Yes, was a very strong performance from Leonard and ´the band´last night lasting 3.5 hours ending at 1-00 a.m.
You have heard all the others and many more will tell you about Leonard and the concert in a plus + plus +ve way - so from me (you know) is a little more
objective report for those who couldn´t be in Barcelona last night (a beautiful, languid, friendly city, made for walking, eating and reducing stress for other European city dwellers we think - a week here is worth a month elsewhere
)
In the fantastic venue, Palau Sant Jordi, a beautiful (Olympic sports) hall... the whole setting up on Montagne Montjuic takes the breath away, I hope Leonard and the crew had time to take it all in, what beauty. The walk up from Pl. de Espagne along the wide boulevard towards the magnificent Palace of Nationale de Mountjuic, equally pleasant as a warm-up, using the many escalators for the climb to reduce sweat and any pre-concert exertion!
At the very top of the climb, approaching via the 1992 Olympic Stadium and as Palau Sant Jordi came into view, the sun setting colourfully behind serried mountain ranks, within minutes the tops of long rows of tall pylons lit up yellow but with the magnificent engineering sculpture of the Telecomms tower dominating the whole scene, as we looked across low-lands to the airport and coast many miles away.
Hopefully many beautiful images [here] when we arrive home tomorrow night (yes, altogether 6 great days in Barcelona, and maybe 30 miles walked or more!)
Relaxed and languid, the crowd sensed a great occasion waiting, helped by low-key but efficient and well-mannered organisation and entry through security, we were inside in just minutes, to see the fabulous hall... space, space, space and good safe seats, many, many food and drink stalls, lavados and LC equipage - nothing was going to be annoying or a problem... unlike the dreaded and badly designed O2 in London!!
Although like all venues food & drink was expensive, at least the Spanish have the good brains to
not sell 'smelly yukky take-away´food that can be dropped everywhere
= = The concert = =
9-30pm many still not taking seats, so 5 minutes later, down went the lights and on they came, to an immediate standing ovation, with everyone trying to sing Happy Birthday Leonard, but the crowd kept applauding at every attempt
It soon dawned that the Barcelona audience was so enthusiastic to see and hear and having waited so long for this arrival, every solo was prematurely applauded, almost every first verse, every change in tempo so that muscially -
this was not the best time and place to appreciate the muscial excellence of the European Tour !
A fantastic atmosphere, exceptional audience appreciation, a true celebration, especially with Javier being in home town - tears came to his eyes I saw at least once - a very humble man and undoubted virtuoso...
but to be honest, the Palau Sant Jordi hall had an echo that limited the sound engineers maybe, especially noticeable when Raphael Bernardo was using strong cimbals and higher sounding rhythm drums... one time I thought just the crowd at the back were clapping in unison- But No - it was the hall echo! It reduced clarity of vocals, Leonards especially, maybe the sound-engineer had to 'adjust' to compensate.
Finally, some great solos during 'I tried to leave you' - some prematurely interrupted (we do like to hear the subtlety of the improvisations), however Raphael Bernardo overcame this cleverly once again using his
'false stop and clap-along-with-me technique
Something strange during 'If it be your will' - always such a beautiful performance - a loud and maybe? rude interruption by someone behind us (zone 105) - we have evidence on video, maybe a translation later please?
We also thought Leonard was particularly composed and took good time above the wild applause to give his many thanks and blessings to everyone he could think of - I like apples and I like honey too, so this was a perfect send off for a notably quiet and pleasant walk back down the hillside arriving back at our hotel in balmy warmth at 2-00am (did anyone else spot the funny policeman trying to control both traffic and pedestrians with his whistle - we heard it 5 minutes before the crossing and 10 minutes after -)
How different it would have been the night before, when there was a HUGE thunder-storm and inches of rain in 2 hours - but having been to Wetbridge, we were well equipped to survive anything Barcelona could thow at us
Thankyou Leonard and the band, probably the last time we will get to see you live. Happy Birthday