. I started at the very beginning and read it full through, watching all the videos along the way. Everything was so well documented, from the purchase of tickets, to Hayley's arrival, performance, and after meet-and-greet, plus such good photos and videos, I almost felt as though I had been along for the ride.

Hayley looked stunning, and her voice sounded incredible as always. I especially loved her performance of 'La Califfa'. That has always been one of my favorite Morricone pieces, and her voice just adds another level of beauty to it. (Sorry you had to sit so far away Martin. Great job controlling the camera. If I had filmed that from there it would have looked like she was singing through a quake.)

Thanks to everyone who contributed their time and effort into this. Now I'm hoping that someday she will tour in my neck of the woods again, and I can share my story of it.

Regards to all,

Matt