Here goes:
The stage was slightly narrower than I remember than Marigny, but it was much closer to me as well. . There was NO opportubity to get photos at all, I personally was stopped 3 times from even raising an arm before the ushers stopped me. I gave up after that, more to stop others around me being distracted by the ushers, rather than losing patience myself.
JMJ appeared about 8.15pm, to raptourous applause, with which he reacted with great enthusiasm - waving, broad smiles and blowing kisses etc.
He was dressed more casually than in Marigny - dark jeans, shirt and jacket rather than a bespoke suit, and he looked really relaxed and happy and up for the gig from the get go. He then gave the usual speech regarding the legendary instruments on show, the inspiration for the Oxygene album, the earth's ecology, and introduced the other musicians, who were greeted as well as the main man himself, especially those of us in the know
JMJ explained how the beginning of the concert was tuning the instruments, which he invited us to hear as part of the concert - a nice touch - OK we all know it's part of the Prelude track, but for most people there that night it was a nice gesture. If the reaction was the same as my 11 year old's was, it was a good thing
The concert itself was broadly similar to the Marigny shows, with a few differences musically - particularly in the Variation pieces. The changes were in the main superb, and the soundfield was perfect - great stereo seperation, well rounded basses and the theatre has great acoustics, something which I knew about beforehand.
Insead of giving an overlong blow by blow account of each track, I'll just comment where there were differences between each track since the Marigny concerts.
1. Tuning Up - Very different. Jarre was a lot busier with the effects, and the arrangement of sounds was clearer than I remember in Paris - superb.
2. Prelude - slightly different arrangement of the music and effects - Very nice
3. Oxygene I - Different bass, and JMJ's solo in the mid section was way better than Marigny A Much tighter arrangement of an already brilliant track, a little shorter than before, a few stray effects out of place at the start,which JMJ soon put right
4. Oxygene II - Note perfect rendition of the main melody - way to go JMJ!
5. Oxygene III - The best effort yet on the theremin, not my favourite track to be honest, but the best live version yet.
6. Variation I - Much the same - great track !
7. Oxygene IV - The first ripples of applause from the audience, who were up to this point listening intently to each and every note
8. Variation II - The AKS solo was different, JMJ using a lot more knob twiddling to get that wobbly note effect - musicians please go easy on me here
9. Oxygene V - OK, now here's the thing: I've read criticisms of the Moog Liberation solo here, which I understand .. but it's brilliant, the audience were genuininely surprised by this 60 year old playing only what can be surprised as a synth version of a mad axe guitar heavy metal solo.
Yes it massacared the original version, but for me that what live solos are for, especailly in a rather quiet concert as this. The rest of the track was pretty much as before, with a few new sequencer effects thrown lower down the mix
10. Variation III - The JMJ solo was way down the mix for some reason, I could hardly hear it. Great arrangement though.
11. Oxygene VI - Much as before, no hiccups on the solo this time
12. Oxygene XII - The highlight of the Marigny shows for me (with Oxygene I and II). The same can be said here. Because of the improvement in the already great sound - especially the bass - since Marigny, this track sounded even better, and the lighting at the end - my son thought Close Encounters was back
13. Oxygene XIII - A nice track with a lovely new sequencer opening. I agree the track is a little bit quiet to close a concert, but nice nonetheless.
All in all, I could not have asked for better, and the audience ageed, giving JMJ and co. a five minute standing ovation. JMJ thanked all and sundry, mentioned Ireland's "great culture, and sense of fun", and reluctantly exited stage right where entered at the beginning of the show - egg chair and all - exclaiming "Viva Ireland".
Thanks JMJ
The sceneography was no different to Marigny in the main. The only difference was the new lighting for Oxygene XIII, and the fact the mirror backdrop returned, stopping lower down, so we could all make idiots of ourselves by waving at each other !
The NCH was a superb venue - very opulent, nice audience (nice tea too
), it's a pity they were so down on photos - I couldn't even get one of the stage at the end, even though I was not 5 feet away when I detoured to get closer, I could alost touch the instruments. I did say a quick Au Revoir to Claude Samard
, before I and others were summoned briskly to the exits.
The merchandise was nice but very pricey : 20 euro for a programme
, and 40 for the sweatshirt, but nice. Do buy yourself the metal keyring in the shape of the earth / skull cover - sweet !!
My overriding memory was the warmth of JMJ and the audience to each other, the new arrangements, and my son's reaction - priceless.
Those waiting with bated breath - you are in for a real treat - Enjoy !
