Carnegie
Hall
1st
June 2002
Hayley
performs at Carnegie Hall
Saturday
I took the short trip from Rhode Island to New York
City and Carnegie Hall to attend the Russell Watson
Concert. Since I grew up right in that neighborhood
and go to NYC quite often this was not an unusual undertaking.
I enjoy listening to Russell Watson, but was really
curious to hear Hayley live and in person. I did know
ahead of time that her appearance would be brief. Hayley
appeared prior to intermission and Lea Salonga was the
guest artist after intermission. Among other things
Lea was the voice of Jasmine in Aladdin and has appeared
on Broadway and the West End in Miss Saigon. The orchestra
was the New York Pops and the accompanying chorus was
the Julliard Chorus. I enjoyed Russell Watson and will
leave my comments on him to that since I suspect most
are interested in Hayley.
To set
the scene a bit if you are not familiar Carnegie Hall is
in midtown Manhattan. The main hall at Carnegie Hall, is
called the Isaac Stern Auditorium and is considered the
premier classical music performance space in the United
States since its opening in 1891. "The auditorium's striking
curvilinear design allows the stage to become a focal point
embraced by five levels of seating, which accommodates up
to 2,804 people. The auditorium's renowned acoustics have
made it a favorite of audiences and performers alike." "It
has been said that the hall itself is an instrument," notes
Isaac Stern. "It takes what you do and makes it larger than
life." I can say personally that there is not a bad seat
in the house having sat in the second row and fourth balcony
in my several visits. The evening was warm and the doors
were late in opening causing the crowd to overflow on to
57th street. There was a videocamera man from New Zealand
taping the crowd as well as the Carnegie Hall Façade. Once
inside the orchestra was arranged in a traditional manner
and the chorus was seated behind the orchestra and numbered
about 64 singers. All entrances and exits were stage right.
The concert was not a sell out, but well attended. Hayley
was introduced shortly before the intermission. She appeared
with her hair down and straight in pink floor length gown
that was either beaded or sequined. She did a duet of Pokarekareanna
with Russell Watson. Hayley sounded great and blended well
with Russell. They both remained unflustered by a loud two
or three second ear splitting speaker feedback. The audience
was very appreciative in their applause. Russell then said
the "Hayley has been kind enough to agree to do another
song" and left the stage. Hayley briefly remarked on Carnegie
Hall and how much she was enjoying New York. She introduced
You'll Never Walk Alone with a remark on the 100th anniversary
of Richard Rodger's birth and burst into song. Her rendition
was terrific and marred only IMHO by the chorus that drowned
her out in spots. She concluded the song without the chorus
and and finished with the lovely clarity that I have come
to appreciate on her CD's. Again, the audience was most
appreciative. In her brief appearance Hayley showed her
charm and talent and left me with an appetizer that I hope
to fill out when she returns for a Hayley concert. Lindsay,
I am sure you will read this and you are welcome to post
this on your web site if you wish.
Thanks
to Keith S. for sending in this story from tearaway.co.nz
top
Posted
for the purpose of discussion only - Not for re-publication
without prior permission
News Menu - Archive 2002
Home Page