Rick Wakeman Journey To The Centre Of The Earth – Liverpool Philharmonic 9th May 2014

After what felt like an incredibly long day at work yesterday, I rounded things off with another dose of Rick Wakeman and co doing Journey To The Centre Of The Earth at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Essentially, it was the same show as the Royal Albert Hall so I thought that instead of waffling about it all again, I would just leave a few comments about the performance.

– Somehow, the first “half” seemed a bit more rushed than at RAH, not the music, just the talk in between.
– Eleanor Rigby in the style of Prokofiev is still amazing!
– Occasionally, the music overwhelmed the narration soundwise, but it was quickly adjusted.
– How much fun were the orchestra having?! Loved the cellist giving it loads of welly during (I think) Ride of Your Life in the encore. And throughout the show, there was a lot of smiling and seat dancing from musicians
– Dance of a Thousand Lights is still breathtakingly bloody beautiful!
– At the back of the stage at the Philharmonic Hall is a piece of kinetic artwork called Adagio. You hardly ever see it at concerts as they curtain off the back of the stage. Because there was an orchestra and choir to accommodate the piece was visible, and during the encore they turned it on, which was a really fab touch from the venue.

Once again it was a great performance, though I do think the RAH gig may have just pipped it soundwise. (But only just, as the Philharmonic is a brilliant venue for sound)