*** REVIEW ***
The concert started with
Vespera, very impressive beginning. It’s good to hear the lower voices. Luca B sang the solo and Daniel C did the vocalize. It was very moving, as Dani pointed the return of this song has been long expected and indeed it was spectacular and perfect. As for me, I was so moved to be attending Libera again, and despite the pandemic, and after RP’s death, well I have been crying during the first concert
from Vespera to If, and during the second concert “only” Vespera and the next one
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I hoped it was no inconvenience to my neighbours. Luca and Daniel were great. During all the concert I felt like they could have pushed Daniel Catalogna’s microphone a bit, to let him shine, but then like I said what I heard from front row might not be what other people heard.
I believe that right after that, Daniel W and an other boy (maybe Koji) did a speech. I am pretty bad at remembering who did what and when, I apologize for that. You will get to hear the speeches but I will try my best to tell you what happened so if you are not good at understanding English when people speak and you are better with reading it, it might help a bit. The speech said that last year they were on stage but they could not move, and now they are more trustworthy to their name “Libera” for they could move again freely. Then they talked about RP’s legacy and introduced the song « Once an angel », which seems to be the last one he composed in last April. They expressed that losing Robert was sad but that he would forever be with Libera through the music he composed, and so he would be here for the concert as well. I think this was a subtile yet powerful tribute, like I expressed before.
In
Once an Angel, Victor did the solo (his solo), with Daniel W behind him for support and second voice. It was perfect, these two boys have a lot of stage experience and you can tell, they are like the leaders for the trebles.
Then there was
Gaudete, with Luke BD doing the introduction. It was his first solo ever, well done Luke ! The staging was very dynamic, you will get to see that.
I think there was a speech after that ? Possibly 2 boys, one being Freddie ? It was about the mini-boys, which started in September, and were doing their fist concerts, « some of them » being just 7. Then the older boys were introduced as « the bigs ». It was underlined that some of them were still trebles and soloists just last year (Neo, Laurence T, Tadhg, and Oliver WR were all soloists and now are back row with Nathaniel, Joe, Alexandre and Johnny). The speech ended on a joke, saying "now we are going to say goodbyes because we do not need them for the next song”. I saw some of « the bigs » playing like they were sad to be sent backstage.
The introduction to
Cum Dederit is quite challenging and I was puzzled, because the music and vocalizes started and Dominik was not at the center. They moved as they sang, which must be difficult. I felt very stressed for Dominik, if I were to perform such a solo (and I can’t !
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) I would like to be at the right spot before the music starts. I think we were all surprised to see this song on the setlist, since it is a challenging one. Well, Dominik does not look like it is difficult. He sure is very focused, but his voice was perfectly mastered, twice. He is an extraordinary soloist.
Next song is
If, with Daniel W. Very well mastered, this is a difficult one too, the breathing is hard though it might not look like it is difficult. Daniel did it even better than last year.
Then there was
Sing Lullabye by Dominik, with half a circle kneeling around him. I would like to underline that there was half a circle in several songs, and that we have seen new boys in these circles, like Alessandro Minarik of Ludwig, not sure about Cameron, Lewis and Joseph Hill ?
Next song was
Ave Maria, Robert Prizeman’s one, which I like to see as a tribute to him. Lewis was the soloist, center stage, though you could hear Luca and Daniel W supporting him. Lewis might not have felt like doing it on his own, but I am sure he could have, his voice sounds good and not shaky at all, I am eager to hear him again. Kudos to Lewis, he went fast from newbie to soloist due to the pandemic but also… thanks to his hard work. This is impressive that he has the potential to do that. All the boys performed this concert like there never was a pandemic preventing them to rehearse and perform on stage, very professionally. And it is good to see new boys stepping in and also, it is good to know that the older ones are backing them up and leading them, so thank you Daniel and Luca for leading the new boys until they will be leaders themselves.
I am not sure but there was an other speech at some point, saying that
Carol of the Bells was part of the new “
Home Sweet Home Alone” movie. I believe Joseph Hill was one of the 2 boys for this one ?
So,
Carol of the Bells, the « Daniels » did the vocalize, Daniel C first and Daniel W for the second one. The last solo part was from Joseph Hill. Very young voice but quite confident I think ? I could hear Joseph really well during the first concert, I like his voice and he is very expressive on stage. Also he is a very very good speaker, a natural one. He is very young, I reckon he was the youngest last year ? This boy is a great chorister, I hope we hear more from him soon.
Then was
Wexford Carol, with an other surprise, Morgan being the soloist, an other one that went fast from newbie to soloist. He has a young voice too, and while I have been saying that he made me think of young Steven G, I stand corrected after checking on that, he sounds like young Liam O’Kane in my opinion. Morgan was joined by two other boys, one of them I believe was Daniel C ? But unsure. I really liked Morgan’s voice, I hope he gets more confident and gets many more solos ! Well done !
I guess there was another speech from Koji and Daniel next, introducing Moose, and saying that Moose has been busy and now a bunch of new mooses are waiting to find their families. Daniel stepped up saying that their new album would be a great Christmas gift too. This was a fun way to promote the goodies. There were signed albums, I think this was the first I saw that.
Poor Little Jesus was perfect, with Luca doing the solo, as it has been for 3 years now I believe ?
Sacris Solemnis to me sounded different from the album. It’s one of my favourite songs. I am curious to see the streaming because it might be different due to the microphones effect. Luca and Daniel C were doing the middle part, just the two of them and I think it was not powerful enough compared to the album. I like this part a lot so I am biased
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. It still was a powerful song, and Freddie’s solo was amazing, honestly. I think it was longer than on the album which is great, it gave the boy the opportunity to shine, and he does shine really. I say he has the potential of a leader, he is also expressive on stage and very good at harmonizing. Luca B did the vocalize before Freddie’s conclusion, just like on the album.
There was a last speech, by Freddie and Joseph Hill, both great speakers. They were introducing the last two songs, and wishing everyone, though a bit early, a merry Christmas.
Nearer My God to Thee was super good. Luca started, then joined by Freddie (awesome duet), then by Victor (his voice shines on lower notes now, I really like it, very warm), and then when Luca is doing the high part Daniel took over the lead and Ludwig joined with Freddie on the middle part. It was the best I heard so far I think. Congratulations to Ludwig on his first « solo », a quintet sure is not an easy one !
Just like Joseph, Morgan and Lewis, he is now a very central chorister. I do not know why exactly but Jack and Cameron also wear microphones, which surely means they are taking charge of important leads too. The future of Libera is bright.
The last song was
Sing for the World, very dynamic, a lot of smiles from the boys.
The encore was
I Saw Three Ships, very festive.