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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
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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
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