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Post by Richard on Oct 3, 2006 14:17:40 GMT
Hello everybody!  A concert in Swansea has just been added to the 'Christmas Presence' tour on Hayley's official site. www.hayleywestenra.com/hayley-westenra-events.htmFull details are not yet available on the theatre's web site, but I will add this concert to the master schedule. Richard  |
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Post by Richard on Nov 23, 2006 15:21:05 GMT
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Post by roger on Dec 6, 2006 10:23:30 GMT
Last night, Hayley appeared in Swansea at the first of the 'Christmas Presence' tour. Much as I like her "normal" repertoire, it made a refreshing change to hear her singing some different material - twelve songs in all. Further details will follow but, for now, here is a pic that I took as she was leaving... Roger |
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Post by grant on Dec 6, 2006 10:51:27 GMT
You kept that quiet Roger!! Happy that someone was there from HWI to support her though. Great photo to - Hayley looks really happy and 12 songs, that's almost a concert full! I remember when we mentioned Christmas Presence at Telford Hayley remarked with a giggle "Yes, I must brush up on my carols" Looking forward to your review. Best wishes Grant |
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Post by Richard on Dec 6, 2006 14:21:40 GMT
Well done Roger! I wondered why you hadn't logged on since yesterday morning. Did you go with Dave by any chance? i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifI'm really looking forward to reading your review.  Best Wishes, Richard  |
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Post by Mark on Dec 6, 2006 14:38:40 GMT
Hi Roger
I am sure you had a great time. I am pleased to hear that Hayley is singing a good number of songs, I am getting excited again now about this coming Saturday !!
I look forward to your report so that I know what to look forward to.
Best regards
Mark
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Post by thomas on Dec 6, 2006 20:34:35 GMT
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Steve H
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Post by Steve H on Dec 6, 2006 20:48:09 GMT
Hi Roger and Dave, Well done great picture!  I look forward to your review, I wonder if the new songs will appear on the new album  Steve H |
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Post by 1littlegirl on Dec 6, 2006 21:10:52 GMT
Oh, please hurry, Roger! I really want to know what songs Hayley sang!!  Thanks for the gorgeous photo!  |
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Post by Stuart H on Dec 6, 2006 22:20:07 GMT
Hi roger, Nice picture. I am glad you had a good time. Was the building very old? I can see a ghost reflected in the glass!! Sorry Dave! I am looking forward to reading the review. Stuart |
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Post by Dave on Dec 6, 2006 22:42:23 GMT
Nooooo!!!!! My cover is blown! Roger - go back to Spy Photo school!!  If i was really there I'll post about it soon. OK then, tonight! So here is what happened upto the interval. Before the ConcertWell Richard and Stuart, as you noticed from my ghostly reflection in the glass  I was indeed at the concert in Swansea - my first ever visit to that town. It was a long drive (190 miles) from home in showery windy conditions - and prior to meeting me in Fareham, Roger had already been travelling for a couple of hours by train. We didn't discuss this in the forum beforehand as until the last moment, we didn't know if we'd be able to go. This was due to a combination of Roger's situation at home and my broken car that at one time looked like it would still be broken on the day of the concert! But it all worked out OK in the end. Anyway, we made it in good time and as we walked into the foyer of Grand Theatre, who should we bump into but fellow forum member Gordon - who we have met at other Hayley concerts and some of you will know. I very much hope thet Gordon will give us the benefit of his own report on Swansea in due course. But first, he has to return home from his hotel stay in Swansea! Roger and I drove home directly afterwards, deep into the night... The Grand Theatre is an old and intimate oval shaped theatre with perhaps a bit more than 300 seats in the ground floor stalls and a few hundred more in two large balconies that in places come to within about 10 rows of seats of the stage - so they (where Gordon was I think) may on this occasion have had the best seats in the house! Roger and I were seated level with the left side of the stage (when facing it) and 7 rows back - so it gave us a nice view... although Hayley's mic was positioned on the far side of the stage from us. The Concert - First HalfThe stage setup at the start included about a hundred members of a local school choir(s) at the back, a fairly large chamber orchestra in front of them and Hayley right at the front, to our right and positioned so she and the conductor Andrew Greenwood could see each other (which turned out to be essential as Hayley seemed to be unfamiliar with a couple of the songs or their arrangements!). I had expected to see an audience full of children but no, it was the usual mix of mostly "mature" and older people that you expect to see at Hayley concerts - so I bet most people were there because of Hayley! From what I could see, the concert was a complete sell-out. The concert opened with three songs, al played by the orchestra; Miracle on 34th Street, Somewhere in My Memory (from Home Alone, with the choir too) and Troika by Prokofiev. These were followed by a sequence of 6 nice Christmassy songs by the orchestra, by the choir and piano alone, or by choir and orchestra. And then... onto the stage strode Hayley, to loud applause and she sang five songs in this the first half. These were: Ave Maria (Schubert) Mary did you Know Gabriel's Message O Holy Night (which I personally hadn't heard her sing before) O Come All Ye Faithful (with choir, orchestra - and Audience!) Hayley was in good form and was also quite chatty at times... and very daring when she mentioned the recent defeat of Wales by NZ at Rugby. She did however get a nice reaction and lots of laughs from the audience, who soon forgave her for mentioning it! And then, all too soon, the first half ended - on a jolly note of audience participation - and it was time for the interval. Well that's enough from me for now... I'll post about the rest of the concert tomorrow but of course, Roger and Gordon are free to intervene and add to (or correct!) what I've said at any time! Some photos - including the essential "dress" shots will follow soon... Cheers, Dave |
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Post by Dave on Dec 7, 2006 2:35:07 GMT
Some photos from the first half: It's the sparkly dress!  Never Saw Blue Like That Before!  More blue, purple, pink or whatever! Well the lighting man liked it...  ...And so do I.  More later. Cheers, Dave |
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Post by Dave on Dec 7, 2006 2:48:52 GMT
More photos now... the last for tonight, it's bedtime for me! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif(Most of) The Choir - Cor Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr - Orchestra's silhouetted  Hayley's enjoying herself!  And now she's really getting into the swing of it!  More photos later today (much later today!) Cheers, Dave |
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Steve H
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Post by Steve H on Dec 7, 2006 6:11:14 GMT
Well done Dave, Super photographs, and a great write up. I wish I had gone  Steve H |
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Post by Richard on Dec 7, 2006 8:52:26 GMT
Thanks for the report and the wonderful photographs, Dave! Now I'm looking forward to reading about the second half. Best Wishes, Richard |
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Thanks for the gorgeous photo! 
