Libera concert in Moscow - a (shorter) review in English.

After the previous Moscow concert I wrote a special review in English - for those who use Google Translate in order to read what I write in Russian. I think I'll do the same this time - especially because some of the troubles of this concert involve poor translation.

Please note this is NOT a translation of the Russian review I've already published, it's a review written by me from scratch. Due to this reason, There aren't any pictures here, for pictures see my Russian language review.

Language barrier

Programme

Just a paper fold with minimum amount of information about the songs (Silent Night is missing), but unfortunately (sic!) in two languages, first Russian and then English. Some gems of this translation (in inverse translation into Russian)

: 1. "Voca me" = You love me 

(I guess this was written by Backstreet Boys or Demi Lovato or somebody of this cohort.) 

2. "I am the day" = Me on the following day 

(what is this? A song about a hangover?)

3. In the bleak midwinter = During a grim solstice 

(A song about a sad astronomer who missed such an important astronomic event).

(honestly, what did they smoke?)

4. How great Thou art = How gorgeous are you! ('great' is not 'gorgeous' and Russian does a proper word (even several) that means 'great'.

'Libera' (song title) not translated at all - just re-written in the Cyrillic script.

Sanctus, Ave Maria = not translated, even though there are Russian canonical terms for these two.

'Joyful Joyful' was translated literally, which gave quite it rather ambiguous meaning. ('Ok ok I'm joyful, I'm joyful, just stop complaining!')

Liberans' speeches

During the previous Moscow concert, all standard Libera speeches had been reduced to just one intro said by Alex Gula. This time Libera changed that: there was an intro speech in Russian (made by Dominik Clarke - who spoke with just a slight accent and by Oliver Mycka whom I barely understood) and a farewell speech by Jack Spicha (again almost without an accent) (great job, Dominik and Jack!) And they decided to keep - almost - all of their usual speeches (about travels, about robes, about the moose etc.), however no translation was provided, so I got an impression people were applauding out of courtesy, rather than because they loved them. Anyway, they applauded the Russian speeches a lot more, especially Jack who almost got a standing ovation and plenty of cheering from the crowd. 

(I'm not complaining about the lack of translation: Russians need to learn English, a de-facto worldwide lingua franca.)

Venue

A brand new concert hall with a HUUUUGE auditorium (3 levels), a big stage with a big organ (that wasn't used during the concert); the acoustics is ok. At least, it is better than in the Moscow Music Hall used as the venue for their first concert two years ago). 

Participants

(it was Patrick who was kind enough to provide me with the precise list of the Libera members who took part at the concert - otherwise I'd been lost.): Marc Alvares, Ethan Barron, Leo Barron, Nathaniel Bates-Fisher, Emanuele Borrelli, Merlin Brouwer, Benedict Bywater, Dominik Clarke, Cassius Collard, Samuel-Francis Collins, Joseph Cranitch, Tadhg Fitzgerald, John Gardner, Alexander Gula, Peter Kielty, Alexandre Menuet, Alexander Montoro, Mathias Montoro, Oliver Mycka, Neo Parson, Koji Shinokubo, Jack Spicha, Camden Stewart, Laurence Taylor, Nicholas Taylor, Rocco Tesei, Romeo Tesei, Calam Virk Tamana, Oliver Watt-Rodriguez, Victor Wiggin

Eimear McGeown (recorder)

Jon Ormston (percussion)

Also present were: Sam Coates and Steven Geraghty (seen after the concert), Barbara Geraghty and Eleanor Lewis (I even talked with the latter after the concert).

Concert

First Part

(before the concert, the usual welcoming announcement about no filming / no taking pictures / no recording was played with no translation into Russian - however some announcement of this kind had been made earlier by the venue.)

1. Do You Hear What I Hear?

(solo Oliver Watt-Rodriguez)

Oliver - good solo, I noticed a slight change re traditional performance (the melody falling half-tone and then rising).

2. Sanctus (in the newest, 'Canon-ical' version)

High notes - Samuel-Francis Collins and someone else. The choir was standing a huge semi-circle.

- Speech in Russian (by Dominik Clarke and Oliver Mycka: 

(Dominik: Good evening, welcome to our concert. My name is Dominik. We are very glad to come back to this wonderful country. Thank you for coming to our performance. Oliver: Good evening. My name is Oliver. I...(unclear) how you spend your New Year holiday. Our next song is about the New Year: In the bleak midwinter")

(Sorry for the gaps: as I said I couldn't understand Oliver properly.)

3. In the bleak midwinter (Gustav Holst)

Solo - Dominik Clarke. A good 'sweet' solo (the kind William Dutton or Henry Jenkinson used to have) with a bit of breathing though.

4. Stay with me:

solo: Oliver Mycka, high notes - Samuel-Francis Collins. Mid harmonies - Tadhg Fitzgerald + ?. The choir was standing in two concentric semi-circles, the soloist was in the centre. Oliver - a good clean solo without breathing or huskiness, but not very strong.

5. Ave Maria (Prizeman)

Solo - Ben Bywater.

A rather problematic solo: shaky, rather quiet, plus Ben was standing on the stage like he'd just been said he'd be going to sing this solo - no stage presence at all! 

Speech by Alexandre Menuet & Victor Wiggin (about their robes.) (I was rather surprised by Victor's speaking voice - it was quite low-pitch, much lower than his singing voice.)

6. Wexford Carol

Solo (in Irish) - Tadhg Fitzgerald: a good solo, without any shaking. Not exactly Isaac London, but still good.

(the impression was murdered by the old lady who was sitting next to me: her mobile phone started ringing and she was so embarrassed she couldn't figure out what to do for quite a while. Honestly, some people should never be allowed to use hi tech equipment!)

7. In paradisum

solo - Rocco Tesei (+ Oliver Watt-Rodriguez)
I suspect Rocco's star period is coming to an end: he really struggled and not only with high notes but even with middle ones, and his singing sounded like wailing at places. I'd think about replacing him with someone else, really.

8. Smile
Solo - Victor Wiggin
Victor is in his 'golden' period right now, so it was a very sweet, strong and beautiful solo (low notes - Alex Montoro, he was standing next to Victor)

9. How great Thou art: 

Соло Oliver Watt-Rodriguez
Oliver's solo was slightly shaky.

Speech: Koji Shinokubo, Cassius Collard

(presentation of the youngest members of the choir and announcement of the two last songs before the break ('one is from our new album and the other one is a very fast song about some ships').

10. Voca me
High harmonies - Leo Barron, main part - Peter Kielty, Rocco Tesei, Tadhg Fitzgerald
A fantastic performance (I put three exclamation points on my programme), no complaints whatsoever.

11. I saw three ships
Recorder - Eimear McGeown, Percussion - Jon Ormston.

Wow, what a brilliant track! Surely the highlight of the entire first part of the concert! I really want to buy this one this very moment!!! Kudos to Sam Coates for another fantastic adaptation of a classical tune. Kudos also to Jon Ormston for the stage presence (I'm sure Eimear was as impressive as him, but I couldn't see her properly from my seat.)

Part Two

1. Carol of the Bells:

'Wordless' solos: Samuel-Francis Collins (very clean), Ben Bywater (slightly shaky), the final tiny solo - Cassius Collard. 

An excellent performance
A speech: Tadhg Fitzgerald, Romeo Tesei (about the Moose)

2. From a distance:

Solo: Merlin Brouwer

Wow! The best solo of this concert is undoubtedly this one. Almost perfection, well done, Merlin!

3. Wayfaring Stranger

Solo - Victor Wiggin - an excellent solo: strong, clean, no complaints whatsoever!

4. Gaudete

Solo - Samuel-Francis Collins (the solo is quite strong, but a little bit shaky).

Did they change the melody again? I really like this new version!
(my main complaint re this track: the orchestra drowned the choir's singing in the end!)

5. I am the day:

Main trio: Dominik Clarke, Peter Kielty, Oliver Mycka, high harmonies - Samuel-Francis Collins
A very good performance!

6. Joyful Joyful

I didn't like the intro (something like 'Jubilate - Adoramus' which, IMHO, didn't fit to the main melody.)

A speech: Jack Spicha (in Russian): And now, unfortunately, our evening is coming to an end and the time has come to our two last songs. Thank you for coming to our concert. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!).
(the audience gave Jack a long and persistent ovation and cheering so loud Jack had to struggle in order to finish his speech. But Jack loved this reaction: he was smiling broadly at the end).
(Jack Spicha's Speech: And now, unfortunately, our evening is coming to an end and the time has come to our two last songs. Thank you for coming to our concert. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!).

7. Silent Night:
solo - Merlin Brouwer; final solo - Rocco Tesei.
Again an excellent solo by Merlin and a very good one made by Rocco
(I loved this version of Silent Night - just the piano and several choristers: very minimalistic and very intimate).

8. Libera:
Main duo - Tadhg Fitzgerald, Rocco Tesei; high notes - Samuel-Francis Collins
Rocco's voice was again very shaky.
.9. (encore) - In Dulci Jubilo

(recorder - Eimear McGeown, percussion - Jon Ormston)

Impressions

Judging by the final standing ovation, the audience loved Libera. However, there were some who weren't particularly impressed with their performance - at least after the first part. There was a couple (mother + daughter) sitting in the first row who complained that Libera members didn't smile, that the tracks were heavily processed (unlike the 'professional' choirs' she'd heard: "I thought they were professional!" I had to give her a bit of explanation re Libera's standing among / vs. 'professional' choirs.

Final votes

Libera = 9 out of 10

Concert organizers = 0 (zero!!!!) out of 10: no advertising (except from the outside of the theatre, on a huge video screen), not even on Facebook! Ticket prices (80 quid for a ticket) are twice as much as in the UK, so half of the seats remained unsold! And, of course, the wretched translation...

Nonetheless, I enjoyed it and I want more!