Concert Review: Moscow, Russia - March 9, 2008
Anna Dolgikh:
Dear all! This is my review of the concert in Moscow held on the 9th of March 2008. It will differ greatly from my St. Petersburg review. But together with it, it is its continuation... First of all to help you understand the atmosphere of Moscow, of the Kremlin Palace (place of the concert) and the atmosphere of the concert itself I will write a couple of words about the concert's organization. The prices for the thickets were very high. Centre of the 1st row cost 415 euro. Centre of the 2nd and the 3rd rows – 340 euro, centre of the 4th and 5th rows – 285 euro. Far-far away from the stage there were the tickets for 80 euro and less. Why? It is a specific of Moscow. All is very expensive here. Without a reason. The only factor is the following. If you know that enough people can pay 400 euro for the ticket – the price will be so. If you are sure the people can pay 800 euro – ok, no problem the price will be 800 euro. Now about the Kremlin Palace. It is a huge dark hall for 5000 – 6000 seats, I guess. And even from the first row you could hardly see the faces of the people on the stage. In this Palace there could never be a 100% relaxed atmosphere! It is a very specific hall! We have bought the first row tickets. I wanted to see Chris and to be sure that at least two people - me and my husband - will be smiling, singing and clapping hands in the first row. :) Having bought the first row tickets I was happy and was waiting for the concert ... until one day I found out that in front of the first row the organizers decided to put five additional rows of VIP parter. For a high price of course... So I just had to accept that for 415 euro I have bought the 6th row ticket. Why is it so? Moscow again... Now about the audience. The audience was really warmer than in St. Petersburg. To tell the truth when I heard how the audience was greeting Chris when he came out I felt some kind of joy that I was from Moscow, not from St. Petersburg... The audience was really warm and friendly. I think every audience (especially if to speak about the different countries, different cultures) has its way of being nice, of being friendly. So in a way the Russian audience used to show its love and respect it has shown them to Chris. Our seats were in the middle of the first row (not VIP, as you remember :)). From this place I can hardly see Chris's face, Chris's eyes. But before the beginning of the part with the band I was lucky to move to the 4th row of VIP parter. At the end of the concert I moved even to the 2nd row. I guess I should also tell what was happening in the hall. So the Kremlin Palace is situated on the territory of Kremlin, where our government is situated. There are VERY strict rules there. However, I was really lucky. Close to our seats there was a very nice security. I had a pleasant talk with him before the concert and also he did a great favor for me – he said nothing and allowed me to stay in the 4th row when I moved there, while under the rules of the Kremlin Palace I had no right to move there). Nevertheless you have to obey the securities totally. So the securities were seating in the gangways just between the first row's seats and do not let anyone from the other rows to come in the area of the first row and VIP zone. The whole audience starting from the 2nd row was cut off from the stage. The securities only allowed people who had flowers to come to the stage and to present flowers. But some people had to stand and to wait when the securities allow them to pass. So we were really lucky! We turned out to be in a rather free space. We were not cut off from the stage and Chris. And I can present my flowers where ever I want and needn't ask a security. Now two words about the people in VIP parter. I had a quick look at them, as I was concentrated on Chris. :) I suppose there were no huge fans among them. But I know that a lot of huge fans were far away from the stage, because the tickets were very expensive. It should be vice verse, right? What amazed and hurt me is that the part of the VIP audience just left when Chris said "Good night" and left the stage for a couple of minutes before the encore songs while the whole hall was clapping, shouting and was full of emotions... It seemed to me that Chris noticed that they had left... Ok, let me go further. How can the people living in St. Petersburg influence the lives of the people they have never met? "Everywhere connections are breaking away..." What can I say about the concert? It was perfect. Perfect for the Russian audience. The audience liked the concert very much and was very happy. All went smoothly. There were lots of applause. Chris was extremely nice, extremely gentle, seemed to be in the harmony. In the harmony with the Russian audience. The audience really liked the concert. Very, very much! Many happy faces after the concert. Chris sang almost the same songs as in St. Petersburg. He only didn't sing "Boderline" and "The Same Sun" and added "A Spaceman Came Travelling" and "Bal Masque". May be there were some other differences that I just didn't notice. There was an amusing episode. When somebody shouted from the audience "The Lady in Red" Chris's answer was very funny. He said: "Lady in what??? Oh, it was so long ago, my memory is not so good". :) We all laughed. But it turned out that the next song was just "The Lady in Red". :) There was a very moving moment during the concert. In the middle of the concert one man approached the stage with a huge bouquet of red roses. He presented them in a very artistic way. With the beautiful gestures he expressed his admiration towards Chris and his songs and then presented him with flowers. Chris was very touched. The Lady in Red walk around the audience was great as usual. The audience was in delight! I think that Chris has danced with every lady who was in red on this concert. :) What should I also write about the concert? I was amazed that starting just from the second part of the concert songs went one after another without any stop... There was a very strong musical accompaniment. There were no movies during "The Leader" trilogy. In St. Petersburg there were also no movies. But I thought that was because of the technique problems of that hall... In Moscow as usual Chris left his place in the centre of the stage during he was singing this trilogy, but ... no movies... There was no dancing part. Only when Chris was singing the encore songs he said that we could stand up if we want. Chris looked ... Can't find the right words... Pleased and calm?... Concentrated?... Nice?... All is close, but all is not that... Sorry... It is very difficult for me to write this review... Just don't know why... I had a strange feeling on the concert in Moscow. I saw Chris. He was rather close ... and far away simultaneously. During the whole concert I couldn't overcome this feeling. For me everything was perfect and not. Perfect outside me and not perfect inside me. I think I would have never understood Chris's mood during the concert in Moscow if I hadn't been to St. Petersburg concert... And I am still wondering why the only song that I remember from the concert is the song "Bal Masque"? Still clearly hear in my head how Chris is singing something about open doors, masks... What I am trying to say is that there was something behind this perfect concert... I felt so... So if you now look through this review once again you may notice that some phrases (only some, not all! :) ) begin getting another meaning... I have put something behind the few phrases just to make this review be similar to the concert itself... Kind regards, Anna Dolgikh