Noah Stewart - Union Chapel - 22 May 2012
May 23, 2012 22:00:29 GMT
Post by John on May 23, 2012 22:00:29 GMT
I set off in what I thought was good time but the trains were all up the creek so I didn’t arrive at Islington’s Union Chapel until a few minutes before the concert was due to start. The centre block of seating was practically full but I managed to find a space three rows from the front towards one side, facing diagonally towards the stage. The stage was set with a grand piano, a tall chair, a small table with water bottles and not much else. My biggest concern was the large bank of speakers right near me. Was I going to be blasted out? Oh well, at least they didn’t obscure my view of centre stage.
Soon, a side door opened and two men came out and went over to the piano (one pianist and one page turner apparently) followed by Noah. As the piano started to play, the emptiness of the stage suddenly struck me. Noah was holding nothing in his hands and there was no microphone stand in sight. Noah opened his mouth and his unamplified voice filled the 800 seat chapel. I needn’t have worried about those huge speakers; they were silent.
The programme was a mixture of opera, classical, spirituals, musicals and contemporary songs. A young Liverpudlian mezzo-soprano, Kathryn Rudge gave Noah a few breaks and they also sang two duets together.
Noah introduced each song with a little of the story of his musical journey and, towards the end, proudly introduced his mother in the audience, who was in the UK for her first time.
The power and expression in Noah’s voice was amazing throughout and he received a well deserved standing ovation after his ‘final’ number. Two encores followed, each also provoking standing ovations.
Noah came out to the rear of the chapel afterwards, happily spending time talking and posing for photos with the 100 or so people queuing for autographs. I even managed a brief word with his mother.
Here is the set list:-
Recondita Armonia
Deep River (possibly my favourite)
Hallelujah
You’ll Never Walk Alone – Kathryn
Cara Mia
Ave Maria
I Have Dreamed – duet
Granada
- Interval –
I’ll Walk with God
Shenandoah
Seguidella – Kathryn
L’ultima canzone
Amazing Grace
Tonight – duet
In My Life – Kathryn
Without a Song
Encores:-
Witness
Be My Love
Soon, a side door opened and two men came out and went over to the piano (one pianist and one page turner apparently) followed by Noah. As the piano started to play, the emptiness of the stage suddenly struck me. Noah was holding nothing in his hands and there was no microphone stand in sight. Noah opened his mouth and his unamplified voice filled the 800 seat chapel. I needn’t have worried about those huge speakers; they were silent.
The programme was a mixture of opera, classical, spirituals, musicals and contemporary songs. A young Liverpudlian mezzo-soprano, Kathryn Rudge gave Noah a few breaks and they also sang two duets together.
Noah introduced each song with a little of the story of his musical journey and, towards the end, proudly introduced his mother in the audience, who was in the UK for her first time.
The power and expression in Noah’s voice was amazing throughout and he received a well deserved standing ovation after his ‘final’ number. Two encores followed, each also provoking standing ovations.
Noah came out to the rear of the chapel afterwards, happily spending time talking and posing for photos with the 100 or so people queuing for autographs. I even managed a brief word with his mother.
Here is the set list:-
Recondita Armonia
Deep River (possibly my favourite)
Hallelujah
You’ll Never Walk Alone – Kathryn
Cara Mia
Ave Maria
I Have Dreamed – duet
Granada
- Interval –
I’ll Walk with God
Shenandoah
Seguidella – Kathryn
L’ultima canzone
Amazing Grace
Tonight – duet
In My Life – Kathryn
Without a Song
Encores:-
Witness
Be My Love