Rebecca Newman
Feb 24, 2013 14:19:35 GMT
Post by John on Feb 24, 2013 14:19:35 GMT
What is it with local community events, that nobody ever wants to sit at the front?
Arriving at the Freshfield Hall in Forest Row at just about doors open time, I found a small group of people waiting in the entrance lobby. We were soon admitted to the main hall (once the person checking tickets had got themself organized) where I found several people buzzing around setting up stalls etc. I recognized Rebecca as one of them and introduced myself, whilst checking the price of the CDs which she was just setting out on a table.
Making my way to the front, I found no ‘Reserved’ signs, so claimed a seat for myself before being enlisted by Jay (Rebecca’s husband) to report on the sound levels. Rebecca went off to change and the hall gradually filled, until the only empty seats were three or four on the front row (so I had an empty seat beside me to put my things) and about half a dozen on the second row.
Eventually, Rebecca was introduced and came on to sing ‘Il Mio Cuore Va’ (My heart will go on, from Titanic).
Rebecca gave quite a long introduction to many of the songs, including much of her life story and setting the songs in the context in which they were originally written, such as ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ and ‘Habanera’ from Carmen.
The only song which wasn’t very familiar to me was ‘Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi’ (Yes, they call me Mimi, from la Boheme).
Schubert’s – ‘Ave Maria’ followed, then a change of style with ‘If I Loved You’ from the musical, Carousel.
The first half concluded with the Rugby World Cup song, ‘World in Union’.
Rebecca appeared in a different dress for the second half, opening with ‘Love Never Dies’. I was a bit thrown as the timing of the main theme was a little different from the way I have heard it before; nonetheless it was a lovely powerful performance.
The Musicals theme continued with ‘Think of Me’ from Phantom of the Opera, ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables and ‘Memory’ from Cats.
Rebecca offered a choice of one out of two Eva Cassidy songs, to which somebody in the audience shouted loudly “Both”. So we were treated to ‘Fields of Gold’ and ‘Over the Rainbow’.
Back to the musicals for the final song on the main list - ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’.
After a thank you speech from the Chair of the local RNLI fundraising committee which had organized the event, Rebecca’s real final number was (predictably) ‘Time to Say Goodbye’.
Rebecca has a fantastic voice and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Her repertoire that I have heard so far comprises mainly ‘safe’ CC favourites, but I look forward to being stretched a little more by her forthcoming new classical album which is currently in the planning stage.
Arriving at the Freshfield Hall in Forest Row at just about doors open time, I found a small group of people waiting in the entrance lobby. We were soon admitted to the main hall (once the person checking tickets had got themself organized) where I found several people buzzing around setting up stalls etc. I recognized Rebecca as one of them and introduced myself, whilst checking the price of the CDs which she was just setting out on a table.
Making my way to the front, I found no ‘Reserved’ signs, so claimed a seat for myself before being enlisted by Jay (Rebecca’s husband) to report on the sound levels. Rebecca went off to change and the hall gradually filled, until the only empty seats were three or four on the front row (so I had an empty seat beside me to put my things) and about half a dozen on the second row.
Eventually, Rebecca was introduced and came on to sing ‘Il Mio Cuore Va’ (My heart will go on, from Titanic).
Rebecca gave quite a long introduction to many of the songs, including much of her life story and setting the songs in the context in which they were originally written, such as ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ and ‘Habanera’ from Carmen.
The only song which wasn’t very familiar to me was ‘Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi’ (Yes, they call me Mimi, from la Boheme).
Schubert’s – ‘Ave Maria’ followed, then a change of style with ‘If I Loved You’ from the musical, Carousel.
The first half concluded with the Rugby World Cup song, ‘World in Union’.
Rebecca appeared in a different dress for the second half, opening with ‘Love Never Dies’. I was a bit thrown as the timing of the main theme was a little different from the way I have heard it before; nonetheless it was a lovely powerful performance.
The Musicals theme continued with ‘Think of Me’ from Phantom of the Opera, ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables and ‘Memory’ from Cats.
Rebecca offered a choice of one out of two Eva Cassidy songs, to which somebody in the audience shouted loudly “Both”. So we were treated to ‘Fields of Gold’ and ‘Over the Rainbow’.
Back to the musicals for the final song on the main list - ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’.
After a thank you speech from the Chair of the local RNLI fundraising committee which had organized the event, Rebecca’s real final number was (predictably) ‘Time to Say Goodbye’.
Rebecca has a fantastic voice and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Her repertoire that I have heard so far comprises mainly ‘safe’ CC favourites, but I look forward to being stretched a little more by her forthcoming new classical album which is currently in the planning stage.