Koelnische Rundschau - November 19, 2001

by Sven Öpping

translation by Astrid Nolde-Gallasch


The Nokia Night Of The Proms in Cologne


Meat Loaf and Chris de Burgh rock the arena

The Koelnarena is almost bursting. The mobile phone producer Nokia invited
for a "dance", and offered a mixture of stars that is unique. A large stage, a
giant orchestra and an excellent choir were the basics for this wonderful
evening.

The mixture is doing it! It's probably the well-balanced relation between
classical music and the cracking rock sound of the electric guitar that
attracts people to such an event.

The show that lasted three and a half hours altogether started with the
piece "Also sprach Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss. The first highlight of the
evening was Martin Fry with his song "The Look Of Love".

After John Miles (Music) and Adiemus (Adiemus) played her hits, it became
for the first time really loud in the arena. Megastar Chris de Burgh breathed
his "Lady In Red" into the microphone. But the Irishman proved that he can do
more than that with his rock songs "Don't Pay The Ferryman" and "High On
Emotion" with which he motivated the audience to sing along.

De Burgh came so close to his fans that some could touch the hand of their
star and completely came out of himself. After this brilliant show the star
fell exhausted on stage. 

A little pause followed. When the refreshed audience entered the hall again,
superstar No. 2 came on stage: Laith Al-Deen presented his superhit "Bilder
von Dir".

But the masses waited with bated breath for the man who goes wild on stage
like a werewolfe and looks like 12 bottles of Irish Whiskey or the butler from
"Dinner for one".

Of course we're talking about Meat Loaf. The excentrical musician showed the
enthusiastical audience what real rock'n roll is. He yelled around, looked
very mean, and sweated the last bit of fluid out of his body in the blinding
spotlight.

His No. 1 hit "I'd Do Anything For You" was a class for itself.
Interestingly enough his daughter is singing in the background choir and she
does her job
almost as well as her father. Maybe she has a big future ahead of herself
like her Dad... We'll see.

At last there was the Beatles classic "Yellow Submarine" with all performing
artists. A really successful evening. Who has missed this sensation, gets
another chance. On December 22 the super show comes back to the Koelnarena.