Surpinto wrote:Yorkie wrote:Thanks to everybody for taking the time to write about your experiences, it is much appreciated for those of us who didn't get to go. For those of you who were going for the first time I'm glad the concert was everything you hoped it would be.
I second this sentiment. It was a pleasure to read all of these wonderful reviews. Sometimes I read things here but forget to say "thank you" while the original posters are probably wondering if anyone read or appreciated what they took the time to share. The answer is a resounding yes!
Here's a nice review from the Yahoo group (link didn't seem to work).
Thanks Frank.
I had a long novel written about the concert and hit a wrong button and POOOF! So I'll try again.
This was the first live concert of Libera I have attended and have only one word to describe it - utterly fantastic!!! (OK, so that's two words, but it really was). The open strains of the first selection, Joyful, Joyful moved me to tears and I sat in rapture through the entire performance. Since I am not familiar with the boys and who did solos, I will merely give my general impressions of the wonders I beheld based on my experiences teaching music in the public schools.
Watching a video or listening to their music on a CD is NOTHING compared to seeing them perform live! The entire experience of the live performance is almost overwhelming. How can a groups of 24 boys (mostly pre-teens) create such exquisite and heavenly music? It defies all explanation.
The Tobin Center is small, yet eloquent performing hall surrounded by the bustle and business of downtown San Antonio. It is within easy walking distance of the Alamo and other much visited sites, but the night of the Libera concert, it was in a world of it's own. The acoustics were fantastic and I don't think there was a bad seat in the house. Unfortunately, there were some of the seats that were not filled that evening. But there was a very good sized crowd who were extremely receptive to the group.
Not everyone in attendance know exactly who Libera was. In fact, several I talked to had never heard the music. They were there because a friend invited them, or they got an email from someone suggesting the concert to them. I'm certain that many of those "unwashed" became converts that night.
I met people from all over including several parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Boston, Washington DC, Atlanta, New York City, Canada, Mexico and even a family from Japan. I'm sure if I was able to meet this wide of a group, there were probably many other cities and states (and countries?). I overheard two couples talking during intermission and they had both attended over 40 Libera Concerts! There were also members from numerous childrens choirs in attendance. In fact, there was an entire choral group from one organization present. Some boys from other groups wearing shirts with their choir group's names, etc. It was a shame there weren't even more aspiring children singers there to witness what dedication and hard work can accomplish.
The boys did a fantastic job and I know I sat mesmerized on the edge of my seat through the entire evening. The audience was a little slow welcoming the boys to the stage, but quickly warmed to them as they performed and finished with elation and standing ovations. Many times I heard gasps of excitement and disbelief as the boys reached new heights of musical expression throughout the concert.
As in any live performance, they were a few very minor issues with pitch (during a couple of solos), and miscues in stage movement, but, after all they are boy performing in front of 1500 adults, many of whom consider themselves as Libera "experts". Many of the issues were not even noticeable to those who have not had extensive musical training.
I personally found the newer pieces astonishingly exquisite: Wayfaring Stranger, Amazing Grace and America the Beautiful soared to unbelievable reaches. That is not to say that the more familiar pieces were not just as good. However, as the makeup of the group has changed and changed voice parts have been added, they sound different (in a very good way). Don't know if that makes any sense, but that is what I thought at the time.
Whoever had the boys do the narrations had a stroke of genius! The audience loved it. I realize that they have been doing this previously because I remember of their very first DVD a couple of the boys actually read off of cards a couple times. But, since then the narrations have grown and included several during the performance.Even when there were a few instances of memory lapse, it only endeared the speakers even more to the audience. I think it showed that these very talented performers were still boys and not performing robots.
Speaking of Narration, from the reaction of the audience - especially the mothers and grandmothers around me, there is a new rising star of adorability (?) in Libera. Even though he is a new member on his first tour, he shows an immense degree of stage presence and self-assurance. He is the shortest in stature, but his face glows with a smile that adds feet to his height and years to his experience. As one of the mothers (who was also a teacher) said during intermission. "He is so cute he could away with anything!" Keep an eye out for Taichi Shinokubo. You'll know him when you see him in pictures and videos. For someone so short, he's impossible to miss!
The Meet and Greet seemed to go well. Even though the boys had been on stage for almost two hours, only one looked like he was about to fall asleep (not that I could blame him). I joked with him about being bored after that brought a sly smile to his face we talked about how much energy and effort had to be put into a quality performance. Of course he was tired and it was very understandably why. They patiently signed their pictures and posed for pictures for the patrons and guests. (Want to guess who probably had his picture taken the most during the session?) I was at the very end of the line and was amazed to see that the boys were still attentive and seemed to be full of energy. Many of the older boys actively engaged the audience guests, thanking them for coming to the concert and asking or answering questions asked. Some of the younger ones seemed to have lost some interest, They signed their names, passed the books on to the next and chatted with their friends sitting close to them. It was slightly disturbing to see a large security guard standing in the middle of the room watching everyone - disturbing, but unfortunately understandable.
It appeared that the Libera items John and his helper had on display were selling very well. I chose to purchase my items before the performance and was glad of it. By the end of the concert, numerous pieces were sold out. I went back to secure a moose and they were all gone. (A word to the wise for future concert attendees. Also, these items are available as cash only, so go prepared.) Unfortunately, as John makes clear in several articles and on his blog site, ticket sales and souvenir sales do NOT cover the multitude of expenses involved in organizing a concert tour such as this one. If you check out John's web site (libera.org.) and check out the store or donation areas you will see how the expenses add up very quickly.
I realize how fortunate I am to have been able to attend a live concert of Libera. It can be an extremely expensive enterprise from many of us. Sometimes it takes months or years of planning, saving, of making payments on credit cards to afford just this one night of heaven, but believe me, it is worth all of that and much more. Please understand, that if I can manage it with the extremely limited resources, just about anyone can. Just as Libera accomplishes the near impossible through dedication and hard work, so can you. It may be too late for this trip, but there will be other concerts and tours in the future and I'm certain your response to your first one will be just as fantastic as mine.
BTW - attached is a copy of the San Antonio program
Frank Stuart