Hi everyone!
I'm not even sure how to even phrase this post - I think that I'm in a state of shock!
I think the best way to describe last night is like the pages of a story book coming to life!
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifMy friend Nadia and I started off our morning in Rotorua, where we had breakfast on a paddle steamer called the Lakeland Queen. This was a one hour cruise which took us around the beautiful Lake Rotorua. It was a lovely cruise and a good opportunity to say hello to tourists from all over the world who had come as far as places like Korea to see New Zealand.
Then time to jump in the car on our way to Auckland! The beauty of New Zealand is that everything is so close together. It only took 3 hours or so from Rotorua to where we are staying in Auckland. When we arrived in Auckland we had a quick look at the shops (silly Queenslander didn't pack enough warm clothes, so I had to find a scarf and a jacket and Nadia was still feeling quite sore from our massive hike, so she wanted some flat shoes instead of her high heels to wear!
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We then went back to our accommodation and got ready for the concert and headed into town. We found the venue and went for some dinner. I think by this point I was so excited that I couldn't even finish my meal!
After dinner we went back across to the Civic Theatre. The Civic is the most beautiful theatre I have ever seen. It is apparently the largest atmospheric theatre in all of Australasia. It was decorated in lots of golds and reds in an Indian theme. There were gold monkeys, gold elephants, gold panthers with green lights for their eyes. The ceiling of the theatre was the most spectacular sight. It was made to appear as the night sky, with illuminated stars in constellations and even moving clouds. Something right out of a fantasy novel. The stage was decorated with fairy lights which changed colours and this set off the theatre spectacularly.
Before the concert, I had the pleasure of meeting Ross and Dori - who are just as lovely in person as their posts on HWI suggest!
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif It was lovely meeting you both!
I could scarcely believe it when the concert began - those first notes of Hayley's voice from the side of the stage were like something out of a dream. Hayley was on top form and didn't miss a single beat. Wow.
Hayley sang a very varied setlist. My friend Nadia was very impressed, as Hayley sang all of her favourite songs!
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif I won't reveal too much at this point, but My Heart Belongs to You, Vivo Per Lei, I Knew I Loved You and Wuthering Heights were definitely up with my favourites.
The support act was a New Zealand singer named Chase Douglas. He was incredibly impressive. His duet with Hayley on Vivo Per Lei was absolutely incredible and his solo performances were extremely well received by the audience, with a lot of members shouting out for more! I sincerely hope that we will here a lot more of Chase Douglas. Someone needs to give that boy a recording contract ASAP!
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Hayley's concert was extremely well received by the Auckland audience. Lots of extended applause and cheering. A very lovely fan came up to the stage and gave Hayley a beautiful bunch of flowers, which Hayley appeared to like very much.
In fact, Hayley came onto do three encores - even though the third one wasn't planned. The audience wasn't ready for the night to end and kept cheering for Hayley to come back out. Hayley did come back on stage and Tim looked a bit confused. Hayley laughed and said that she wasn't sure what she was going to do, just that the audience clapped and she came back out! In the end, Never Saw Blue was decided on as the final encore.
Hayley did a signing session afterwards and lots of people lined up to get their cds and programmes signed. Nadia and I lined up with Ross and Dori and we had a good chat while we waited. Ross and Dori were able to answer a lot of our New Zealand questions for us while we waited, such as 'Do have Kiwis have wings?' etc. Thanks!
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif I had the pleasure of meeting Hayley and she signed my cd and programme and took a photo with me. Hayley is a lovely person to meet. She stayed back and made sure that everyone who wanted to meet her had their chance.
Following the signing, I had more of a chat to Ross and Dori and also had the pleasure of meeting Hayley's sister, Sophie and her mum, Jill.
And of course, the obligatory fashion mention!
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Hayley wore three dresses. The first was the beautiful champagne coloured dress which she bought in Rome. The second was her red and silver sequined Amanda Wakeley dress and the third was a new dress. It was a very rich cobalt blue satin. It was just a above knee length and was asymmetrical (going across one shoulder).
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Hayley wore her extremely high red shoes with this dress.
Dori took some wonderful photos which she showed me after the concert. Hopefully when Dori is feeling better she will have the opportunity to share them with you all - I'm very confident that you will love them!
i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif I still can't believe that last night happened and we're both really pleased that we are also going to Christchurch, as it was so much to take in all in one go!
Cheers,
Jillian
. It was good to hear the songs from Paradiso as well as all of the other classics.
) I thought I put some teaser photos up. I'm feeling better today (I have a nasty cold), but here are some photos from what I will call the most flawless, perfect, fabulous concert Hayley has ever given. Even Jill said it was exceptional. I mean Hayley was pitch-perfect for EVERY song. It was incredible.
