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Dimitra Dourouda: Warning. This is rather long. Hello everyone, First of all, let me thank each and every Story-Fan out there for your lovely reviews. Though a bit late, please allow me to share a few impressions from the shows in Halle and Regensburg, that I was so lucky to attend a few days ago. Burdened by the cancellation of CdeB's show in Athens last July, purely due to the hideous irresponsibility of the local promoter, I arrived in Halle totally overwhelmed! But let's get things from the beginning. I landed in Munich on Friday evening. I was very happy to visit this city not only because it's so beautiful, but also because of certain bells ringing the CdeB way. I.e. the video of the Munich concerts and that old clip I had been sent once, with Chris playing the LIR in a Munich Mall I think, pretending to be a street singer! After a long stroll through the city on Saturday morning, Yvonne, my German friend, drove us to Halle. A light rain late at night was not persuasive enough so a bright and warm day dawned on Sunday, giving me the chance to boast about my witchcraft abilities, I brought the sunshine all the way from Greece, you know. A few hours before the concert, right before the sound check, Yvonne and I met in the market place with my old friend Hannelore, with whom I have traveled in the UK and Germany to see Chris in concert every three years or so since 1998. The three of us had such a great time, which was enhanced when Chris' voice ripped the air. The sound check had just begun and I started getting excited. And then the concert started with the Storyman theme. I was so thrilled to see Chris Live again after three years, performing older and more recent tracks in a carefully planned set list, which was only to be improved into perfection in Regensburg. Being totally in love with When Winter Comes, with which I brainwash everyone who dares ask me to play the piano, I truly enjoyed Chris playing it live. And the Road to Freedom was played on the piano, to my great astonishment and joy. Chris was as thoughtful as to remove his leather jacket that was on the piano, so that it would not hide him >from the spectators. I cannot give you a set list now, as I have misplaced my notebook somewhere, but I am sure other list members will do that soon. Sailor followed by Sailing Away was a very nice surprise as well as the Sweetest Kiss of All. Peaceful Waters and Leningrand also made my day. His voice was superb and he seemed to be enjoying himself although I could discern the odd premier's apprehension, yet only slightly. Where We Will Be Going was the song that opened the band section. My heart bounced a bit because this song always reminds me of the very first CdeB concert I attended in 1992 in Athens, having been the opening date of the Power of Ten Tour. Later on, at some point, a bit of a disaster occurred during Spanish Train, if I remember well. The microphone broke down and Chris went silent. Known for his professionalism and readiness, he just made fun of the situation by playing around with the broken mike while replacing it with a good one, laughing a bit, but continuing with the song nonetheless. I think during The Mirror of the Soul he stepped off the quite high and rather distant from the seats stage via a central staircase to sing among the audience. He was received by great enthusiasm as you can imagine. He got back with a huge smile on his face and a little teddy bear in his hands. My emotion went up high on the sound of the Leader Trilogy since I had never seen it before. What About Me is one of my all time favourites, a true companion in hard times, so inevitably I could not keep the tears from my eyes. This was also the first time that I went to a CdeB concert with a video/light show, which I found very impressive. Right after the Leader, the two security men sitting in front of the stage removed their chairs, and Chris said that if you don't love your audience how they could love you, thus inviting us to approach the stage and begin to dance! Finally, I could be a ten year old again so I started to jump up and down especially on HonEm, Living in the World, My Father's Eyes and of course on the Ferryman. It's time to say good night with SoNY. Nothing more appropriate to celebrate the end of a perfect day, than dinner for my friends and me and a glass of beer in a lovely Italian restaurant. The best part of Monday was spent sightseeing in Halle and buying some exquisite chocolates. Then we set off to Regensburg, one of my best loved German cities, which I never get the chance to photograph extensively though because of the terrible weather. For the best part of the day, the clouds were playing hide and seek with the sun and summer rain would be a regular visitor. My mood was in the same condition. Would I have the opportunity of maybe meeting with Chris and give him my presents from Greece? Or not? Fatal hesitation had to get out of the way. Thanks to the kind intervention of a local guy who was somehow involved in the production, sometime after the sound check in that extraordinary venue, I had a very brief meeting with Chris. It was such a great pleasure and honour to shake hands with him again and give him my gifts. Though in a hurry, he was as kind as always and said that he would do his best to come and play in Athens. I was so incredibly moved. Then we had to go back to my friend's place, she lives in Regensburg, to change clothes because the bottom of my trousers were all covered in mud. The concert started at 20:35. My front row seat gave me the chance to observe the audience. I saw many smiling faces of people greeting each other, most of them being particularly well dressed. Some were quite elderly so I thought that maybe they were related to the owner of that impressive castle or to the municipality of the city. The Storyman theme was playing while the spectators were still pouring in. Then I feared that maybe this audience would not be so warm, but they proved me wrong. You could see the hands clapping under the colourful anoraks, of which Chris made a comment of course, and the feet tapping to the beat. I really loved this particular concert. As it is already said, the dynamics of the set list, though a bit shorter due to technical reasons, were better balanced and even included my favourites Same Sun and Lebanese Night. Christina Myles was lovely and the duet Raging Storm could never find a more appropriate home than Regens Burgh. Because of my wild Mediterranean temperament I always notice the crowd's reaction and this one I found so much warmer and enthusiastic. It was like a party. Chris was even more active on stage, dancing and jumping and keeping eye contact with the audience. He nodded at us to approach the stage and to start our dancing. He also got many flowers, a bottle of wine and a letter. He made the usual joke about the letter addressed to the best lover in the world and another one, about praying for some dry weather but not being heard as the first 15 minutes of the concert were totally rainy. But I think his prayers were well received after all, as the show continued in no rain. In the hope that I have not bored you with this long review, I wish everyone out there a most joyful Summer Tour. Oh, and one last personal message for a wonderful guy I met in Regensburg: Johanne, if you are reading this, next time you give me a tender hug, I will not give you a spank on the head. I promise that and I hope to see you very soon. Oh i am smiling right now. Best wishes, Dimitra ---- Hi again! I tried to come up with the majority, i believe, of the songs performed in Halle and/or Regensburg. In Random Order The Storyman Theme The Storyman Leningrad The Grace Of A Dancer The Sweetest Kiss Of All Spirit One World In My Father's Eyes Raging Storm (Duet) The Mirror Of The Soul When Winter Comes The Road To Freedom Sailing Away Sailor Borderline The Same Sun The Risen Lord/Last Time I Cried Lebanese Night Where Peaceful Waters Flow In A Country Churchyard Lady In Red I See You Everywhere Perfect Day Where Will We Be Going Spanish Train The Leader The Words I Love You Say Goodbye To It All Bal Masque High On Emotion Don't Pay The Ferryman Snows Of New York Cheers, Dimitra |
File last modified on January 3rdth, 2008