Christmas Presence - Wales Millennium Ctr 2006

[Martin]

Dave
Thank you so much for this recording, it has made my Christmas Day. I have just finished a rather large Christmas dinner and then watched this magnificent recording (incidentally it started to play within 10 secs at a broadband download speed of 347 KB/sec so well done).

Hayley was described by the compere as looking like and sounding like an "angel". Being a mortal I don't know but what I can say is that she was absolutely BRILLIANT and like our other forum members I would agree she gave wonderful performances of "Oh Holy Night" and "White Christmas".

I cannot forgive myself for not going to this concert which had to be one of Hayley's best recent performances. She was so relaxed and although I have seen her this year with the magnificent Ian and Fiona, Hayley really shines with a full orchestra. Next year, if repeated Will be a MUST.

If Hayley ever stumbles across this thread all I can say is THANK YOU for the pleasure and enjoyment you have given me and may God be with you.

A sincerely Happy New Year to everyone and I look forward to Grassinghton, Telford and more.

Martin

[timj]

Dave, thanks for the video. Stuart, for the screen shots. Merry Christmas to all.... timJ

[Steve H]

Merry Christmas Tim,

It was great to meet up with you at at Canterbury this year, it looks like you might get to see Hayley on home ground next year, Perhaps it is our turn to cross the pond and join you for a CW concert next year?

Well done getting the video up before Christmas Dave, that was a good Christmas Pesent (s) for me

Best wishes

Steve H

[Richard]

Thanks for the video, Dave!

I really enjoyed Hayley's performance, and she was clearly in her element. I particularly liked her renditions of 'O Holy Night', 'The Prayer' and 'White Christmas', but all the songs were really lovely. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the whole show will be released on a DVD in time for next Christmas.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Mark]

Hi Dave & everyone

Thanks very much for this Dave. Although we were only a few rows back from the stage, it is really great to be able to see Hayley close up and to re-live the songs etc. Although there is not much footage of the first half of the concert (when the cameras were most on us) we ARE actually on your edited version. After the compare has introduced Hayley, she walks on stage and the camera cuts to show the balconies and then the audience - we are the last three people in shot - my wife is first and has a green jumper on, my daughter next with a headband on and me last with beige top on. As we had waited almost 40 minutes for Hayley, I think you can tell we were pleased to see her !!

If anyone knows how to get a screenshot of this I would be really greatful.

Best regards

Mark.

[roger]

Hi Mark,

This is not a good result but I hope it will do for now...

Roger

[Dave]

tinky3344 said:

Hi Dave & everyone
...we are the last three people in shot - my wife is first and has a green jumper on, my daughter next with a headband on and me last with beige top on. As we had waited almost 40 minutes for Hayley, I think you can tell we were pleased to see her !!

If anyone knows how to get a screenshot of this I would be really greatful.

Hi Mark,

Fame at last! If I notice you in any other (unposted) parts of the show, I'll let you know. The photo is from my original unedited recording and is full size, with the left hand bit of the original widescreen frame cropped out so it fits in the forum without shrinking it.

Cheers, Dave

[Dave]

Hi everyone,

I'm surprised that so far, no-one seems to have mentioned something in the TV highlights that jumped out at me immediately. During the climax of "O Holy Night", just as Hayley hits the top notes, her voice can barely be heard - but on looking at the video she is clearly singing at her loudest and in no way backs off, nor does she seem to move the microphone further away at that point.

Well now that I've had chance to examine the audio waveform, I can see what happened. The climax is the point at which the orchestra is at its loudest for the entire song and this is very clear from the waveform. Hayley's voice was simply (and inexcusably) drowned out for a few seconds - it was not dealt with correctly by the sound men at the concert who should have anticipated it. The increase in volume from the orchestra would have been far more dramatic than can be heard on the recordings because severe audio compression would have been (unfortunately) used to limit it for broadcast. The singer/orchestra balance is critically important in a song such as this and the sound men seem to have failed to see this coming.

However, they had a second chance to put it right - at the programme editing stage - but again, they failed to pay enough attention to the sound balance. They would/should have had separate audio tracks available for the orchestra and Hayley, so correcting this short lived but severe imbalance at the climax of the song should have been easy.

It doesn't significantly impair my enjoyment when I Iisten to it but the fact remains that it could and should have been even better at the climax and some people may be disappointed. I don't take to it kindly when audio technicians mess up and let Hayley's voice be drowned out in this way. Grrr!!!!

It's nowhere near as bad as what happened at Canterbury though, when half the sound system failed for about 20 minutes so perhaps I should be thankful for small mercies! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Cheers, Dave

[Oksana]

Hi Dave,
I was actually going to post about that yesterday, but was too tired.. Yes, it's too bad some of the high notes get drowned out. If they were to release the concert on DVD, would they be able to fix that? Of course, that all depends on if they still have the audio tracks for the orchestra and singer.

Oksy

[Mark]

Hi Dave

Thanks very much for the screen shot and for offering to look out for any more shots of us in the unedited bits !!

I must say that I did notice whilst at the performance a few problems with the sound here and there. I think it was after the first song, she handed the mic she had been using to a stagehand and he gave her a different one. One or two notes were missing totally, so much so that for a while I was quite anxious for Hayley out there - I wanted to jump out of my seat and make it all alright for her. As ever though, she remained calm and professional throughout I think it sounded worse live than it did on the soundtrack !!

As you say though, its soon forgotten and didn't spoil my enjoyment of the show.

Best wishes
Mark.

[Steve H]

Hi Dave and everybody,

I have just got around to watching Dave's Christmas Presence video, WOW! is about all I can say, other than I wish I had gone now .

I thought Hayley's White Christmas was absolutely fantastic, I can not wait until Thursday when I get my DVD from Stuart. Lets hope Hayley does something similar next year

Steve H

PS. Nice shirt Mark

[grant]

Just watched the first half of the video - I DO SO HOPE they release the whole concert on video it is amazing and brings back wonderful memories of my visit to Sheffield. Thanks for all your hard work Dave. (What would we do without you!!)

Great screen shots to Steve.

Nice to see you and your family on the video to Mark.

Best wishes

Grant

[grant]

Hi Mark

Just finished watching the second half of the concert. If you look carefully, you and your family are in shot right at the end of 'Silent Night' It's quick and a bit dark but it's definately you!!

Hope you had a great Christmas.

Best wishes
Grant

P.S. I look forward to meeting your family in 2007

[Dave]

someone said:

Hi Dave,
I was actually going to post about that yesterday, but was too tired.. Yes, it's too bad some of the high notes get drowned out. If they were to release the concert on DVD, would they be able to fix that? Of course, that all depends on if they still have the audio tracks for the orchestra and singer.

Oksy

Hi Oksy,

Yes I think they should be able to fix the sound balance problems, as long as Hayley's mic didn't fail completely at any time (Mark's post worries me a little!). Even if it produced only a low signal at times, they should be able to boost it where necessary (assuming that it was recorded on separate tracks, as it should have been).

Fingers crossed for that, and that they can and do release a DVD of it. Can you preorder a so-far non-existent DVD?

Cheers, Dave

[Joe]

Hi Dave ... thanks for the video!

Hello Mark ... so nice to see you, your wife and daughter included in the video.

Great job everyone

Joe