BTH
Group: Members.
Posts: 179
Joined: Dec. 2005 |
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Posted: Mar. 11 2008, 22:06 |
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Well, I'm finally back in Ireland after a really fantastic experience in Spain of which the Guggenheim concert was, of course, the absolute highlight! I had a crazy time of it - expensive flights, epic train journeys and wandering (limping!)the streets of Bilbao in the rain at strange hours of the morning... All good fun!
Well unfortunately I arrived in Bilbao pretty late in the day and my one regret about the experience is that I didn't get there early enough to have lunch with the gang and get to chat to everyone properly. Things were a bit of a whirl immediately before, during and after the concert. It was all a little bit stressful - My foot was killing me all day as I broke two of my toes a couple of days beforehand (don't ask!). When I first met the Tubular Net gang I was in the museum and had to dramatically limp up an extremely grand flight of stairs to where they were waiting - I'd say it looked hilarious! Apart from that minor inconvenience there were a few other downers, from not really knowing what was happening (as in whether we were actually going to get in or not!) before the concert then the little bit of disappointment at where we got to watch the performance from and then the absolutely shameful way we were hustled out of the place as soon as the last applause died down. I was pretty pissed off at that stage and the post-concert drinks turned into a little bit of a post mortem (when we eventually found a bar big enough to hold us all!!). After a few beers though things soon livened up! I owe a few people drinks as beer just kept magically materializing in front of me!
Those are the negatives out of the way and really as far as I'm concerned they were pretty minor blips on what was a really glorious experience for me. Seeing the Guggenheim in the flesh was breathtaking and whilst not an acoustically suitable venue for such a concert, the setting was pretty incredible and very dignified. I was lucky enough to be near the front and on the left of the fan group so got a pretty good view of Mike, Hayley and the string section. To be honest though, I was so blown away by the music that I had my eyes closed for most of the concert.
I thought that the sound was generally spot on with a few minor problems that I'd blame on the acoustics of the venue. Percussion was the worst offender as with the massive reverb times the kettle drums and particularly the tubular bells always sounded late - our position off to the side and with a large chunk of orchestra and choir blocked by a massive stone pillar really means that any assessment I could make about the sound is meaningless. I'd say it sounded completely different to the "official" audience sitting in front. However whatever sound that reached my ears was pretty incredible.
I noticed that the choir was used a lot more than on the recorded version I've been listening to - particularly on Harbinger, giving it a more complex and textured feel. Conversely the choir was more subdued on Shabda which I felt more successful than the rather strident voices on the record. The Tempest was truly truly mindblowing and one piece where Mike's guitar work shone as it had more space to breathe. I personally feel that The Tempest is the finest piece on the record, the most adventurous, dynamic and innovative and it sounded that way in the Guggenheim - truly spine tingling when those massive waves of brass came crashing in at the end. In fact the trio of Tempest, Harbinger Reprise and particularly On My heart were for me the absolute high point of the concert - very powerfully emotional and brilliantly played - everyone seemed to find their stride at this point. And Hayley Westernra's voice - the word "celestial" was invented for her. Even more beautiful and emotional live, the way the choir integrated - again a little more subtle than on the record - I was very close to tears to be honest (or maybe my foot was just really really starting to hurt! :p ).
The second half flowed beautifully - Aurora, whilst not my favourite section, sounded brilliant in the festive setting and set a very buoyant mood. Prophecy was beautiful - the pianist throughout was excellent as was the harpist. Harmonia Mundi maybe suffered a little bit from Mike's slightly hesitant guitar playing - I cant be sure though until I hear a proper recording. Throughout we really werent hearing the "real" sound and the guitar was particularly badly lost. However Harmonia Mundi is so subtle and beautiful that every little rough sound or bum note came through very obviously. Empyrean - wow! Again that brass sound in the space was overwhelming. Here though the percussion just sounded a little bit off - the acoustics again. Then to musica Universalis - basically the orchestra and choir absolutely nailed it. It sounded absolutely amazing from start to finish - Mike's guitar part was a tiny bit rough (was he having trouble with a broken string or something?) but that was more than made up for by everything else coming together beautifully. Just like on the record, the moment when the choir comes in... amazing... all too short tho! Then the big build up to the finale sounded amazing as did the little piano reprise... Then the roof was almost lifted off the place by the final crescendo.
The assembled (seated) audience literally jumped to their feet and gave what I thought was a genuine and heartfelt ovation - a good four or five minutes of applause (these classical conductors really know how to milk it!). From what i could see Mike's exit was a bit jokey - he was clearly deferring completely to the orchestra and sort of refusing to take the big bow as the conductor was encouraging him to. then the slinging the guitar case over his shoulder and striding out - a little moment of theatre really! i thought he looked very satisfied and not a little bit over-awed by the positive reaction and probably by how good it all sounded.
I guess at that stage I was still sort of imagining that we'd be invited in to mingle a bit, maybe even be offered a drink (there was a very impressive looking bar set up tantalizingly on the other side of the room!). After all we'd all shown up on time, we'd been utterly respectful, we hadn't complained about the pretty shabby treatment we'd received up until then, we'd been completely not the disruptive "freaky fans" that I'm sure universal (and possibly Mike) feared we may be. I don't know, it really wouldnt have been much hassle for them to even provide a space for us to chill for a bit. Instead literally as soon as Mike walked offstage a huge and very very ignorant security man almost literally started pushing us out the door. The lack of any form of respect we were shown at this point infuriated me but there was absolutely nothing I could do except be herded out into the rain.
So that wasn't nice. But I can't let it diminish the overriding fact that it was an absolute privelege and honour to be there at all, that the music sounded amazing and most of all convincing in a live classical context, and that I feel that this should prove to Mike that touring the album by using local orchestras and choirs (and a bit more rehearsal time!) could be incredibly artistically and commercially successful. I'm just dreaming about seeing and hearing a repeat of this performance somewhere like the Berlin Philharmonie or the Royal Festival Hall in London. I see no reason why it couldn't happen!
As to the experience of meeting the rest of the Tubular Ten? A nicer bunch you couldnt hope for! And the few of the German crew including Harry seemed really lovely too. I only really got chatting properly to Clotty, Rume and Inkanta as my time was so short but I definitely think an expanded reunion could be on the cards sometime - I really like that Hergest Ridge suggestion!! I'd be great to get a chance to meet everyone again under somewhat less stressful circumstances - Rich & Tim - you were doing a brilliant job but I could see that you guys were pretty annoyed at how things panned out with Universal and I hope it didn't reduce your enjoyment of the the whole occasion!
Anyway, thats my report! Thankfully my toes are feeling much better even after spending the last three days tramping through the amazing Art Galleries of Madrid. I'll never forget my Bilbao experience and I've a strong feeling that Ill look back and realize that I've been a small part of history being made - the Premiere of what I believe could be one of Mike's most successful records and live shows...
Roll on Friday! (we get new releases early here in Ireland!!) and it'll be a VERY happy St Patrick's day for the rest of you I hope!
B
-------------- Tá mé an amadán ag cheoil...
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