Rebecca Newman with Russell Watson - Sept 14 2013
Sept 17, 2013 10:56:02 GMT
Post by lemoto on Sept 17, 2013 10:56:02 GMT
I came to this event because Rebecca Newman was on the bill. I heard her full set, and I heard Russell Watson's full set, which I thoroughly enjoyed. While the other artists were performing, I was quite often distracted, my attention needed elsewhere. So it would be unfair to comment. For example, I heard Margaret Keys singing a musical number and doing it pretty darn well, and I heard some impressive sounds from Escala, amid the flames, but in each case I could not listen to the end. Best, then, to leave comment on the other artists to those who could listen properly.
I travelled 250 miles to reach this event. Others travelled further - one party covered 500 miles to get there. And all of us considered the time, trouble and money well spent.
The middle part of her set included songs and arias that folk who had been to earlier concerts had mostly heard before, of varied genres, from grand opera to a film theme song, all delivered, naturally, in her unique voice, in appropriate, thoughtful and considered interpretations, with feeling and authority. The applause began earlier and was more enthusiastic with each successive piece. They were
Love Never Dies Mi chiamano Mimi (from La Bohème, Act I)
Carmen: Habanera Il Mio Cuore Va (the Titanic song) I Dreamed a Dream
The set opened with what will be her next single, Heroes to the World, to appear in October 2013. This is a really big number, with strongly driving sections separated by swooping strings, still moving purposefully forward, all massively orchestrated (by Paul Bateman), and of course with Rebecca soaring over all. I thought it a knockout. Here she is, singing it:
To enlarge the image, just click. - Oh! I find you must be logged in (and therefore registered [free]) for that to work.
Rebecca commented: BIG SONG - BIG MOUTH!
Summertime (Gershwin: Porgy and Bess) was a complete contrast, which Rebecca handled with ease. She sings it in its original key, which makes it a surprise to those used to hearing it in lower, more accessible keys. Then, it can seem warm, even lush. That is a lovely effect, but if Mr Gershwin had wanted that effect he would have written it that way. Rebecca gives us what he did write, and she does it masterfully. with any number of particular detail touches. Almost other-worldly, and quite lovely.
After the titles listed above came Fields of Gold, familiar to many. It follows Eva Cassidy, and it is included in Rebecca's CD of the same name. This rendering, of yet another genre, was faultless, and it was greatly enlivened because, as had been planned in advance, a handsome gentleman took the opportunity of "their" song being sung to pop the question to a beautiful lady. And when she said "Yes!" the applause and cheering was unrestrained. A very substantial bouquet of flowers rounded off the romantic episode, to general delight.
Finally we heard Dare to Dream, the new song written mainly by Rebecca, uplifting and inspirational, which will become a later CD. It is all about not giving up, overcoming difficulties - daring to dream, and following that dream. Beautifully written and beautifully accompanied (Paul Bateman again), and of course beautifully sung, it was enchanting, and enthusiastically received, with a number of the audience later asking to buy the CD.
I do not know whether the song is at all autobiographical.
Whether or not that is so, we can be sure that Rebecca's dream is definitely coming true.
I travelled 250 miles to reach this event. Others travelled further - one party covered 500 miles to get there. And all of us considered the time, trouble and money well spent.
The middle part of her set included songs and arias that folk who had been to earlier concerts had mostly heard before, of varied genres, from grand opera to a film theme song, all delivered, naturally, in her unique voice, in appropriate, thoughtful and considered interpretations, with feeling and authority. The applause began earlier and was more enthusiastic with each successive piece. They were
Love Never Dies Mi chiamano Mimi (from La Bohème, Act I)
Carmen: Habanera Il Mio Cuore Va (the Titanic song) I Dreamed a Dream
The set opened with what will be her next single, Heroes to the World, to appear in October 2013. This is a really big number, with strongly driving sections separated by swooping strings, still moving purposefully forward, all massively orchestrated (by Paul Bateman), and of course with Rebecca soaring over all. I thought it a knockout. Here she is, singing it:
To enlarge the image, just click. - Oh! I find you must be logged in (and therefore registered [free]) for that to work.
Rebecca commented: BIG SONG - BIG MOUTH!
Summertime (Gershwin: Porgy and Bess) was a complete contrast, which Rebecca handled with ease. She sings it in its original key, which makes it a surprise to those used to hearing it in lower, more accessible keys. Then, it can seem warm, even lush. That is a lovely effect, but if Mr Gershwin had wanted that effect he would have written it that way. Rebecca gives us what he did write, and she does it masterfully. with any number of particular detail touches. Almost other-worldly, and quite lovely.
After the titles listed above came Fields of Gold, familiar to many. It follows Eva Cassidy, and it is included in Rebecca's CD of the same name. This rendering, of yet another genre, was faultless, and it was greatly enlivened because, as had been planned in advance, a handsome gentleman took the opportunity of "their" song being sung to pop the question to a beautiful lady. And when she said "Yes!" the applause and cheering was unrestrained. A very substantial bouquet of flowers rounded off the romantic episode, to general delight.
Finally we heard Dare to Dream, the new song written mainly by Rebecca, uplifting and inspirational, which will become a later CD. It is all about not giving up, overcoming difficulties - daring to dream, and following that dream. Beautifully written and beautifully accompanied (Paul Bateman again), and of course beautifully sung, it was enchanting, and enthusiastically received, with a number of the audience later asking to buy the CD.
I do not know whether the song is at all autobiographical.
Whether or not that is so, we can be sure that Rebecca's dream is definitely coming true.
