Re: CONCERT REPORT: Vienna, Austria, July 27, 2013
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 12:23 am
by susanne30072009
We just arrive last night from Vienna; what a City!
This very beautiful, historical Buildings from the "K + K"-Epoche...
The View is breathtaking... not only, because it was 39°, which was obviously very much "too much", at least for me....
But this historical Buildings are countless.... And all are just in a exceptionally Trim: the all are newely restored....and the Dimension of the Streets, from the Places and from the Buildings are extraordinary... Vienna is totally different, it is really playin' in another League
Never ever saw so many beautiful, old and perfectly restrored Buildings in a City. And, with a view exeptions, you can look at them and see theme all "by foot"...
The Concert:
"There's a Concert Hall in Vienna, where you Mouth had a thousand Reviews.."
And all of theme has to be exceptionally good... everything else can't be right; who's says something else, was definitely visiting another Concert.
First of all: it was a very touching Evening with Leonard and all his Band and Crew; even Leonard and the UHTC-Members gave us the Feeling, that the Concert was a especionally Evening last Saturday Night... I mean, you know the differences and you can understand theme: nobody can't be in the same "Shape", Day after Day, Night after Night, Concert after Concert....
And so we did realise it very soon, that this will become "a memorable Evening" with him, THE MAN and the UHTC.
Even the Tourbook-Sales-Man welcomed us by giving us a "hug"... this was very touching for me: I see the Man since 2008 only at the LC-Concerts, and I know from himself, that he's "on the Road" for over the last 20 Years.
So you know, the Perfromance itself, a Part of the Audiences and, of course, the Cohenites, becomes to a big "Family" in a kind of Way...
I would like to describe it, what's goin' on, when I'm in the Audience and waiting "for the Miracle to come".... But it is simply not possible: it is indiscrebable for me and it's overwhelmed me everytime with pure Emotions.... I can't say it with other words... The Words can't get in touch with the experience itself; it is simply not possible, never can't be...
The "Stadthalle Wien" has the Charme "of a Deepfreezer", beside from the fact, that the Temperature was quite the oppisite...
When we entering the Stadthalle at 18.30, it was still 34°.
And then the mess with the V.I.P.-Catering started: what the Concert-Organizer was thinking, when he organized V.I.P.-Catering-Area: this will be his personal secret for ever...
I mean, not even the staff didn't know, where they have to send us. At every Checkpoint, I told the Staff-Member, that we want to go to the V.I.P.-Catering-Area.
And what did they do? They send us in the "counter-Clock-Direction", directly to our Seats....
When I realise this, we get back to the last Checkpoint and tell theme once again, that we are hungry, that we have the V.I.P-Tickets and that we want a Drink: in other Words: that we want a part of this, what's in the V.I.P-Tickets are included: Good, a Drink, just simply to go to the V.I.P-Catering-Area!
You know, it was the very first Time, that we bought V.I.P.-Tickets with Catering and so; I mean for E 295 (each one).... I mean, this is a lot of Euros, isn^t it....
I can't afford it at every Occasion. But we have had a very good reason: my Wife had her 60th Birthday two Days later, that's why we buyed the V.I.P-Tickets...
Then, 35 Minutes, before the Concert was start at 19.30, a Controller-woman showed a little bit of compassion, grab her cellphone and ask for the V.I.P.-Catering-Area... and hey, she told us, where we have to go: back, where we came from..... c'mon....
So we was Walking through the whole Stadthalle again (you can't go straight, you have to go around the Center Stage-Floor).
Then we have to enter a stairway and passing through a Checkpoint, where we get our "Plastic Blue V-I-P-Bracelet". This "blue Bracelet" allowed us the entering of the V.I.P.-Catering-Area....
I personally was hoping to try out some of the sooo many different Menues, that they had there.... but we simply didn't have any Time left! We all know, that Leonard want to start sharp....
And we have to say this: the V.I.P-Catering-Area was way TOO HOT!! I didn't understand this: this wasn't surely not the first Performance with a V.I.P-Catering, they surely have experiance.
And so they have to know about how to instruct the Staff and to organized a view Airconditions or Ventilators...
It was a "Little scandal" when you see, what you have earned for E 295. The "normal" Price for the Seats in the first rows was E 120.... Do I have to say more?
So in fact we have a 2 Mile-Walk and 2 glases of Strawberry-Champagner for E 350! THIS IS, sorry to say, A SCANDAL FOR ME. It has absolutely nothing to do with Leonard Cohen and all of the Band-Members
Infact, I'm sure, if Leonard himself would know about this mess with the V.I.P-Tickets and the V.I.P.-Catering, he would be the first one, who would stopped things like this,
IT IS DAYLIGHT ROBBERY! Nothing else! But I knew, thar Leonard and the UHTC will be make this mess up.... and they did it in a perfect Way!
And, honestly: I was hoping to get some things, what they get in the States, when the buyed a V.I.P-Ticket: but we didn't get NOTHING. No Litho, no "hankey" with the "LC"-Monogram, no small LC-Wallets or whatever they gave to the V.I.P.-Ticket-buyers there...
There was not even a Person, who did know, where they have to send you to the VIP-Room with the Food and the Drinks....
I mean, for E 580, I can expect a little more "knowing", a Little bit more of Respect and a fair Buffet and: enough Time!
I will write to the local Concert-Manager: this is just a shame for the Concert-Organizer.....
"And I'll Dance with him in Vienna...."
The Concert was another outstanding Performance! The People clapped, before they enter the Stage.... and then, the Fire was lightening up! It's another high-Quality-Evening with Leonard, Sharon, Hattie, Charley, Javier, Andreu, Mitch, Roscoe, Neil and Raffael... another perfect Concert with so very much Highlights...
I saw the Show 5 times 2013, but I get not tyred to see and hear them again and again and again... it's hard to understand, I know and I can understand the critics, who says: if you have him see once, you knew it.... that is simply not the fact, especially not with Leonard Cohen.
He's a pure Magician, a true and professional Gentlemen who treats his Audiences with respect and gratitude. The Feelings: I can't tell in Words, what goes on inside of me, when I did see him and all of the UHTC (even the Tourbook-Salesman) again: it is just "pure" and "real" for me; in this very rare Moments: nothing else is important, litterly nothing else matters anymore... He bring out a total different side of me... I am not an extroverted Man, in reality: I'm in fact a Little shy. But when Leonard enters a Stage, I'm in another World, in another Dimension: nothing else counts (without any Substances). I can really describe it in better Words. Imean, I have seen hunderts of Musicians over the Years. In Fact, I'm a Elvis-Fan (the 1969 to 1977 Elvis). I do like Barry White, Tina, Bruce, Rainhard Fendrich, Pink Floyd... they are countless. I do like Classics. But also the Crooners.... But what this Man can do with me: I really don't understand it myself.... he put me straight in another Dimension. What he does withe the Words, with simple Words, that is outstandning. I'm melting away each and every time, when I hear him. But when I see him, then it is so much more intensiv to me!
You can imagine, what was goin'on in Vienna, when Leonards Tribute to Federico Garçia Lorca, the first Tunes of "Take this Waltz" can be heard: the whole Audience stands up and we all sing and Dance the whole Song together....
But before this, there was some Scene, that I never had to whitnessed at a Leonard-Cohen-Concert: again, this has to do with the local Concert-Organizer: after "Lover Lover Lover", Leonard announced the Break (as he does since Lucca).
So the "normal" rush to the Drinks or to the refreshing Rooms starts. And then the People get back into the Center Stage Floor. Normaly, the Staff tell the People, that they have to go to their Seats. But not in Vienna. They let the People stand at the Stage-Chaine. Leonard was allready Playin' "Tower of Songs" (without any Panflute-Tunes this time; but instead of his well knowed "Are you houmering me" he says: "Ah, you are sooo very cruel"). And, as a true Leonard-Cohen-Fan, I thought, that I have to go to the Stage-Chain right now, because after this, it will be too late...
And then, some ugly Scenes came up: right before the second third of the Song, they deside to send the People back to their Seats....
You can imagine, what a Tohuwabohu begun: some of the Fans didn't want to leave; I formyself turned around and walk "over my row-neighbours" again...
And some of the Securitys get's in a bad Mood: he was shouted so loudly to a Woman. Her Husband screaming back some Words, that I dind't want to use here...
Leonard did see, what was goin' on and try to "cool" theme down in his very own style...
He was successfull, and everybody was "cooling down"...
But, as usual, by the Introductions at the End of "Take this Waltz", noone can't hold the crowd back.
So we run for it. Lucky me: I was in a super-Position, directly in front of LC, so I could make over 1'000 Pictures.... the best I ever could make from LC and the UHTC.
"So Long, Marianne" was the second climax: when the Audience-response is very good, Leonard let them sing the Refrain.... and he let us quite a view Times.... he was a Little bit touched.
Of course, it is not the first Time, that I have this Feeling... But as I said in a Interview with the "Westdeutscher Rundfunk" before the Concert starts in Obergausen at the 25th of June: He gives you the Feeling, that he is here and sing only for you personally.
Then the "Lazy Bastard" whos "living in a Suit" brings some silence back, before the third climax was delivered: and so we "Take Manhatten" in a stroke: the Walls of the Stadthalle was shaked in the Refrain from the Audience.
"If it be your Will" was perfectly clear: instead of Hattie, poor Sharon has a cold now (it's not necessary to say: nevertheless Sharon delivered an absolutely Super-Version of "Alexandra's Leaving": get well soon. Sharon!!)
Then, "Closing Time" neared slowly, but surely...
Im a Little bit proud that I can say: with a view People at the left from the Stage, we could animate the Audience, who was Standing in the Stagefloor, to Sing after Leonard's Refrain "It's Closing time" together "No No No".... It became louder and louder...
A lot of Poeple smiled, even Leonard, Sharon, Hattie, Charley, Javier, Andrea, Mitch, Neil, Roscoe and Raffael was having a Little Fun; It was great!
When the first Tunes of "I tryed to leave you" can be heard, we all know, that the Concert was coming to his end.
Personally, I was hoping for "Save the last Dance for me", and Leonard didn't disappointed me.... he never did, he never ever will do, because it is simply not possible.
Sure, I was hoping to hear "Anthem", "Waiting for the Miracle", "Different Sides", "The Window", "When the Night Comes on", "La Manic" and most of all "Anyhow"....
But I know, this list would be endless, if everybody can tell him, "please sing this one or that one"....
Leonard: I'll take every Song, you want to sing!
I deeply appreciate your Work and your Effort, to go on Tour, to enter the Stages around the World....
One Thing makes me sad: 5 from my total of 6 Concert are "past"....
That's why I have buyed tickets to the last European Concert in Amsterdam, which makes me smile...
I really could't write my Feelings down in the right Way... I just can say: he is Leonard Cohen.
He has the best Musicians around him.
He is a perfect Gentlemen.
He is delivering a Concert, which is worth any Money....
He's a true Master and Plays in his own league! Nobody cant't reach him...
If you have the opportunity to see him life on stage: don't miss it, that's all I can say
And I did see, tha some Concerts in Australia ans New Zealand are announced... so maybe we have alittle Chance for another European Tour.
Personally, I don't expect this. I think, a new CD and, most of all, a new DVD and CD from the European and American Concerts 2013 would be JUST GREAT. SO THIS IS MY PERSONAL WISH TO THE MANAGEMENT, if Lenny decides, not to go on Tour in Europe in 2014...
I just love the Live-Experiances with Leonard and the UHTC!
Take care. Lenny, and enjoy all of it! Have Fun; you gave us everything! That's more then we can ask for! Love you!
Uwe + Susanne, Switzerland
Re: CONCERT REPORT: Vienna, Austria, July 27, 2013
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 4:30 pm
by susanne30072009
Hi Albert
You're absolutely right; they overreacted at this stage.... Saw never ever something like this at a Leonard-Concert... And what a language they used to the People...
But as I wrote before: the local Concert-Organisation did not a very good Job... in fact, they did a bad one...
But, of course, Leonard and the UHTC make this "Images go away"....
But I was very sad, when I did see, what they did to the People in the front...
The Crew make the mistake: they should never ever allowed the People to stay there... but they was having a "Break" too, and so the things goes their own Way...
And on the other Hand: what they didn't to to the VIP-Ticket-Buyers....
Makes me a Little bit angry...
But as I said: has nothing to do with LC... But if they had seen a LC-Show or hearing to the People, who did know something about the Show (or maybe ask the Crew?), this all not would be happened...
Albert: thanks for your Videos, great as always....
Uwe + Susanne, Siwtzerland
!!!