Super League Grand Final 6 October 2012

[Jillian]

Hi all,

Westenra tops Grand Final entertainment bill

World-renowned classical artist Hayley Westenra will headline the pre-match entertainment at the 2012 Stobart Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, Manchester on Saturday October 6 (6.00pm) when Warrington Wolves take on Leeds Rhinos.


Westenra, whose debut album ‘Pure’ is the best-selling classical album of the 21st century, has sold over four million albums worldwide since bursting onto the scene in 2003 and will perform a rendition of ‘Jerusalem’ prior to kick-off.


She will be accompanied by symphonic brass band Ottoni Brass, who will make their second appearance at the Super League Grand Final having first appeared as part of the pre-match entertainment 12 months ago.


Spectators will also be treated to a series of spectacular acrobatic feats from balletic artist Lilli Muelheisen, who will perform suspended from The Heliosphere, a helium filled balloon that will glide over the heads of spectators as kick-off approaches.


Former England, Hull FC and St Helens player Steve Prescott will be travelling to Old Trafford via a 48-hour ‘quadrathon’ which will see him attempt to swim both the Humber and Mersey rivers, cycle from Hull to Liverpool and canoe 26 miles along the Liverpool canal to deliver the match ball before conducting the official coin toss.


The Stobart Super League ‘Fanzone’ will also be on-sight at Old Trafford this Saturday with lots of fun activities for families – including skills games, the Rugby League World Cup Roadshow, face-painters and plenty more to entertain the whole family in the build-up to kick-off.


Tickets for the 2012 Stobart Super League title decider are selling fast but fans still have time to reserve their seats, with tickets costing from just £21 available to purchase by calling the RFL Ticket Office.

therfl.co.uk/news/article/26309/westenra-tops-grand-final-entertainment

[Dave]

Hi Jillian,

Thanks for that information, I've had a look at the TV schedules and it will be broadcast live on Sky Sports 1 at 6pm.

I can receive that channel but they are likely to show only the National Anthem - if we are lucky - because Sky Sports cut off the European and US national anthems at the end of the presentations in the Ryder cup last weekend. They went to ads and I was not pleased with them, Nicola Benedetti was performing the EU anthem (Beethoven's ninth)!

EDIT

It seems that the Anthem to be sung will be one of the candidates for the unofficial English National Anthem - Jerusalem.

Valerie has confirmed that this is what Hayley will be singing and that, I suspect, will be a first! Will it?

Sky Sports did broadcast Rhydian singing this two years ago in this final but I don't know about last year as I can't find any TV recordings of it. Hopefully, we will see and hear (and record!) Hayley on Saturday.

Cheers, Dave

[Martin]

Actually, the cat was let out of the bag a few weeks ago on 14th Sept. Here was Grant's tweet which was followed up by Jillian:

Now here's an interesting tweet

Tabby Clegg @modefor_Tabby
@hayleywestenra hi Hayley. Im supplying band to accompany you at old Trafford in October. Need to find out what key you want please!

Best wishes
Grant

Hi Grant!
Wonder if Hayley is singing at the Final of the Super League at Old Trafford, which will be held on 6 October 2012?

Certainly plausible that Hayley might be singing the anthem.

But the idea of a band is unusual, as aren't the anthems normally sung along to a pre-recorded track?
Cheers
Jillian

Martin

[Dave]

Ah yes, I remember that now, hehe! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Meanwhile, I think we can safely say that it will be shown in full on Sky Sports, here is Samantha Barks (TV talent show and musicals) singing it last year as shown on TV.

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1ED8xDM4Zoo#!

Samantha Barks sang "Jerusalem" in 2011

Nice voice and performance (embarrassing slip though) and I am looking forward to seeing Hayley's performance, she'll probably outshine them all!

Cheers, Dave

[Libby]

If the Jerusalem is that song she sang during her Battle of Britain tour, which I got confused with a different song that says Jerusalem in it, then I think she has sung it before. If you mean at one of these games, then yes, it would be a first, I think.

It would be nice if she'd sing the one I'm thinking of sometime, too.

[Simba]

She has sung that song before yes, a very underrehearsed performance that was, so hopefully this will be stunning : D

[Libby]

So, what's the other one called? I think Charlotte Church sang it before, and I'm hearing her sing it whenever I see anyone mention the song Jerusalem, even though it's not the same song.

I listened a little to the video you posted Dave. Do you know why there were people dressed up like Superman? Were they celebrating Halloween already? LOL

[Richard]

Hello Libby!

The Superman outfits probably go with the Super League.

The other 'Jerusalem' song you're thinking of is 'The Holy City'. Here's Stanford Olsen singing it with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuY0cCKL9sQ

To keep on topic, I hope Hayley's performance of 'Jerusalem' will be shown on TV so Dave can record it.

Richard

[Dave]

Hello Libby and Richard and everyone!

The superman outfits are for fans of the long-standing Leeds Rhinos full back Brent Webb, who is known to Leeds supporters as Superman, though I think he may this year have been transferred. Last year's Grand Final was between St. Helens and Leeds Rhinos. Coincidentally he is a Kiwi, at least in spirit and an International for the NZ Rugby League team but he is Austrralian born.

And yes of course, I will try to record whatever Sky Sports shows of Hayley's performance, let's hope that is all of it, that the audio quality is good and that they actually show Hayley! Won't be in HD though this time as you can't get HD out of the Sky boxes as HD.

Cheers, Dave

[jimg]

Recent tweets from Old Trafford:

Tabby Clegg @modefor_Tabby
Having great afternoon with @hayleywestenra - loveliest person to work with thanks Hayley lockerz.com/s/250784406

Tabby Clegg @modefor_Tabby
Me, fabulous other half and @hayleywestenra #happy #rugby

http://instagram.com/p/QcmJhnOGbP

Hayley Westenra @hayleywestenra
I now know all the Warrington Wolves songs.

Tabby Clegg @modefor_Tabby
@hayleywestenra don't start singing those on pitch! @oneronnierhino will get you otherwise!

[martindn]

I just heard Hayley singing "Jerusalem" behing the Radio 5 live commentary for this event.

Pity he didn't shut up for her!

Martin D

[Dave]

Hi Martin D and all,

Have no fear, Sky Sports did broadcast it in full (with the final second unfortunately interrupted by the commentator but I can fade it down).

Lots and lots and LOTS of Hayley in vision too.

Oh, did I say LOTS? i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Need to extract it from my Sky tuner and copy it to my DVD recorder, then burn it to a DVD then copy it to my PC then edit then convert it then upload it.

All in good time!

Cheers, Dave

[Ross]

Maori TV in NZ had the game live so I managed to see Hayley sing before I had to go to work. Hayley looked great in her sparkly dress. And we got to see a lot of her singing.

Sent from my GT-S5360T using proboards

[Libby]

A lot? How many songs did she sing?? Or was she just sitting in view of the camera the whole time?

Oh, and Hayley just posted this photo of herself in her gorgeous sparkly dress!

http://instagram.com/p/Qc66F9L2gS

[Dave]

Hi everyone,

Here you go! Took a while as the TV audio wasn't as I wanted it but I think it's OK now. Love the performance! And the sparkly dress!

Jerusalem - Hayley Westenra at the Theatre of Dreams!

Libby they also showed Hayley's complete red carpet walk out onto the pitch before she sang, I will post an extended version including that, later this evening. here, now. You will always need the link to find this extended version as I've made it Unlisted, but I'll put it on the website tonight.

Jerusalem - extended version

Cheers,

Dave