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Post by John on May 24, 2014 18:40:43 GMT
Perhaps the biggest classical crossover collaboration of the year, Mary-Jess will be joining Rebecca Newman, Eden, Mariette Davina, Scarlett Quigley and Danielle Thomas for a concert at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York on 6th September at 2pm. It promises to be a fantastic afternoon. York is well connected by rail, making a day-trip quite possible from many parts of the country.
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Post by John on Jun 1, 2014 21:37:17 GMT
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Post by gra7890 on Jun 8, 2014 11:34:54 GMT
Have my ticket safely printed. Very efficient website of Rebecca's....... She certainty has the way of promoting things..... Looking forward to it Only about 40 miles to travel..... Graham C
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Post by Admin on Jun 11, 2014 13:02:33 GMT
Thanks for sharing John I will finally get to say hello face to face. We are planning the content at the moment and you are going to be in for a treat. Can't wait for this concert. Its being about 8 months in the planning and Mary Jess was the final piece I wanted in my jicsaw. Sent from my GT-N8010 using proboards
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Post by Admin on Jun 11, 2014 13:07:38 GMT
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Post by John on Jul 7, 2014 5:46:57 GMT
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Post by gra7890 on Aug 6, 2014 20:34:31 GMT
There are only two World War 2 Lancaster Bombers still airworthy. One with 'The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight' (BBMF) and one across the Atlantic with the 'Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum'
As I write this it is due to land at Iceland in a 'trip of a lifetime' (at it's age) to visit the U.K and fly with the BBMF. The two Lancaster's will fly together at various Airshows this Summer, mainly in the South and Lincolnshire. I doubt this will ever be repeated given the age of the planes and the distance etc.
On the 6th of September they are flying up to Prestwick for the Scottish Air Show. They are due to fly over various locations on route as a 'Flypast'. The published list has one such flypast at 'Allerton Castle' which is only about 14 miles West of York. I rang them today and was told it is 'closed for the day for a function' (presumably why the flypast is going over there ? ) However the Manger was very helpful and said I would get the same view from the road nearby.
He also told me that the flypast is due at 1.00pm (not on the BBMF published list)... so just enough time to see it and get to the Concert in good time! Can't miss this chance to see them in the air!
Hope there are no mechanical mishaps, which can easily happened with these 'Veterans', and also the Weather is kind, as many things could abort the flypast.
The Canadian Lancaster is also visiting Teesside Airport on 28-08-14. It was based there during WW2. As I can hear the planes landing and taking off at Teesside from my home I think I might just be able to see it at close hand then as well !
Graham C
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Post by John on Aug 30, 2014 10:50:55 GMT
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Post by gra7890 on Aug 31, 2014 22:38:36 GMT
..... the flypast is due at 1.00, so just enough time to see it and get to the Concert in good time! Can't miss this chance to see them in the air! Hope there are no mechanical mishaps, which can easily happened with these 'Veterans', and also the Weather is kind, as many things could abort the flypast. The Canadian Lancaster is also visiting Teesside Airport on 28-08-14. Hi, Mixture of Good and Bad news... Good........ I had a great time on the 28th....Stood in a queue for nearly 3 hours, but it was worth it; I got to go inside the Lanc' for a tour....also got to sit in rear and central gunners position. Bad .... It 'blew' an engine the next day and had to return to Teesside for a complete new engine refit. They have been working round the clock and it should be doing test flights tomorrow. Good..........Hopefully still on for Saturday and a revised time of 12-15 gives me more time to get to York in good time. Graham
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Post by John on Sept 7, 2014 21:52:16 GMT
What a fantastic afternoon! Each of the artists performed brilliantly, but this forum is about Mary-Jess so I will confine my description to her performance. The first song of Mary-Jess's all too brief set was the Downton Abbey theme, 'Did I make the most of loving you?' I have heard Mary-Jess sing this several times but have to admit it has never particularly struck a chord with me. I'm not sure what was different yesterday - maybe the way she introduced it, or maybe a little more emotion in her voice, but I found myself connecting with the song more deeply than ever before. 'Lighthouse of Mine' is my favourite song from Shine, and the tears flowed uncontrolledly down my cheeks as I sat spellbound once again. 'Glorious' should have been next, but technical problems meant the soundtrack wouldn't play. This gave the opportunity for a longer introduction to the next song; no problem as Mary-Jess's melodic speaking voice is almost as much of a joy to listen to as her singing. So on to the next track - an earlier than anticipated launch into the Chinese 'Spring Ballet'. Mary-Jess has sung this as her finale every time I have seen her perform (and there have been a few ) since last December and I don't think I will ever tire of it; it is just as spectacular and thrilling each time I hear it. As Mary-Jess was leaving the stage, Rebecca said maybe there would be a chance to hear the missing song later. Just then, a voice piped up from the back: 'It's ready to run'. So back Mary-Jess came to give a breathtakingly sublime performance of 'Glorious'. I have said before that Mary-Jess seems to get better each time I hear her sing. Aside from the brevity of the set, I think this was perhaps the best performance that I have witnessed from her yet. No photos were allowed during the performance, but perhaps some other members have pictures taken afterwards that they could share on the forum.
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Post by Admin on Sept 7, 2014 22:13:16 GMT
Thanks for posting John. It was the first time I have met Mary Jess and she was more than I could have hoped for. She is indeed a beautiful talented lady inside and out. She even was great with my 2 children as my 8 year old Millie is one of her biggest fans. I wish her well in Nashville next week Sent from my GT-N8010 using proboards
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Post by gra7890 on Sept 8, 2014 22:11:52 GMT
Well my two year wait to see Mary-Jess sing is over. I have had a couple of near misses; like been in Gloucester the day M-J is due to sing at the Guidehall at 7-00pm but with the awful December weather we had to drive back in daylight ! My day did not start well……. I got in a great place to see the Lancaster flypast only for the weather to force a cancelation ! Then I hit the ‘Horse Racing’ traffic, and an accident just ahead closes the Ring Road. After 15 mins I decided to join those doing three point turns and find another way. After an 'interesting' route through an Industrial Estate and Shopping complex I mange to get back to the Ring Road the other side of the closure. Things improve from here with the road quiet I find my way to the Theatre car-park without any more problems. I see everyone is still stood outside…. The doors don’t open until 1-45pm as there are still rehearsals happening. I take the chance to meet John and catch up with MartinD (from H.W.I)….. Eventually we get inside, a very nice small Theatre. I will stick to a review of Mary-Jess except to say my enjoyment of the other Sopranos was spoiled by the amplification which when they hit high notes was a strain on my ears ! Not so with Mary- Jess ! Mary-Jess was OUTSTANDING it helped that 3 of her 4 songs were amongst my favourites but I found the tone of her voice beautiful and I was ‘spellbound’ . Her 4 songs finished all too quickly. Affter the concert I saw Mary-Jess and she kindly signed my collection of CD’s. My thanks to MartinD who kindly took some Photo’s …….. My new Avatar…. The day ended far too soon……… In case you are wondering, I traveled back on Sunday and got to see the two Lancaster’s…. Awesome sight and sound ! I combined it with a trip to see the Roman Mosaics in the ‘forgotten’ Roman town of Aldborough…. Which in its day rivalled York, but after the Romans left it fell into ruin…… Ground Penetrating Radar has just found the site of an Amphitheatre so I expect it will become more well-known. Amway back to Mary-Jess……. I hope it is not another two years before I get to see a full Mary-Jess concert. Graham p.s. John was at the front; many people were taking photo's behind him. I think it was a 'standard' Theatre announcement but the 'Songbirds' did not mind.......
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