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Post by Richard on Jun 21, 2012 7:21:15 GMT
I am beginning to feel like a football hooligan... Beginning?  Richard  |
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Post by postscript on Jun 22, 2012 8:30:48 GMT
Just in case you guys are wondering why there are so few reports on the Dublin Concert. WE ARE WAITING PATIENTLY
FOR SOME OF OUR FIRST TIME HAYLEY CONCERT GOERS
TO COME BACK ONLINE AFTER THEIR TRAVELS I am beginning to feel like a football hooligan, I am starting to hum, Why are we waiting  Quite agree Comet. If something more doesn't follow through I'll consider expanding what I have written but as the Irish were so polite in offering the podium to me first I thought I would simply outline and leave the others to drop in the detail. Well, for now, its the Bostonians--haven't read that for awhile either. I sure should have read Joyce's Dubliners for a reminder/comparison! Peter S. Peter |
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Post by comet on Jun 22, 2012 13:58:43 GMT
I have been a Les Miserables fan since the Victor Hugo book and the black and white film.
It runs deep in our family blood, being of Huguenot descent,
History long lost in family headstones that stand silent,
History lost in the burning of records in Dublin and Paris. (Lost and gone forever).
14th June 2012, this was the first time I heard and saw Hayley sing this song live.
I wasn't expecting it, I hadn't read the songlist, I certainly wasn't ready for the intensity and passion
with which it was delivered, It rolled off the stage like a massive goods train and I, lying on my back between the rails looking up at flashes of light and sky between the goods wagons. I am sure I saw Hayley clench her fist a few times, an unusual gesture for Hayley who normally sings with an open hand or a thumb and finger touching lightly.
I saw a strain on her face that I had never witnessed before, Why this song, these lyrics ? In what context ?
I still haven't recovered from it.
Verse by verse it has to be one of the saddest songs ever written,
The tragedy of Fantine's life as it gets even worse.
But when you separate a song from it's context, it becomes new, It can be about something else,
Either the singer or the listener can extract or apply a new meaning, there could be a thousand different meanings.
I have no idea why Hayley and other singers leave out the first verse which creates the context.
[FANTINE]
There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame
He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came
And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.
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Post by postscript on Jun 23, 2012 7:49:10 GMT
Hello Paul.
Aah! A fellow Huguenot descendant eh? Did you discover the Huguenot cemetery in Dublin? What I found most interesting, especially at Trinity, was the diversity of Christian representation in the churches there. In Trinity four major branches of Christianity worship in the same chapel and the priests have been getting on with one another for a very long time, something of which the College is particularly proud.
It seems that Dublin is more open to diversity of opinion than one gains the impression from Belfast (which I have not yet visited).
Peter S.
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Post by comet on Jun 23, 2012 12:15:58 GMT
Hi Peter,
I know we are off topic, there are several Huguenot Cemeteries in Dublin, many were uprooted to make way for "progress".
I came across a disgraceful act by accident one day,
I was doing some work for a client and for some reason he asked me if I needed some stone for building work or landfill ? He indicated to pallets of cut stone down along the side of their building, I asked him what they were ?
"Oh ! Just some old headstones from the old Huguenot cemetery over there"
His response just sickened me, I made a few phone calls when I got home to try and get the stones removed and protected, they were gone a few weeks later, I sincerely hope they have not gone to building work or land fill.
These are just some of the reasons I find I dreamed a dream and the whole Victor Hugo story so personal and fascinating. Well done Hayley for performing the song with such passion,
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Post by postscript on Jun 23, 2012 13:58:37 GMT
Hello Paul.
While neither of us intend to upset the mods, they have enough on their plate as it is and do a damned fine job but I don't think we are pushing their patience too far by talking about Dublin, on the grounds I am sure Hayley will visit again and its within parameters to tell people how easy it is to visit and that it is well worth their taking a long weekend or midweek break to enjoy the city, as I did, using Hayley's concert as the purpose/reason.
My flights were by BMI now being absorbed into BA but there are other airline options. Let me, therefore do what we have regularly done in the past, given a "run-in" to our Hayley experience.
My flight out was delayed by someone loading their baggage and then not turning up so it had to be located and taken off. We were an hour late on an hour's flight! Conversely coming back we had a tail wind and arrived 35 minutes early! Both flights Heathrow/Dublin.
There are 3 options from airport to Dublin centre. Bus 16, everyday bus and about €3 (45 min journey around quarter-hourly, usually double decker); airport express €6 coach about half-hourly; air coach 24hrs more luxury more limited stops €7 about hourly. Taxi's around €30 to €40.
Assuming your hotel is reasonably central, Dublin is a very walkable city. Worth considering 2 day tickets for tram or bus or combined ticket for both, then you can hop on and off where you want (separately there is the double decker tour circuit). I also bought a day ride trip for the Dart, taking one day on that, going to both ends which gives you a seaside town at each end which were most enjoyable, providing super coastal and inland views (on the southern route). Its a mass transit train service about third-hourly. Also, if you want to spend longer, there are day coach trips into the outer lying areas and a range of locations for the day or longer through the country by train.
Dublin's dock area is developing most interestingly. City maps are free and there is a reasonably able tourist kiosk in the airport which will help with bus location advice. There is a fuller option opposite Trinity College.
My days were: Monday arrival midday, 16 to centre (journey unexciting round teh houses not worth the economy) wandering around. Tuesday wandering around with deliberate intent to cover St Mitcham's church (for the crypt you need to be flexible) on way to Jameson whisky tour; Guinness brewery tour. Wednesday Dart both seaside towns (mass transit), Thursday morning tour of Trinity college and Book of Kells. Pm I rested so as to be in top form for Hayley. Friday, general city centre meander, also previously along canal towpath.
The airport has basic burger options otherwise ensure good meal in town before going to airport.
Next time I may take a coach tour or use the mainline trains to venture further out retaining my Dublin hotel as the duration base.
One negative comment, by the time I came to leave I was heartily sick of green!
Peter S.
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Post by comet on Jun 24, 2012 12:12:13 GMT
I need some help from anyone who was there.
I neglected to check the shop in the foyer of the NCH
Can anyone tell me what Hayley discs were available on the night of the concert ?
Pure
Pure 2cd
Odyssey Blue cover
Odyssey Beige / red cover
Treasure
Winter Magic
Paradiso
Any other titles ?
Just copy and paste the list and delete or add to it with what you can remember.
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Post by postscript on Jun 25, 2012 9:38:55 GMT
They were going reasonably quickly and I fear they weren't carrying as many as they might. Pure, Odyssey and Paradiso I recall but can't say which Odyssey.
Peter S.
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Post by cloudbusting.heights on Jun 25, 2012 15:24:35 GMT
Someone may have already asked this, but did she sing "Send in the Clowns"? I adore that song!
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Post by cloudbusting.heights on Jun 25, 2012 15:25:43 GMT
I need some help from anyone who was there. I neglected to check the shop in the foyer of the NCH Can anyone tell me what Hayley discs were available on the night of the concert ? Pure Pure 2cd Odyssey Blue cover Odyssey Beige / red cover Treasure Winter Magic Paradiso Any other titles ? Just copy and paste the list and delete or add to it with what you can remember. Odyssey Beige and red cover?? |
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Post by comet on Jun 25, 2012 16:32:14 GMT
Thanks for the information Peter. I need some help from anyone who was there. I neglected to check the shop in the foyer of the NCH Can anyone tell me what Hayley discs were available on the night of the concert ? Odyssey Blue cover Odyssey Beige / red cover Odyssey Beige and red cover?? No ! Unfortunately Send in The Clowns was an instrumental, I would have liked a vocal version as well, especially by Hayley |
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Post by cloudbusting.heights on Jun 25, 2012 22:43:56 GMT
Thanks for the information Peter. Odyssey Beige and red cover?? No ! Unfortunately Send in The Clowns was an instrumental, I would have liked a vocal version as well, especially by Hayley Oh ok! Yeah I have both those Odyssey's as well as the Japanese Odessey. Thanks for the link Comet! Drat! I was hoping she would sing "Send in the Clowns" Oh well  |
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Post by Libby on Jun 25, 2012 23:58:20 GMT
Juliette, you at least have to tell us about it before you leave!  |
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Post by Juliette on Jun 26, 2012 0:12:11 GMT
Hiiiii everyone!! I have a beautiful and detailed report waiting for you if you want I wanted to post it tonight but I thought that Michal or other first concert goers might like to give their impression of a first concert experience before?! What should I do?!?! Lots of love, Juliette x |
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Post by Libby on Jun 26, 2012 0:14:44 GMT
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