Review: Temecula Dec. 1st 2011

THE JOURNEY

The association of Celtic Woman and Christmas really began for me back in October 2006 when I first bought the brand-new Christmas CD the day it was released. Later came the Christmas DVD, and now finally the Symphony Tour. I knew right off that I wanted to see this tour, as I had not missed a Celtic Woman tour since becoming a fan. I looked at the schedule and ruled out certain shows immediately, as I didn't want to attempt flying to the northeast in December, much as it pained me to skip Pittsburgh. Denver stayed in the running until I realized that the girls would be flying from Atlanta to Denver with no travel days; again not a wise decision in winter, and so the tour finale was eliminated from the list. They weren't doing any shows in Texas, so I had no free rides there. The pickings were becoming slim.
And I considered Temecula. The idea of going to California for the first time appealed to me, but my initial turnoff was that the show there would be at Pechanga Indian Reservation, at a casino; by now everyone knows my feelings about shows at casinos (see Sun, Mohegan haha). But Rachel assured me that the Pechanga casino's venue was actually a theater, not an arena like the Uncasville casino. I became more interested. Finally I decided to bite the bullet and go for the Saturday show. At the Atlanta taping, Coren reminded me that he had tickets still available for both Thursday and Friday, and finally I decided that since I was flying out anyway that I should take in all 3 shows. This would give me the first 3 dates for the Christmas tour which would certainly give me my fill of CW Christmas music.
Shortly after committing to the Christmas shows I recalled that my Saturday show was a matinee show. It all started to make sense: the concert would be in the afternoon, and that night would be the World Premier for the Believe broadcast when PBS did it's annual plededrive, or so I thought. I started proceeding on the idea that it would be. I realized it would be just like 2009 with Songs For the Heart all over again, when Mike and I had watched the initial broadcast on TV in Connecticut while Celtic Woman was down the road doing their PBS appearance for the pledge drive; I might be the only person not in the employ of Celtic Woman to be in town with Celtic Woman for not one but TWO of their world premier DVD broadcasts. I didn't plan it that way, but that's how it has shaped up.
And to top it all off, Rachel and Mikey suggested that I stay an extra day to see Disneyland for the first time. I agreed. As of the night before the first show, there were about 20 forum fans attending the Temecula shows. My trip to California had snowballed into a significant forum event and I'm again glad that I followed my instincts and decided to go for it. But as always seems to be the case, and more than anything, I feel blessed.
My morning started at 1am when I awoke. For the first time, I was commuting to the airport using SuperShuttle, which arrived outside my door at 2:30am sharp. I was at IAH airport long before my 5:50 departure time (I will save my opinions about the airport's late-night securty procedures for another time).
More adventures happened when my USAir flight aborted on the runway just as we were lifting off. The plane shook violently for about one full second. I wasn't afraid since I could see we weren't even in the air yet, but I am so glad that this didn't happen on my first-ever flight back in '09, I would have probably screamed in panic. Anyway, the plane could not be repaired within a reasonable time of the flight and it made my connecting flight Houston-Phoenix-LA impossible. Fortunately a solution was available with USAir switching my flight to a United direct flight to LAX. To me this is a total upgrade as I've never really liked flying with USAir anyway. I could have felt it was bad luck that my original flight wasn't going to happen and that now I'd be arriving an hour late, but I can look upon it as GOOD luck that the plane didn't have to ditch after landing. In any case I was definitely relieved when the plane finally lifted off to take me to California.
After arriving at LAX I was picked up by Mikey, and soon we collected Rachel at the train station and checked in at the hotel in Temecula after a ninety or so minute ride. We also had dinner at Kilarney's Irish Pub with a bunch of other forum members; for this show it appears I was the one who had travelled furthest to get here. We had Rachel, Mikey, Coren, Tink, Dwight, Steven and Kathryn, Donna, Lu, Caitlyn (LL7), Bill, and myself... a pretty good sized bunch. And of course there were many who were there with us in spirit.

THE SHOW

We headed to the venue. In the lobby they offered merchandise just as at previous shows, but these items were the Christmas CD and DVD, and a program for the show. One interesting thing about this program is that it was filled almost entirely with photos from the Atlanta taping of "Believe."
This venue is a theater, probably about 1,500 seats, much like an oversized movie theater. There was no balcony. There was a "pit" even though it was not recessed; it was effectively a row of chairs around which concentric rings of rows were built. A strange thing with this theater was the seats; the seats seemed to sink deeper than usual, again much like a theater. The stage was slightly higher than at previous shows, and was decorated with garland and Christmas lights. Strands of white Christmas lights hung far above the stage. An interesting innovation was the addition of a dark screen standing about 2 feet from the stage, running the entire length of the stage, which clearly was to permit a cameraman to work unobtrusively nearby. The seats for the orchestra were placed on the stage area. I settled into my row C opposite piano-side, which placed me about 4-5 rows back from the front.
The orchestra came out first, joined by regulars Tommie Martin and Andy Reilly playing the pipes and percussion. The orchestra did their practice runs, and were finally joined by the conductor, who ran them through a rousing instrumental medley from "Polar Express." No soloists, just the orchestra. The crowd gave them a good hand at the end. Then out came David Downes, who received an even bigger hand. David explained that tonight would be a first for Celtic Woman; they'd be performing with a real orchestra, and admitted everyone was a bit nervous. He also introduced the conductor, John Page, a longtime friend of David's. David then settled in at the piano.
The girls came out, wearing black glittery dresses with a red sash. To me these dresses were pretty but not exactly a Christmas motif; I would have preferred red or green, but this sort of goes along with the concept of a "Symphony" show, almost like wearing the "black tie". Mairead's skirt seemed fuller than her previous dresses, which indicated immediately that this show would not have her as mobile, which was perhaps necessary considering the space taken up on the stage with the orchestra. The girls used handheld mics throughout the entire show.
And now for what you've been waiting for, Celtic Woman in the Symphony Show:
"Carol Of the Bells" was done much like the version on the Christmas DVD. Excellent harmonies which I have come to expect from them anyway. The orchestra was definitely adding a dimension to their sound. Lighting was looking really good tonight. One very unexpected thing was the crowd reaction; they were obviously into it right off, much unlike the Mohegan Sun casino crowd which was basically a bunch of wooden statues. Kudos to the Pechanga crowd!
"Silent Night" was performed by Chloe with Mairead. Like when Meav did it, Chloe sang the first part in German, the second part in English. It can be debated whether Chloe's or Meav's was better, but unquestionably Chloe's appealed more to me. I must admit though to liking the German part better than the English part; I can't explain why, only that I do.
"White Christmas" was done by the whole group, and "Away In a Manger" was sung by Lisa Lambe. Again, much like their respective renditions from the DVD.
"Ding Dong Merrily On High" was a group number. Here is where there was some departure from the DVD recordings, as for this performance they did not have a choir. The orchestra provided that backing element that had been the choir's before, and in some ways this sounded better than having the choir.
"Shenandoah/The Butterfly" began as only slightly tweaked from the "Shenandoah" that we all know so well from Mairead. But the arrangement of "The Butterfly" was totally changed, so much so that even some forum people were puzzled afterwards about the identity of the song. The audience clapped along at just the right time, a sure sign of a participatory and willing crowd. The changes to the song make it practically a different song, not necessarily better or worse, but certainly different.
"Little Drummer Boy" was Lisa Lambe and Chloe, with Andy as the "drummer boy" as the girls called him. None of the dramatic stage entry for the girls on this one, unlike the unforgettable entry on the DVD. Yet there was no question Chloe and Lisa worked well on this song together.
To me, "Christmas Pipes" was the only thing even close to a disappointment during the evening. Not that it was a poor version, but on this one song I think the use of the "Big Choir" on the Christmas DVD was the perfect way to approach this song, and that having the orchestra handle it was just not as good. A worthy try thouugh, and don't be surprised if I revise my opinion in the coming days when my other shows come to fruitition.
Maybe the absolute highlight of the night, and I can't believe I'm typing this: "The Christmas Song." I have never been a fan of this song no matter who has done it, in fact I'll admit I dislike the song itself, but Lisa's high note was Voicesque with a power that only Lisa Kelly seems to be able to deliver. WOW, and I mean W-O-W!!!!
"Danny Boy". Not a-capella, but with orchestra backing. Excellent in it's own right, though not quite the a-capella that David has already given us.
The first act finished with "O Holy Night". I had already had a cursory look at the track list shown in the program, and it seemed the songs were following the list shown in the program in order; unusual, as the program is usually presented in alphabetical order. Anyway "O Holy Night" totally blew me away. I had been apprehensive about having them do this song with only 3 vocalists; I have come to view this song as one of the finest songs for singers to sing. Well, I ate my words and then some. The orchestra backing them gave just enough for the Cuties to do their level best. I had been waiting for this song to be done live by them for 5 years, and tonight I got it and was satisfied and proud. It drew a standing ovation from me.
A 15-minute intermission, not 20-minute. Curious.
Another orchestra instrumental, "Sleigh Ride." They did it much like the well-known version from The Boston Pops, which is fine as I've always wanted to hear it performed live by an orchestra. This performance really showcased the fine horn sound that this orchestra can introduce. Fantastic, and the crowd gave them a great hand. When the girls came back out later the red sashes were gone.
"In the Bleak Midwinter" is another song I've long wanted to hear live. It's one of Mairead's most heartfelt pieces. It led directly into "The First Noel" just as done on the DVD. Excellent.
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Good stuff, but this song just never did much for me personally.
Lisa stepped back out and took a leaf from Atlanta by teaching us how to do the chorus for "Green The Whole Year Round," which of course we did. A very fun piece for us, but a simple observation from me: what is CW's obsession with having fans sing songs with the word "Green" in it? ROFL
"Granuile's Dance" was anothe Mairead piece. The only thing missing was the incredible twirling and prancing from Mairead which we always associated with this song, but it was still an energizing piece. The crowd again came alive with clapping, without much prompting. Great to have this song back, even if just for a few shows!
"Don Oiche Ud I Mbeithil" was done now by Chloe and Lisa Lambe. The arrangement was not exactly like the DVD version with Meav and Chloe. Where before it had been Meav, and then Chloe doing their own chorus, now Lisa L and Chloe traded off sections. I think I prefer it better the other way, but this was still a solid version. This song was another that I always wanted to hear Chloe do.
"Ave Maria" did the impossible: it actually surpassed the Atlanta version! The orchestration arrangement was slightly different on this version, but the real difference was Chloe. Her... is it called libretto?... was stunning. That's really the only word for it. Standing ovation, and well deserved. It seemed she was really not sure how this would come out, and seemed more relieved than anything that it was a success.
And then we came full circle: it was again "You Raise Me Up". Once again having the full orchestra was an enhancement for the girls. As always, Lisa K thanked everyone, and most of us forum people shot up to give a massive standing ovation that the whole place joined into.
"O Come All Ye Faithful" was one that I wasn't certain would work without the choir; but unlike "Christmas Pipes", I think it did work better with the orchestra on this one. And an incredible high note at the end!!!!
Encore performance for "Let It Snow." The bad news is no "You tell 'em, Lis" and no Mairead whispering "Let it snow" but still a great rendition, again a lot of fun from the girls who seemed to be having a ton of fun with this show.
The absolutely longest curtain call in my CW experience now ensued; it must have been a full 90 seconds of us going nuts before the girls came back out to ask us to participate in "an old favorite" of theirs, "Spanish Lady." The crowd clapped along and most joined in with singing. A great finish.
This was shaping up to be an incredible tour, not just the Christmas songs that we had been led to believe. It was really not as much a Christmas Celebration as it was a Celtic Woman Celebration. Once again Celtic Woman has reinvented itself successfully. The pity is that this will be a short tour, I would love for them to run it a typical tour length, even if they needed more days off to do it. But it is what it is, and I'm glad we have what we have.

AFTER

All of us forum folks gathered at the Temecula-area Denny's for a snack. As can be expected, the talk was dominated by discussion of the show. The consensus was that the show was a success and that the rough edges would be ironed out, certainly in the next few shows. We expected a repetition of Atlanta, where the second night would have better actual performances than the first night is now in the books.
I think again of all the fans who love these ladies who couldn't be here for this night. It was and is an honor to represent you all at this, the opening night of one of Celtic Woman's biggest experiments. And for those who still have Symphony Shows to come, rest secure in the knowledge that you soon be seeing a great new show. I myself have two more shows coming up, including one tomorrow... ugh, I mean today since it's now well past midnight. In a few hours I will awake to do this all over again. No rest for the wicked. But I wouldn't have it any other way.