Christmas Presence, Swansea 5th Dec 06

[Dave]

Aaaaand finally...

Hayley and flowers at the stage door



The flowers!



Hayley, flowers, Christmas card from Roger... and Kathryn, holding the 'special' soap.
(Sorry Kathryn, how else could I get the flowers and soap in shot?

Cheers and good night,
Dave

[Richard]

Hello Dave!

Your photographs are fabulous, and that's a nice shot of Kathryn. It looks as though Hayley was wearing the same pink jumper she wore at Alfred Salter School, with the extra-long sleeves rolled down.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Jeff]

dave said:

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.

Nice to see she rubbed it in !!

[Martin]

dave said:

Hello again everyone, here is the rest of my concert report!

Part 2

The host for the evening (whose name escapes me) was soon chatting at length with Hayley and those in the audience who didn't already know learned a lot about Hayley's career to date.
Cheers, Dave

Dave
After a little investigation I found that the host in question was Kevin Johns ( a local personality) who replaced Sir Richard Attenborough. I found this in the article below together with the concert review. Click on the link and then enter "Hayley Westenra" in the search box.
www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/

Best wishes
Martin

[Dave]

Hello Martin and thanks for solving the mystery! I will now edit my post to include his name

I've now done some investigating of my own (as I now know the name!) and I found Kevin John's website www.kevinjohns.net/index1.htm from which i see he is the breakfast show presenter for the Swansea Sound local radio station, therefore he would have been very well known to most of the Swansea audience. He also does a lot of pantomime work and some charity work too. I thought he did very well in the show, Hayley seemed very relaxed in his company.

And now, I think we should reproduce that nice concert review you found, shouldn't we? so here it is for posterity!

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE WITH HAYLEY WESTENRA AT THE GRAND THEATRE, SWANSEA

10:00 - 08 December 2006

Never mind the weather, feel the Christmas spirit was the clear message from the Grand Theatre. And with the crystal clear sound of New Zealand star Hayley Westenra filling the auditorium, it was a joyful experience for the capacity audience.

This young lady has a natural ability to make people warm to her, and even the early mention of Welsh rugby's New Zealand disaster did not dent the support.

From the moment she came on stage the audience was hers, and her angelic voice and style enhanced every item.

Carols have never sounded quite so pure, and she has the ability to persuade you she is singing for you personally.

There was disappointment at the start with the announcement that Sir Richard Attenborough was not available and had been replaced by Swansea's Kevin Johns.

But this was a show all about Christmas, and the music alone was enough to create the image of snow lying in the streets and chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

Musical director Andrew Greenwood kept tight control of the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales, who, for the purpose of the evening, were known as the Christmas Presence Orchestra, and there was the choir from Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr to add to the musical occasion.

There were also opportunities for the audience themselves to join in the singing of the carols.

Most people leaving the theatre after the show had smiles on their faces and were ready for the Christmas season.

Malcolm Rees
This is South Wales

Cheers, Dave

[gordon]

Hi Dave.

Great to see the lovely photos and report of the concert .Glad I was there to enjoy it with yourself and Roger and to meet Hayley afterwards.

Best Wishes
Gordon

[roger]

Hi Gordon and welcome to the forum. It was good to see you in Swansea and numerous other venues where our paths have crossed.

Now you have taken the plunge(!), please feel free to join in the chat throughout the forum.

All the best,
Roger

[postscript]

grant said:

richnorri said:

Hello Grant!

Actually Dave has reviewed the first half, so perhaps Roger is going to review the second half! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Exit, stage left!

Richard

OK Richard!

I got it wrong again so:-

Dave, can you complete your review please?

Ta

Grant

Dear Grant.

While I am delighted that you should not only catch me up but overtake me in posts and general abilities, there is no need to emulate me in everything, such as falling over your own feet and getting your posts and posters confused! I do it enough times to cover for the rest of us put together!

Peter S.

[postscript]

tinky3344 said:

Hi Roger & Dave

Great photos. Hayley has on my favorite yellow dress too ( the one in my avatar ). I hope she wears that one for Cardiff tomorrow night. By the way, I have gor a new disk in my camera, just my luck that the camera police will be out in force and I wont be able to get any shots !!

Thanks again

Mark.

Yes, I like that yellow dress too. When I first saw it, I think at one of the band nights, Skelmanthorpe perhaps, I described it as making her look like a statue to a Greek godess, partcularly with that lovely wide gold 'belt'. Although then, I felt it was a metal belt. I suppose it is the same dress.

Peter S.

[postscript]

Well done, Dave and 'thank you'.

Superb photographs all round.

Peter S.