Jonathan's schedule at a glance 2008

Marian · Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 724 Location: Middlesex

What a week this is turning out to be!! I was lucky enough to get into a recording of Friday Night is Music Night to be broadscast on March 28th

Here is my review

WOW!! What a fabulous evening. Having first row seats right under his nose was brilliant. We must have been only 5 or 6 feet away from the microphone. The dapper suit he was wearing was the same one as he wore on the Alan Titchmarsh show and he looked very dashing! Yes that is a good word. I was blinded by the shine on those shoes but it was only for a moment as my eyes were naturally drawn to his face. He look calm, cool and collected although afterwards when we chatted, I commented on this and he said it was all a facade!! Well, Jon, you could have one one of those Baftas for that performance then! haha

The 4 songs were amazing. For me, Cinema Paradiso, Here's to the Heroes and My Own True Love were my favourites. Don't get me wrong, Now we Are Free is a wonderful track too but for me is not quite on the same level. For anyone who was at AT on Tuesday, the sound tonight was a lot better. It felt like we were at a concert rather than the forced sound of a TV studio. At AT, maybe because I was so close, it seemed like I was listening to it on the box - very good but didn't have that live feel to it but tonight it might as well have been the RAH. I could hear him perfectly. I think Di does not agree with me but that's how it felt for me. - Sorry, waffling here but I am on a big high again tonight!!

His face tells the story of the songs without a doubt. The hand gestures and the looks out into the audience really brought the tracks alive and made me crave for more. I sat virtually opened mouthed when he sang Cinema Paradiso. You will be too when you hear it on Monday in full. I was deeply moved by HTTH. I listened intently to the lyrics tonight and they are very poignant. It will be one of those songs that touches everyone in different ways depending who you classify as your own personal hero. For me it brought back memories of all those police, firemen, helpers, in fact everyone who assisted people on the day of 9/11 and in our own mess of the July bombings. (sorry waffling again!!)

What can I say about My Own True Love? This is always going to hold special memories for me after Coventry. I was in fact worried that this might not be as stunning as then as he had an orchestra behind him this time. Well I was wrong, very wrong. It was definitely on par with that memory. The orchestra was brilliant and Jonathan outstanding, a perfect blend of voice and instrument. It was also rather nice as it was St Valentine's day.

Now We are Free also came across well. I did hear afterwards a lady who remarked that she didn't think the song came over well in a made up language and said it was a waste of such great talent! I wouldn't go as far to say that about the song but I totally agree with her about the great talent!

During the interval when I went to freshen up I heard quite a few complimentary remarks about Jonathan. One gentleman said he hadn't heard of G4 but he thought the singer had a marvellous voice. Other comments were similar, probably due to the age of the majority of the audience!! I did my bit for the promotion cause. There was a table laid out with various CDs - classical and film music and a lady asked if they had the cd but that lovely young chap that had just sung. The answer of course was no so I butted in and said it was a bit confusing as Gambo had mentioned the album but as the show is going out in March he had made it sound as though it was available now. I set the record straight and told her it would be released on Monday and could be bought in all good record shops or at Amazon. She thanked me for the info and she said she would look out for it.

Sadly the evening came to a close and we gradually started to leave.
We headed round the back and hoped we hadn't missed them but it was obvious we hadn't a silver Mercedes was waiting to whisk them away. We knew it was their car as it had a sign in the window - Mr Jonathan Ansell!!

We waited patiently I thought it might have been a quick hello as they would be rushing off but no, Jonathan and Debbie stopped with us for about 10 minutes. He was pleased to see us.

All too soon it was time for final hugs, kisses and good luck messages for Monday.

Well, I am back in the clouds again!! Not only did we manage to get tickets - thanks Di but we witnessed an outstanding performance by our very own man of the moment!! Another treasured memory helped by the great company of Charlotte, Debs, Natalie and Di. Thanks girls Very Happy

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jonfan · Joined: Sep 18, 2007 Posts: 257

Thank you Marian for your wonderful review , its great for people who cant get to these shows to have a blow by blow account , I am so pleased that Jonathan did so well ,now we have FNIMN to look forward to in march,
and we will be able to hear it all ourselves ,
Jonfan
Very Happy

xcept · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:04 am Post subject:

Marian your reviews are always something to look forward to! It sounds like another wonderful experience and thanks for sharing it Very Happy

Molly · Joined: Jan 14, 2006 Posts: 642

Excellent review Marian!

I cant wait for 28th March to be able to hear the concert on my radio!

So pleased it all went so well for Jonathan and for the fans who went.

Love Molly xx Smile

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Forever album out on 10th November 2008

Marian · Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 724 Location: Middlesex

Thank you xcept, it is a pleasure writing them but not quite as much as actually being present at these things!! Laughing

With any luck I might have to put pen and paper together again on Monday after seeing Jonathan record an episode of Loose Women to be shown on Wednesday 20th. Looking forward to that one!! Very Happy

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anima · Joined: Jan 08, 2008 Posts: 64

You'll always have a captivated audience for your reviews in me, marian! Keep them coming! xxx

Molly · Joined: Jan 14, 2006 Posts: 642

Updated my first post on Page 1 with new list of Appearances - will pop them in here too!

List of Appearances coming up:

16th Feb: Radio Swindon between 9am – 12 noon

16th Feb: Radio LBC 9- 10pm

17th Feb: Radio LBC repeat – 7am

17th Feb: Classic FM Radio Presenting Movies series (5 weeks) 4pm

17th Feb: Classic FM Radio: Anne Marie Minhall Guest List 9pm

18th Feb: ALBUM RELEASE!!!!

18th Feb: BBC Breakfast News BBC 1

18th Feb: Recording Loose Women

18th Feb: London Tonight ITV1 6pm

19th Feb: Webchat with Jonathan on Digital Spy Forum: 10am

20th Feb: Loose Women ITV 1

20th Feb: Entertainment 24: News 24

21stFeb: Five News: Channel 5

22nd Feb: Afternoon Live with Kay Burley: Sky News

22ndFeb: Sky Showbiz with Neil Sean: Sky News

25th Feb: The Wright Stuff: Channel 5

4th Mar: Hard Rock Café Concert

15th Mar: The Smoke House BBC 1

3rd April: This Morning with Hayley Westenra

17th April: RAH Concert – CFM Live at the Movies

8th May : Classical Brits – duetting with Hayley Westenra (not officially confirmed yet)

Love Molly xx Smile

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Forever album out on 10th November 2008

anima · Joined: Jan 08, 2008 Posts: 64

If tenor at movies not commercial success with all that promo then there's no justice in the world!

xcept · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

Molly you are a star and Jon is one hard working tenor! Very Happy

cathyk2002 · Joined: Sep 18, 2007 Posts: 776

Looking forward to today's Radio shows and tomorrow's BBC Breakfast appearance.

Wonder if he will sing from the couch 'off the cuff' as he is soooo good at it ! Wink

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JessicaL · Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 690 Location: Belfast

Thought Jon did brilliant on classic fm today -and a stunning selection of music.Lovely series already Smile

.Looking forward to John Barry being featured next week Smile

.

Just a reminder Jon is also on the Classic fm guest list show tonight 9-11pm Smile

So excited about Tenor at the movies ..really looking forward to tomorrow Very Happy

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Dilog · Joined: Feb 19, 2006 Posts: 81

Apologies this is a bit late but here's the detail to complement Marian's review of FNIMN

Di

On Tuesday Marian and I agreed that we would take a flyer at trying to get a tix for the FNIMN recording – arranged to meet around 5:30 in the queue and see if anyone had got a spare as that can happen and thankfully it did that night. I have to say at this point that I had been somewhat ambiguous about going but I really did want to make the hat trick as I had been lucky enough to go to both the G4 appearances on FNIMN and the first in particular was my favourite performance.

We stayed out in the cold until 6:30 – which was quite a result as they normally let you in at 7. Although I like to sit more at eye level than the front row at this kinda event the regulars have their seats but they do not like the front row so we very happily sat ourselves down right in front of the single microphone stand which we assumed would be for a certain tenor of our acquaintance.

The Mermaid sits 600 odd people – for this performance the stage is not set but you see the flies and wings all black. The orchestra takes up most of the space and there is percussion at the back, a drum kit and piano to the right but another joy harps on the left. The rest of the stage is filled with strings.

So after all the relevant comfort breaks we sat down and waited for the next joy of the evening – Paul Gambaccini – the compare. He is just so good at giving us great linking facts between performances and his opinion is also very well respected and he made our first visit to the Mermaid so wonderful.

The BBC Concert Orchestra comes onstage in dribs and drabs and we discuss the merits of certain violinist’s attire. Gambo comes on and announces that it is Thursday so what are we all doing there – and then gets of to tell us that this is the March 28th performance, he also tells us that the theme for the night is movies.

First up a little Gershwin but this is followed by the intro to Cinema Paradiso and Se and of course a tenor of our acquaintance. Jonathan bounces up on stage to the mic stand which has a music stand in front and he has some notes rather than a music score on the stand. He is wearing his dinner suite with a white shirt and black tie at half mast plus very nice patent leather shoes. Looking rather svelte and I would love to know who that tailor is as that is a very well crafted suit and for those who know me know that I notice this kinda thing!

Performance magnificent. Followed by various other moving themes and the other act is the Geoff Eales Trio who are a jazz piano act – doesn’t quite fit the rest of the evening but it is very interesting to watch the orchestra tapping their feet.

Jonathan is introduced again this time for Dances with Wolves. Gambo says that Don Black wrote the lyrics for a tribute album by the ‘Ten Tenors but here is a tenor with the voice of ten’ – rather liked that one!

Here’s to the Hero's is just spectacular. – more other stuff but I can’t remember what it was and I did not note it down.

We have a short break and then on to the second half

Gambo introduces the theme to Gladiator. After another magnificent performance he says ‘if he gets that response from singing in a language that doesn’t exist what will happen when he comes back later to in the show to sing in English?

After more jazz from the trio and themes from the Magnificent Seven back to the closing track from Jonathan. Tara's theme from Gone with the Wind – got lots of information on the composers and who many Oscars, Grammy’s etc etc they had all won. So Jonathan’s last performance is My Own True Love. I have to admit I have been a bit ambivalent about this track but sung with the orchestra I have to admit it reached places that the other tracks had not. They finished with a Bond medley which again was magnificent.

So what did the rest of the audience think? ‘Very good that singer’ – understatement of the night.

We popped round the back to see Jonathan on his way out and I told Jonathan that it was wonderful. Perhaps that is a bit of an understatement. The difference between this performance and the first when the right leg was shaking from nerves and the last one when he turned purple on the top notes is quite astounding – a very, very confident young man who appears totally in command. Very, very impressive and the total audience got it.

xcept · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:

A marvellous review! Thank you Dilog Very Happy

Marian · Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 724 Location: Middlesex

cathyk2002 · Joined: Sep 18, 2007 Posts: 776

Well, appearance on BBC Breakfast was amazing and Jonathan sang the end bit of 'Here's To The Heroes' with that soaring note !!!! Wink

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