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Post by cavygirl on Mar 2, 2012 14:20:00 GMT
I've not seen the dresses before. The first one was a red silk dress and the second was a long purple dress with bands of silver jewels going along under the bustline. They were very pretty. I think she's worn the shoes before, they were the nude huge platforms. I don't blame her though, they're gorgeous! I didn't dare take any photos or video which I'm disappointed about but got one sneaky shot. Didn't come out well though because of the lack of flash. I put it on my blog, if anyone's interested. diaryofacavygirl.blogspot.comBecky x |
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Martin
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HWI Management Team
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Post by Martin on Mar 2, 2012 14:50:16 GMT
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Post by Richard on Mar 2, 2012 14:56:26 GMT
Hello Becky, and welcome to the forum!  I'm pleased you had such a good time at Hayley's concert. It was nice meeting you on our Facebook page this morning, so many thanks for joining our forum. You've definitely found the best place to share your experiences with other fans.  I added tags to make the link clickable in your post.  Best wishes from London, Richard  |
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Post by grant on Mar 2, 2012 15:15:53 GMT
Hello everyone Back home now and just about caught up! Thanks Graham and Gordon for pictures and comments so far. I hope to be getting something uploaded sometime this evening - I have lots of pics from the two signing sessions, although had a bit of a problem with incorrectly set flash compensation on the camera body I was using so some extra work will be required! Graham is correct in stating that I have the 'official' set list from Gateshead which, incidentally, was the same for Rhyl last night - only difference being that we got all three encores. I won't post details at the moment so as not to spoil it for those attending later concerts and who like the surprise element Best wishes Grant |
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Post by grant on Mar 2, 2012 19:19:38 GMT
Hello everyone Looks like I have a busy weekend ahead  A few pics to keep you going - one from Hayley's arrival in the tourmobile and a few from the signing. More tomorrow and report later - hopefully  Best wishes Grant |
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Post by dutchjoyce on Mar 2, 2012 20:26:36 GMT
Thank you all, for reports and photo's.
This makes me very excited for my next Hayley concert in Manchester!!
My last Hayley concert was about 18 months ago.......so it is really time to see and hear Hayley again.
WWHHHOOOOOHOOOOOO.....
Joyce
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Post by postscript on Mar 2, 2012 21:19:54 GMT
These reports are superb. With such reporting dare one presume to comment?! Peter S. |
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Post by Sing on Mar 2, 2012 22:22:18 GMT
Wow- thank you for the wonderful photos and videos! Sounds and looks like a wonderful night!! I really can't wait to see more!! best wishes Sing  |
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Post by martindn on Mar 2, 2012 23:35:38 GMT
Thanks Grant. Superb photos as always. Looking forward to Sunday, see you there.
Martin D
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Post by comet on Mar 3, 2012 2:20:21 GMT
The first review by Becky makes for very pleasant reading. The second, the chronicle one, hummmmmmmmm..  Quote below : ................................................................... NEW Zealander Hayley Westenra kicked off her UK Paradiso Tour on Tyneside. With a backdrop of hundreds of stars, surprisingly the NSO Chamber Orchestra took centre stage and the angelic soprano positioned herself to the left of the stage alongside her musical director, David! Her guest artist, Gianluca Paganelli, sang Le Notte De Silenzio with her and that was phenomenal. This guy is definitely worth a mention, with a gorgeous voice and looks to match. He went on to do Jealousy. Read More www.chroniclelive.co.uk/entertainment-in-newcastle/music/2012/03/02/a-powerful-young-thing-72703-30441857/#ixzz1o13EL1pE....................................................................... Her guest artist, Gianluca Paganelli, sang Le Notte De SilenzioOh did he really ? and was that when Hayley was singing Vivo Per Lai |
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Post by Libby on Mar 3, 2012 4:25:15 GMT
You mean, they didn't really sing it?? I was surprised to see it mentioned, but didn't Hayley say she would sing some different songs? And how could the reviewer mistake Vivo Per Lei for Le Note del Silenzio (BTW, I always spell it the way Hayley intended. ) ? How can be so sure they didn't sing it, when you weren't even there??  Gianluca sounds like a really good singer, but I prefer Chase Douglas' voice to his, in Vivo Per Lei. And it may have been the acoustics, or just the quality of the video, but the parts where they were both singing together came off as noisy, compared to her performances with other singers. And I mean including the music, too, not that they were noisy by themselves, if that makes any sense. |
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Steve H
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HWI Management Team / Official Site Photographer & Videographer
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Post by Steve H on Mar 3, 2012 8:04:35 GMT
Hello Everybody, It sounds like a great time was had by you all, thank you to Graham and Grant for the great photographs, ant to Graham for his videos. It is a fantastic venue, and I wish I could have got to this one but I will have to be content with both Northampton tomorrow and Southend on Wednesday. Thanks again... Steve H |
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Post by grant on Mar 3, 2012 11:01:14 GMT
Hi guys Sorry it's taken longer than anticipated but I ran out of steam last night!  The Tour BeginsMy personal Paradiso Tour began well with an on time departure from Derby but things are not looking so good as we sit outside Doncaster an hour later – there are too many trains and not enough railway – something is amiss! Leaving Doncaster 9 minutes late the situation looked recoverable but it was not to last as we joined several other trains already standing at Church Fenton, south of York. Eventually, we crossed from the main line and crawled slowly towards our York stop. Police on the line-side confirmed my worst fears, a preceding train had hit someone. More police and fire crews were at the scene – a horrible job and a sad day for someones family. Having kept Gordon appraised of the situation by text, he is waiting for me at Newcastle as we pulled in just 52 minutes behind schedule. Hopped on a bus to the Travelodge where I quickly divested myself of my luggage ready to head across the river to Gateshead and The Sage. This will be my third visit to The Sage but my first for a concert and I am very excited to be seeing our very own Hayley perform at this fantastic venue.  It’s quite a climb up to the stage door from the river but there is no sign of any coach or tour bus so we are hopeful that Hayley is not yet here. There are quite a lot of comings and goings, including Graham who joined us during the afternoon, but when various people with instruments in their possession began arriving, we suspected that the orchestra may be making their way independently. So too is Hayley who arrives in a black minibus driven by Ash (who I didn’t recognise at first because he was wearing glasses) just on 2.45. Time for a few quick words of “congratulations” and “long time no see” and to hand over our cards. Hayley seemed pleased to see us as did Ash. It’s good to see Ash doing this tour with Hayley as he’s already proved to be supportive of her fans and is a nice guy to boot. With Hayley safely inside, we head back to the hotel for me to check in, meeting up again for a walk round and a meal later on. I love Newcastle, particularly the river and especially at this time of the evening. Paddy joining us around this time and we occupied out time with a little night photography until the concert start time began to distract us. Complete with our £8 programmes (ouch!) we made our way up to Hall 1 and our respective seats. This particular auditorium (there is another, much smaller one – Hall 2) seats 1640 and seats are filling rapidly. The excitement is building even more rapidly – Llandudno seems an awful long time ago. Paradiso Tour Opening ConcertIt’s not going to be easy to report on the concert in detail without referring to the set list, but going on what has been said for previous concerts, too much detail can spoil the experience for those booked for concerts later in the tour, and I don’t want to be guilty of that. What I will tell you is that Hayley sings 16 solos plus 2 duets with Gianluca. Gianluca has 4 solos. There were 2 encores at Gateshead but there is a third, so there is a possibility of 21 songs from Hayley. The first half takes about 50 minutes followed by a 20 minute interval. The second half takes an hour with curtain down around 9.40 depending on the number of encores and audience response. Now to the concert itself. It was my seventieth – not a boast but I need to mention that before I say that it was one of, if not the best Hayley concert for me to date and I told Hayley so at the end of the evening. I think this may already have been said but a “world class” performance it certainly was. Yes, the orchestra helped – they were brilliant; polished and professional – yet they never once drowned Hayley who’s every note came over loud and clear throughout the entire evening. From the very first moment Hayley stepped out onto the stage, she held her audience enthralled. Hayley has always had a powerful presence on stage but now it’s the power and perception in her beautiful voice that has grown and grown. Her perception and understanding of the songs she sings – they’re never just songs to Hayley, they are stories as well; telling those stories with her expressions and tones is what makes her stand out above any other singer and what makes her so special for me. I cannot help but think forward with wonder and great excitement to what the next 10 years will bring. Hayley kept her chatter to a minimum, possibly not to distract herself for the first show of the tour although she did manage a bit of banter with Tim as well as talking a little about her 10 years in the industry and the thrill of singing at last years Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. “Watching my team win was the icing on the cake” Hayley said proudly. As we walked out, a couple who had no doubt seen me retrieve the set list from the stage, asked where they could get a CD with a particular song on it and I was happy to tell them and where they would find a copy. I told Hayley later that I had probably boosted her CD sales by at least one which seemed to amuse and please her. There was a very long queue of people already waiting for Hayley when we arrived back on the main concourse – probably more than I originally imagined considering the vast size of the Sage circulating area. Hayley appeared around 10pm accompanied by Ash and the signing commenced -all very well managed by the venue staff who kept things moving with the minimum of fuss. It took a good hour for Hayley to meet everyone; sign their programmes and CD’s and pose for countless photo’s. I don’t know how she does it but she still looked as fresh at the end as she did at the beginning. At least she doesn’t have far to go as they are staying locally tonight. With the queue dwindling to single figures, I took my place at the back to get my programme signed and to tell Hayley what a truly wonderful show she had given us. I knew she was aware that there were a couple of songs that had been special for me because she commented “Ah! You like the new ones”. Whilst I agreed with her, I made sure that she understood that her earlier songs would always be special too and I think she appreciated that. I also took the opportunity to say to Hayley that it would be nice to get a photo of her with Arnaud. Hayley replied with a giggle “HaHa! You’ll have to ask him” adding “but it won’t be easy” At least it seems Hayley herself would be happy to do it. We shall have to see what we can do! It’s now past 11pm so, having thanked Hayley, Ash and the venue staff for their time we headed back to our hotel and a glass or two of wine before bed. More pictures to come with the rest of the story unfolding on the Rhyl thread Best wishes Grant |
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Post by grant on Mar 3, 2012 11:43:51 GMT
Hello everyone A few more pictures from Gateshead    I think this last one needs a caption. Any takers? Still a few more to come and some from Rhyl coming soon Best wishes Grant |
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Post by postscript on Mar 3, 2012 14:11:37 GMT
Lovely report Grant. Spot on. In words what i had imagined from the pictures. A superbly dressed stage. Very top market.
Peter S.
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A few pics to keep you going - one from Hayley's arrival in the tourmobile and a few from the signing. 
