ALFIE BOE

[Marian]

More info from last night's performance while the memory is still fresh! I took one photo before the concert began and then my battery failed.
A fantastic orchestra, officially The Heart of England Orchestra, but last night dubbed "Boe's Band". A choir that entered on both sides of the stage for certain numbers and then filed out again. Everyone just about squeezed on stage when the choir were on.
Alfie had asked Boe's Band to wear "party clothes" and one member wore a Justin Beiber tee shirt which Alfie pretended to be shocked about. Matt Lucas came on stage to sing The Impossible Dream with Alfie and turned up in a green waistcoat and tie. Alfie asked if he had come as Toad of Toad Hall!
The tv cameras were in the row behind us, and they also had hand held ones and a big sweeping camera that was at balcony level to the right of the stage. Hopefully some reviews will turn up somewhere.
The song list as well as I can remember, some of the more upbeat numbers we didn't recognise though. Alfie had everyone on their feet and clapping along at the end though while he played the drums.
The Wheels of a Dream (the words appear to mirror Alfie's life and to new little Alfie due at the beginning of January.)
Being Alive/ Someone to watch over me medley.
Maria.
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
Impossible Dream.
Hushabye Mountain.
Bond Theme Medley.
In My Daughter's Eyes (with a film of him playing with little Gracie behind)
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, with Tom Fletcher from McFly.
I Heard the News Today, with Tom Fletcher.
Song of the Siren (sadly no Robert Plant)
Tell Me It's Not True (from Blood Brothers)
It Was a Very Good Year.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
Bring Him Home (Claud Michel Shonberg on piano)
Come What May with Melanie Chisholm.
O Sole Mio (serious and jazzed up version) This was to illustrate Alfie's belief that there shouldn't be divisions between music genres. There is only good and bad music, and he only wants to sing the good, of all kinds.
Laura Knight was a beautiful singer, and sang The Rose and Danny Boy amongst others. The lady who was sitting next to me proudly told me she had looked after Laura when she was a little girl.
Little Shakira, one of the present Cosette's in Les Mis, sang Castle on a Cloud beautifully too. Oozing with confidence.
We really had a lovely enjoyable evening, more fun than we could have imagined, as Alfie has a wicked sense of humour as well as a magnificent voice.
Train problems both going and coming home, but I suppose those are to be expected!

[mariana44]

Thanks Marian-really lovely to hear all about the show--sounds a great selection of music too.

[paul jh]

Thanks Marian for the interesting reports. I'm so pleased to hear that you enjoyed it so much after much anticipation. The song list and guest artists is excellent. I liked his comment about good music.

What was the age range of the audience? I'm hoping it was 9 to 99.

[Marian]

Yes Paul, I should say it was, at least to 80 anyway. Most I should say were forty somethings though (like us!) I was only saying to Peter I was wondering what age Alfie's target audience is, and I think we have the answer - everyone!
I think his shows are a joyous thanksgiving for a fantastic year in his and his family's life, and he's going to enjoy it to the full.
A friend went to the Dome at Brighton last night and a boy with Down's syndrome sang the Impossible Dream with Alfie, and lots of people took up his invitation to dance on stage at the end.
P.S. He's touring in the U.S. next year.

[maureen & harry]

Sounds like you had a great evening Marian & Peter. What a fabulous selection of music. The show had some serious music in it but also there was obviously a lot of fun. Alfie seems a really nice guy and it's no wonder that his fans are increasing in numbers all the time.

Thank you very much for a great report.

[Marian]

Thanks Marian, Paul and Maureen and Harry.

Here's a review from the Bristol Evening Post from the opening night of the tour..
BRITAIN'S favourite tenor came to the Colston Hall fresh from the success of his new album Alfie and backed by a 30-piece orchestra led by James Morgan.

The concert began with Wheels of a Dream from Ragtime, a gorgeous song with a powerful ending, showing off Alfie's amazing vocal range. So many powerful singers lose clarity when they really "go for it" but not Alfie Boe! What a start to the show – how could it get any better?

Sondheim's Being Alive with an unusual arrangement came next and after a few more showstoppers, Alfie handed over to soprano Laura Wright who brought the house down with Bette Midler's The Rose, which, incidentally my daughter sang at my wedding! A beautiful song.

Back came Alfie with The Impossible Dream featuring "Jo from Taunton", who was plucked from the audience to duet with the star.

Alfie's performance of Maria from West Side Story was pure musical ecstasy and when he finished the first half with Tell Me it's Not True, the audience went wild.

Viewers of Strictly will have seen Alfie sing a short James Bond medley at the weekend, which he not only repeated but improved on including Live and Let Die, You Only Live Twice, We Have All The Time in The World, Nobody Does it Better and Thunderball, with it's incredible brass. They just don't write Bond songs like this anymore.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house when Alfie sang In My Daughter's Eyes, complete with video of him with his little girl. It certainly tugged at my heart strings.

The entire audience would have paid to hear just one song and then go home, provided it was Bring Him Home from Les Mis and Alfie definitely saved the best till last. Most performers have to use their falsetto voice to sing this but Alfie just nailed it with all of his customary power and control.

Coming back on to rapturous applause, the encore of Jacobs Ladder with Alfie on the drums was the icing on the Christmas cake. Fantastic.

[mariana44]

What a great review-Alfie and his fans could not ask for more !!

[karl]

Sounds like a wonderful show, it's great when it all comes together.

Too bad the dvd isn't out until March but it gives us something to look forward to.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

A great report on your evening out Marian, and so good to hear that you and Peter enjoyed seeing Alfie, specially as you unfortunately missed out on seeing him in Les Mis. A wonderful selection of songs, and the choir and musicians accompanying him obviously blended well and made those songs perfection. Alfie's popularity seems to be growing day by day simply because he has such a pleasant personality and a sense of humour that appeals to all ages.
We saw him Three years ago playing the part of Camille in The Merry Widow after hearing so much about him and saw a great talent then.
What a great review from the Bristol Evening Post too. He deserves all that and must be feeling really happy the way his life and career is going.

[Marian]

Thank you Lena and Harry, and i agree with everything you've said about Alfie.
I've just added The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face to the song list. How could I have forgotten this, one of my favourites.

[john]

A great review Marian, I am pleased you and Peter had a good time, I know how much you were looking forward to it.

[Sandra]

A lovely detailed review Marian.Looking forward even more to the DVD now.Thankyou

[Marian]

It was a lovely evening after such a long wait to see and hear Alfie live John and Sandra! He was shorter than i'd thought, but we all know that good things come in small packages.
The trains were delayed at both ends of the evening though, on the journey to Waterloo, sadly by a fatality on the line, and getting back to Basingstoke at midnight, we were on a cold and dark almost deserted platform, with a message that our train was delayed "due to a fault on the train that was being attended to." We are given no idea how long for.
Just as we were phoning our son to perhaps drive out to pick us up, about a twenty minute journey, the train arrived twenty minutes late.
We were so relieved, and eventually got home and into the warm at around 1a.m.
Hope you and John had a memorable evening too Sandra?

[Sandra]

What a sad start and bad ending to your memorable evening Marian.

Ours was nothing compared to yours.

The Regimental Band of the RAF were on top form.In the interval we were entertained by 'The Shades Of Blue' Swing Band and we ended the vening with a rousing Christas carol.

Our only hitch was that the heating had broken down in the Whittle Hall and we had to sit all evening in our coats,scarves and gloves as it was such a cold evening.

[Marian]

Alfie is recording Alan Titchmarsh's Show today. He's just back from Australia where he appeared on Olivia Newton John's show.
Not sure when this recording will be broadcast.