London Palladium 1st December

[RENA 0]

Dear members who have attended the Dalaras Concert for Cyprus in London, where are you?

Please give us a report!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Did it really happen?

RENA

[Diane 34]

Hi Rena!

Yes, it happened and it was Fabulous!!! Just a brief post, as I have work to do at the moment!

Dalaras, in black suit and white shirt (same as at the Megaro) sang beautifully, as did Deborah Myers. I'm afraid I got back home very late last night, and had to get up early for work, so have forgotten to bring the progamme with me, which listed the songs. The only songs I knew and can remember are -

Mi mou thimoneis matia mou

El emigrante

Itan pende itan exei

I'm sure the other members will post soon with more details than I can remember at the moment.

And I have now met some Forum members, which was lovely.

Micki - thank you so much for the gift, which was eaten in the car on the way home as we hadn't had any food since 2.30 pm that afternoon!

To all the others - Kate, Geske, Agnie, Lynne, Marijke and the others I didn't get a chance to speak to properly - it was so nice to meet you. Sorry we didn't find you afterwards to say goodbye, but we left by a back entrance and had to return to the car as soon as possible so we could get home.

Rena, sorry it's not more detailed, but I'm not awake yet and must now try to do some work!

[Apostolis 2,082]

I'm full of curiosity!!!!! How was this concert? What happened?

[Olga Fendrych 0]

Apostoli, there's a good guy, let them recover, well?

No food, no sleep, a long way home (or not yet).... and the adrenalin + happiness alone can't help there.

Lynne? YOU there? Could you swim that far?

[francois 4]

Could you swim that far?

I could, in a dream :lol: , but couldn't attend the concert...

[franz averstegge 5]

There is no report,because the whole audience is sitting in a plane,flying to Kopenhagen to the next concert!!!!!!!!!!

[Annemarie 19]

There is no report,because the whole audience is sitting in a plane,flying to Kopenhagen to the next concert!!!!!!!!!!              

What a nice thought, Franz !

[Geske 37]

Sorry, all. Maybe later. I am still speechless.

[Olga Fendrych 0]

Could you swim that far?

I could, in a dream :lol: , but couldn't attend the concert...

Francois, I must laugh reading that, you know

Ονειρα γλυκα, ρε φιλε μου.Geske, you are OK, I hope, by now?

YOU speechless, incredible....

[Diane 34]

Right everyone, I am now fully awake and can report properly!!

I'm not surprised Geske is speechless - it was another wonderful concert, with a really good atmosphere and very few spare seats in the stalls, which were all reserved for "dignitaries and VIP's".

Lynne had warned us there would be many, many speeches, and indeed someone (who's name escapes me) appeared first and gave a "welcome to everyone" speech. Thankfully this didn't go on for too long before Dalaras arrived on stage to tremendous applause.

The programme gave the list of songs as follows (some I can translate into Greeklish) but they were not sung in this order.

Theos an einai

Na me thimasai

O ouranos fevgi varis

Mi mou thimoneis matia mou

Itan pende itan exei

Ola kala

Aspro peristeri

San ton metanasti

Omorfi poli

Stin arapia

Ta prota logia

The blood of love

Old streets

El emigrante

Amigos para siempre

My home country

Ammochostos

You have assumed wrong

Still waiting

Return

Wearing his black suit and white shirt (again, no tie) George was in fine voice and he very kindly stood on my side of the stage!! The view from the first row of the Royal Circle was fantastic!

Many of the songs were new to me, as a Dalaras beginner, and just like at the Megaro, I loved them all!! Before the concert I went to Trehantiri and bought more CD's (and was given the concert poster from the shop window, which will be framed), one of which was with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. The Palladium concert was very similar. Beautiful songs, beautifully sung in the first half, although not too much audience participation.

Not so in the second half - George leads Deborah Myers out on stage and she sings three songs. Rena was right, she sings like an angel and the audience obviously knew her very well - she got a rapturous reception!

Then George returns and we get all the old favourites - O ouranos fevgi varis, Itan pende itan exei, Mi mou thimoneis, etc - the crowd clapping, singing along, more rapturous applause. Deborah Myers returns to sing Omorfi Poli (one of my favourites) with George - breathtaking performance yet again!!

The final songs were, I think, from the CD's recorded for Cyprus. Instantly recognisable to the Greeks/Cypriots in the audience, who knew every word, but unknown to me (yet more CD's I have to buy .......)

More thunderous applause followed by encores and then the speeches that Lynne promised us!! Several men in suits were brought out on stage and introduced (it was getting very crowded out there!). And George was presented with a silver plate. But we wanted more singing, and got our wish. One final song (I didn't know it) and then it was all over.

What can I say?? It was fantastic, it was WONDERFUL! When is the next one?? :lol: :lol:

I'm sorry my knowledge of the songs isn't good enough to give you more details, but I'm sure when the other members return home they can give you more information.

[franz averstegge 5]

Thank you so much Diane,for your wonderful and very emotional report!!

I think you are now as Dalaras crazy as we all!!!!!!!!!

Franz and Rita (Dalaras crazy!!)

[Marijke 23]

Just back from London,still tired but oh so happy with all these beautiful memories,I do want to share some of these with you too.

It has been a terrific concert,like what Diana said already,with the first hour,before pauze,very similar to the Israel concert.After the first speech,already people applaused when Dalaras' name was mentioned,it was a great moment to see him coming out on stage! A tremendous applause indeed!

I did not know this first 2 songs,but the greeks did,that's for sure! The 3rd one was H dikh mou patrida....very moving!

And he sang this one again,this time with the collaboration of all of us,how could I ever discribe how I felt...just impossible...

Then songs like Aspro peristeri. Na me thimasse and yes, Theos an einai.And, already soon: Mi mou thimonis matia mou.

Many other songs,like Diana told;I cannot tell order any more, but surely Dromoi Palloi was there and El emigrante.

What can I add, Dalaras was wonderful, the audience at first not participating much,later more. After the pauze it was him who lead Deborah to the stage,and then dissapeared to let her sing her songs. I liked especially her second song, but I cannot give you a name...

After her Dalaras came back and gave us more;Itan pente,itan exi, Ola Kala and more.Here the mainly greek audience were clapping hands and singing of course.It was a smashing atmosphere...

Later the two of them did Omorfi poli,Dalaras gave Deborah the leading part,it was touching to hear him singing so softly.Beautiful.

The last encore was again H dikh mou patrida, such a beautiful song,and so-o-o perfect for being the fial one,my heart burst...

It was a wonderful night,also because of meeting other members. Kate, thank you again,Micki,Margriet,Diana,Anna,Geeske,it was lovely meeting you,and the others,that I didn't get much chance to speak to.Special thanks to Micki,for the tasty Sinterklaassurprise.

Then,last but not least,see some pictures of this unforgettable concert...

[Marijke 23]

Her they are....

[Marijke 23]

another one

[Marijke 23]

One with Deborah,after their singing together

[franz averstegge 5]

Thanks for the great photos Marijke!!!!

[Diane 34]

Marijke - an excellent report, and what wonderful photographs!!!!

[henk de leeuw 0]

Dear members,

the concert was great first two songs were Cyptiotic. Dalaras played 35 songs. The whole cd from 1997 with the Israeli Orchestra and the Cyprus one written by Mario tokas and some old songs. It was really great.

Henkos

[MarianS 0]

Diane, Marijke, thank you very much for your reports.

I wish I had been there too

Marijke the photo`s are fantastic, you had a real good view on him!

[Agnie 1]

Hello to all the members!!!!!!

Μόλις γύρισα από το Λονδίνο!!!!!!!!!!

Μετά από τη συναυλία του Νταλάρα με τη Μαρινέλλα, είχα πει ότι δεν θα υπάρξει καλύτερη!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Έπεσα, όμως έξω.......Και πως να μην πέσω έξω αφού έχω να κάνω με τον Νταλάρα.....Τον άνθρωπο που σε κάθε του συναυλία μας καταπλήσει!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ήταν λοιπόν η πρώτη μου συναυλία......... εκτός Ελλάδας φυσικά!!!!!!!!!!!!

Η συναυλία ήταν φανταστική..........Αν και ο Γ.Ν. δεν ήταν και τόσο ικανοποιημένος και υποσχέθηκε ότι κάποια στιγμή θα την επαναλάβει!!!!!

Η συναυλία ξεκίνησε με 20 λεπτά περίπου καθυστέρηση!!!!!!!!!!

Τα τραγούδια που ακούστηκαν είναι

IF THERE IS A GOD

REMEMBER ME

BLACK ROLLING SKY

DON'T GET ANGRY MY LOVE

FIVE O' CLOCK SIX O'CLOCK

FINE, EVERYTHING IS FINE

WHITE DOVE

LIKE AN IIMIGRANT

BEAUTIFUL TOWN

IN ARABIA

THE FIRST WORDS

THE BLOOD OF LOVE

OLD STREETS

EL EMIGRANTE

AMIGOS PARA SIEMPRE

MY HOME COUNTRY (3 times)

AMMOCHOSTOS

YOU HAVE ASSUMED WRONG

STILL WAITING

RETURN

και 3 τραγούδια που τραγούδησε η Deborah Myers.

Τα τραγούδια με αυτή τη σειρά ήταν γραμένα στο πρόγραμμα που πήρα. Δεν τα είπε όμως με αυτή τη σειρά.......

Ήταν η καλύτερη συναυλία........μέχρι την επόμενη, φυσικά!!!!!!!!!

Σημ: Kate, σε ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Πολλά χαιρετίσματα στα μέλη που γνώρισα στο Λονδίνο

[RENA 0]

Diane Marijke, Agnie thank you so much for the lovely reports and photos.

I hope we hear from other members too

RENA

[s gursu 67]

Diane,Marijke,Henk,Agnie;thank you sooo much for your posts.

And special thanks to Marijke...

The photos are excellent.Really!

S Gursu

[francois 4]

Thanks everyone, for the reports and the photos...

[athina 0]

Thanks to all for the fantastic photos!!!!

What's this about the Royal Albert Hall in March 2003?????!!!!!!!!!! Has anyone heard anything?????

[Micki 1]

The excitement has slowed down. Real life, right back into it now.

I want to thank you all, who were there.

To the ones I already had met before, I was great to see you all again.

Esp. to Kate, thanks a lot for letting us stay with you.

To the ones I met for the first time, it was so nice and interesting to get to know you.

To the ones that wrote the reports and (Marijke) put in the photos, also thank you very much. I don't think, besides the personal emotions that I had there (like everybody must have had), that I can add more.

To the ones who should have been there too, you were in my mind.

I was honored to be there. I had the best time since months.

Thanks again,

Micki