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Just back in the West after a long drive back after the Ennio Morricone gig in Dublin. A rare opportunity to see the Italian maestro and film composer extraordinaire in action in Ireland and one not likely to be repeated. The music was wonderful. and the sound quality quite good. The 100 strong Dublin Gospel Choir looked and sounded the biz. The soprano soloist, Susanna Rigacci soared effortlessly above the lush string sounds of the 97 strong Roma Sinfonietta. The rain that threatened to spoil the Sunday evening party cleared early in the programme, much to everybody's relief.. The sold out house were in their seats. The sprightly octagenarian maestro appeared on stage, baton raised. Surely the event would command the utmost attention of the sold out house?
If your going to Morricone this eve, be prepared for very unprofessional set up. May as well have been held in Heuston at rush hour!So you would think. Any assumptions that normal concert etiquette would apply were quickly banished as the maestro's baton raising was a cue for a significant proportion of the audience to begin their perambulations. 'Another Beck's is it?' said my neighbouring patron to his companion leaving the seat he surely had paid dearly for as he departed for the far frontier of the refreshment stalls arriving back in time to add his crab like movement to the hushed soprano solo in Once Upon a Time in the West. trampling on my toes while he was it. I was grateful that I was seated a mere dozen rows back and the footfall that went clip clop along the plastic central thoroughfare throughout the evening was somewhat reduced. Had I the misfortune to have been seated any further back, I would have given up and gone home.
— Mary C Lynch (@gliondarcroi) July 28, 2013
Shame on you Pod Promotions for allowing catering stalls to remain open during the performance, proving an irresistible lure for fidgety patrons and meaning further trips for attendant consequences Most including myself had foregone the souvenir programmes at €10 a pop, so didn't know the running order.. An announcement clearly made at the beginning that there would be no interval and at least suggesting people remain seated except in case of emergency, would have been useful And why just one gate open at the opening of the evening? For anyone approaching form the Chapelizod end, it meant a long trek in the rain to the East Gate meaning many patrons arrived disgruntled and wet.
Attend another open air music event delivered this way? No thanks!
Was at Saturday nights concert. Was very good but not memorable. Was far from the "intimate" concert described in the blurb.
ReplyDeleteUnless you had the overpriced programme, you knew nothing about what was going on. Sound was good but I would not have liked to be sitting towards the back where the sound did not impress and the stage was much to far away to be described as intimate.
The concert had all the hallmarks of a cashing in exercise with scant regard for actually ensuring punter's experience was a positive one. The Kilmainham entrance was closed for people going so there was quite a walk coming from that side. It was a little annoying then to discover that the gate was open for exiting but no information was given about that. Good concert but like I said not memorable.
amazing concert and performance. dgc were the best choir ive seen with ennio.
ReplyDeleteterrible crowd, no manners, chattering during the music. i was a bit embarrassed.
Couldn't agree with you more. The behaviour of some idiots last night was astonishing. I was disturbed twice during the performance by a girl getting up to get drinks in the middle of one piece, and coming back to her seat with 2 pints of beer in her hands in the middle of the next piece. This happened not once but twice. The relatively low number of stewards meant that there were people wandering aimlessly throughout the venue all though the show, which was very distracting. Noise could be heard from machines in the vicinity of the venue and police sirens could also be heard on occasion. The blame lies with the organisers - this was not an appropriate venue for such a prestigious event. The performance was superb of course but I came away at the end last night feeling more annoyed than exhilarated.
ReplyDeleteWent on Sat night. Constant noise from generator, constant toing & froing to bar, to cap it all the encores finished at 10:15pm (show started at 8:35pm).
ReplyDeleteAll in all very disappointing.
I was sorry to miss the cinema screening earlier. I thought the concert was a satisfying length but would have liked to know if there was to be an interval.
Delete"I thought the concert was a satisfying length."
Delete- actually, it was one of his shortest concerts. When I saw him in Belgrade (Serbia) in 2009, it was 3 hours long (ok, with a 20 min. intermission). Just couple of days ago in Paris he did a 3 hour concert. Hopefully, the december concert in Dublin's 02 Arena (see my other comment) will be the same. Enjoy!
I've never encountered a more disrespectful audience. I consider myself fortunate to have seen Morricone on four previous occasions and my fond memories will, therefore, remain enact. Why the people of Dublin thought this an appropriate event to drink to excess is beyond me. Morricone's Belfast concerts were the epitome of reverence and appreciation.
ReplyDeleteThere saturday night Mr.Morricone at 84 what superb performance.But spoiled by people getting up to get their pints, incessant chattering,organisational issues.This guy got up three different occasions to go pass me to get drink.we must be the only country where we allow people to wander around whilst theres a classical concert been played.The stewarding to direct people at the entrance of the seating area was non existant plus the lack of information in exiting and forcing to go out one gate. I only hope Mr Morricone enjoyed himself.
ReplyDeleteWent on sat. Music wonderful but a hello goodbye or thank you for remortgaging your house to buy tickets would have been nice. 8.40 start and finished at 10.15. Seemed short because of long wait.
ReplyDeleteI did think that such an august musician might have been given a more formal introduction by a high profile Irish musician.. Like many people travelling after the gig, I would not have liked a later finish but would have liked an earlier start.
Deleteterribly disappointing concert, I was way back in the seating (still cost 90 euro) and all I could see was the giant video screens, feck it, I would have been better off watching a dvd at home. There is no point in watching an orchestra in an open air concert venue. And no words from the man himself. A heap of shite.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy watching one of the televised concerts on SkyArts. Watch out for repeats
DeleteCouldn't get tickets for Dublin concerts so going to Verona next week to see the great man himself at 2000 year old open air arena with seats on the tiers. Long way to go to a concert flying Edinburgh to Milan then train to Verona - quick 3 day trip but hopefully it will be spectacular in these surroundings.
ReplyDeleteBon Voyage . I hope it will be a wonderful experience. Do get back in touch and let us know how you get on
ReplyDeleteMorricone in Verona was truly amazing. 20,000 music lovers packed the amphitheatre with the concert starting at 9.30pm and continued for 2 hours. Accoustics were fabulous with no microphones required. The audience really appreciated the music which I feel was enhanced with the backdrop. 75 Italian choir members, full orchestra and 2 female solo singers and off course Mr Morricone. Drinks were sold prior to the start but not during the performance. Notices were displayed at the entrance stating if you left the arena during the show re-admittance would not be permitted. It was definitely worth the expense and 13 hour trip to get there. Totally memorable evening and would defy anyone who did not enjoy this experience
ReplyDeleteNice review, Cathy.
ReplyDelete"A rare opportunity to see the Italian maestro and film composer extraordinaire in action in Ireland and one not likely to be repeated."
- surprise!
http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2014/0207/502896-ennio-morricone-to-return-for-dublin-concert/
Thanks. A surprise indeed. I wonder who the promoter is?
Delete