Topic: Therion live with orchestra and choir - again

[piotresku]

nice show nice vocals and musicans.

[rempi]

The show was really great and amazing...
Thanx to the band;hope you could forbear with your crazy metalheart fans
Wait for your return as soon as possible...

[Rika]

Dear, dear Therion! Thanks this great party in Miskolc yesterday!!!!!! The first part was very nice and intresting (Dies irae) !
And the second part...When momentarily everyone stood up ahead, and began to rampage...It was frenetic!  I couldn't  stay, I ran down! Its unforgettable! Thanks the Rise of Soddom! ( Where was the To mega.... )

[gwinnadain]

My dear band member friends, fellow fans... I want to say thank you all!
It was a long trip to Miskolc, but well worth it! That was one beast of a show, best in my life, and so hard to beat.    I still hear you when I close my eyes, you were so fantastic. My heart was pouding as your music sent tingles down my spine and tears to my eyes. What an awe-inspiring experience!

The classical part was interesting, although I hope the genius composers of past centuries will not take offense when I say that I prefered Therion original songs greatly.     You people work so hard for us, and we adore you in return.

I hope we didn't make anyone uncomfortable by rushing to the stage when Blood of Kingu started, but it was so irresistible. o:-) Also, I wanted to apologise on behalf of some fans, who just do not know when to remain silent, when not to yell or clap. Also the Hungarian security man made a fine exhibit of his intellect by continuously yelling at people during a silent part of a song. Oh dear, I surely hope we did not damage your recording, and that this mess won't be heard on the DVD. Such a shame. 

Last but not least, I have a few open questions for everyone, though especially the band members. Feel free to discuss/speculate. In case some of those were answered elsewhere, please pardon my ignorance and link. 

1) What was the track list? I'm interested in both the Classical pieces, some of which I couldn't recognise, and your own songs, as I can't recall the order.
2) Were there any conditions, or limitations set by the Opera festival organisers? Did they prevent you from playing certain songs? (To Mega Therion comes to mind...) Or from decorating the stage? I found the hockey clock behind you very disturbing. A tapestry like the one on your last tour would have been so much better...
3) How did the orchestra members react to the unusual audience? Some of them I thought looked pretty excited. I bet they will miss us at their local theatre, when they're holed up under the stage.     And by the way, I loved the old lady with the bass. Such a brilliantly open-minded person.
4) Was there anything wrong with Petter's upper left (from our point of view, the big one) Cymbal? I found its sound so crude and disturbing.   And how about Christopher's guitar? He had to tune it all the time.
5) Is the release date for the DVD known already? I'm so getting it!

I wanted to ask so many more questions, but I guess they'll have to wait.     
Thanks and best regards!

PS: Many thanks for the towel, Chris. I still don't know what I'll do with it. Guess I'll use it, so it reminds me of this gig everyday.

[NineWind]

Hi there!
Watch and learn from these guys. The performance was a crown jewel. Stunning. Comparing to the one held in Bucharest, I think there will be less complaints...and I guess the entire crew is satisfied. I'm sure the fans are. This happens when you pay a price and you get what you expect. My endless admiration goes for people who can pull out events like this. The world needs people like you. They were some of the finest hours i've ever experienced.

Here is a short vid. The end of the brake: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=242153510044464413

Maybe I'll put some vids later but it's time for me to take shower, I stink like a dead rat.    The rest of them are pretty low as* quality. I hope you guys you'll come up with something better, so I don't have to bother you with my crap. 

People will remember this event. 

[Markus]

Hey Gwinnadain,

so you noticed that lady, too? I found her so great...

I do have a set-list, but probably won't get to post it until tomorrow, so probably someone else will be quicker.

Cheers!

Markus

[harmonia_mundi]

Right now I'm too tired to write anything more eloquent than 'great show' so I posted a few randomly selected photos. More to come.

[gwinnadain]

Aww, I told you those would be the most fantastic fan-shot photos ever!
So wonderful and sweet!     Wow! (Three guesses who this is.  )

[harmonia_mundi]

Aww, I told you those would be the most fantastic fan-shot photos ever!
So wonderful and sweet!     Wow! (Three guesses who this is.  )

  Well, I don't know about that, but - Köszönöm!  Actually I saw a 5D with a beautiful telephoto lens and probably a 20D, so there should be far better photos.

I thought it was you. It's great to have you here. And it was really interesting to see who's behind some of the nicks from this forum. Hi to everyone.

[gwinnadain]

You bet.  )  You make brilliant photos. The singers are frozen in so brilliant moments, oy, does that bring back the memories...

Oh, and by the way, where was Katarina Lilja? I love that lady to bits... Molnár Judit was not so bad, either, but not quite the league...

[gwinnadain]

Response to your edit:
As for the photos, it doesn't really matter what body they had. Consider this. A telephoto lens has an apperture of approximately f/5-7 on the zoom end, your lens had f/1.8... and as your pictures are already in the high ISO range, I don't see it possible for them to make it any better. They can't use very slow shutter speeds, either, as the scene is far from static.

You had the best vantage point of all the photographers on this event, and I didn't see any other person in the front row sporting an SLR. Also, I saw most of your pictures as they were being created, and they rock.    Now that I saw these four, I'm a believer. Even better than I expected! Shame mine didn't turn out too good. I just couldn't get the cam to focus, and botched it when I switched the focus to manual. 

[NeMo]

Great town, great organization,  great audience, great sound, great venue, great solists and great concert!
@harmonia_mundi: and great pics! Do you maybe have a pic of that famous old lady playing bass? And of the conductor too? He was also great...

The only thing being not so great, but still good is - the setlist. Why Sirius B? Why not To Megatherion? Why too many "long" songs (>6 min) and too many classical compositions? The answer to all, but the 2nd question, is probably the limited time for preparation of the concert and too many work to be done, so I understand and not complain (btw one needs 5 seconds to learn the lyrics of Sirius B  ) . But about Megatherion I do complain, that song is kind of anthem of Therion. Omitting it is like omitting the national anthem at an Indipendance Day celebration... I expected it as an encore, not more Mozart&co (45 minutes at the beginning was more than enough). I like classical music, for example I watched Mozart Requiem 4 times, but I like it more the way Mozart intended it to sound, without drums and guitars. And beside that, there is a million of ways to hear symphonic orchestra playing Mozart works, but very rarely Therion works...

It was funny that hungarian Minister of Culture recommended Therion concert to people, in his openning statement! As a result we got the most diverse audience ever to be seen! Old ladies with their granddaughters dressed like for the school resital ( ), and metal heads( ) standing next each other. New experience for both, I'd say.

I'm also glad I saw Mats Leven 3rd and last time. I'll miss that guy... He's great vocalist and also charismatic and overall positive person. In Budapest couple of years ago, he jumped off the (pretty high) stage just to take the envelope, I desperately waved with from the 1st row. In that envelope I "begged" Therion to cover also some topics from Slavonic mithology in their lyrics...

That mezzosoprano solist was excellent. Clavicula Nox sounded marvelous  (even without Therion on stage). Btw who needs Therion at all? Ok now seriously, I would like to see Therion again in Miskolc next year, on 8th Miskolc Opera Fesztival! No Mozart&co just Therion songs, please! Now that Miskolc choir and orchestra have more experience with Therion, it will be much easier to rehearse the "pure" therionic setlist.
[dreaming] I would like to hear:
To Megatherion
Birth Of Venus Illegitima
Crowning of Atlantis
Mark Of Cain
Son Of The Son
Melek Taus
...
[/dreaming]

@hungarian fans: press the organizers to bring Therion to Miskolc again next year!!!

[Markus]

Hi there,

indeed it was a most amazing show, and I liked the mix of classical pieces and Therion songs. Clavicula Nox was incredible - I think quite a few people cried during that one - and the overall mood was very positive. In contrast to what I've seen on the Bucharest footage, this time the classical musicians seemed to enjoy the event.

Harmonia Mundi - I like your photos a lot. Great work!

Cheers!

Markus

[The One]

Excellent pictures Harmonia!
The stage does not look as ominous as the one in Bucharest, but it looks like the concert was as good or better even.
BTW, Kristian looks hilarious in that suit.

[Lasse]

The setlist was similiar to Bukarest because of the lack of time to rehearse new songs, no limitations were form the promoter. They'd love Therion to play here again, but since they will take a year-off in 2008, so I doubt it will happen again next year. However, the organisers of the festival wish to invite a metal band every year to make these crossover-concerts. So prepare for that. We might have Therion again in 2009 or 2010.

I loved it from the beginning to the end except for the drunk fat idiotic metalheads. I honestly think people like that should be shot. Shouting track titles won't make anyone to play them. You should be happy with what you get. And also, how on earth did they think that they could crowd-surf and evertythig? There were old ladies in the audience, for God's sake. I was so angry.

But Christofer & co., you have my full respect, it was wonderful. The best weekend in my whole life. It was also great to travel with the guys and girls from here.

[Shelley]

Hi there,
this was one of the best events in my life! Thank you Therion !!
I also  want to thank all this wonderful people I´ve met there (Lucy, Markus, Offman, Lasse, Hekse, Alejandro, Miss Swan & bf,...), we had such a great time!
Ups, I wanted to post some pictures but I realise that my own rehearsal starts in ten minutes - sorry, I have to run now - I will post pics later. Sorry

[Diane]

I enjoyed reading all of your reviews.

And harmonia mundi...   really great pictures!   Such clarity.    Look at Chris in his cute little bow tie ...   and look how handsome Kristian looks in his suit!   

[blake]

This goes for me too........... an extraordinary, mesmerising concert, unforgetable, dynamic, emotional
Fans were totally overwhelmed and I am so happy to have been there.
Thanks to Christofer, Petters, Mats, Lori, Johann, Kristian, to Richard (a cool guy btw) and his team and thanks to Maestro Markus Stollenwerk who was damned cool on the stage, leading all these classical musicians.
Also thanks to the hungarian soloists and choir and orchestra.
It was an event to remember, and what I really really liked was:

1) So many older people, openminded and classically dressed where there - and they loved it !!!

2) The orchestra:  Look to the pic of Lori (a godess, she was awesome) to the female violine player at the left.
    Her behaviour was shared by many of her collegues of the orchestra: She started very serious and very
    motivated and she kept this all the concert, but:
    The longer the concert was going on, the more you could see she sometimes started to smile happily.
    In the end everyone could see how happy she was.
    I think they all enjoyed it a lot, it was a pleasure to see them enjoying it and to be so much motivated
    I garantue, all these musicians will never forget this wonderful experience

Hands up for the mature lady at the bass string instrument!!! She was enjoying it like a rock star, she was very cool!
She rules

   

   

[Lasse]

Blake is right, we met some choir girls afterthe concert, and they told us that they have never heard of the band before, but they loved it. They even asked for our email address and made us swear for write to them if Therion will play in Hungary again.

Cheers for the old lady wit the bass! \m/

[blake]

Blake is right, we met some choir girls afterthe concert, and they told us that they have never heard of the band before, but they loved it. They even asked for our email address and made us swear for write to them if Therion will play in Hungary again.

Cheers for the old lady wit the bass! \m/

perhaps Therion will play with the old lady as a surprise guest  one day .....   

[kundrian]

perhaps Therion will play with the old lady as a surprise guest  one day .....   
[/quote]
... or she might play Therion albums to her granchildren

So who can post the setlist? What about some more pics AND clips, come on guys, don't be selfish, share some  

[Diane]

HEY!!

Watch all that old lady talk!

 

[Aluqak]

Hey Guys!
Thanks for sharing all those pics, reviews etc. Needless to say how much I evy you... I hope that'll be able tobe there next time... if there is a next time of course!

[Markus]

Hi folks,

here's the setlist, derived from the Bucharest one, of which I'm sure that it's pretty much correct.

Cheers!

Markus

>>>>>>>>>>>

Part I -  Therion songs in the interpretation of the symphonic orchestra, choir and opera solists

- Clavicula Nox

Part II - Classical music
Interpreted by the symphonic orchestra, choir, opera solists and Therion

- Dvorak, 9th Symphony, Part iV
- Verdi, "Il Trovatore", "Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie"
- Mozart, Requiem, "Dies Irae"
- Saint-Saens, 3rd Symphony, "Organ" Maestoso (fragment)
- Wagner, "Siegfried", "Notung! Notung! Neidliches Schwert!"
- Wagner, "Rienzi", "Uvertura" (fragment) / Act III "Der Tag ist da" (fragment) / Act V (fragment, Finale)

Part III - Therion, opera metal
Ten Therion songs from different albums, rewritten for symphonic orchestra, choir, solists and Therion

- Blood of Kingu
- Sirius B
- Lemuria
- Eternal Return
- Draconian Trilogy
- Schwarzalbenheim
- The Siren of the Woods
- Via Nocturna
- Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah
- Grand Finale

[hekse]

I can't really add anything... it's been a wonderful weekend, which was worth every cent I spent and every meter I travelled. The concert was fantastic - I'll just say two words: Clavicula Nox. Afterwards I was glad that I haven't been the only one who had to fight tears...

And it's also been great to meet you all there, they've been those kind of days you'll never forget. Thanx to all people involved!

[MissSwan]

I just woke up after a long long journey and a long long sleepless weekend... worth every moment of it though. I don't think I can express in words how much I loved this classical show compared to the other one... Lori was simply the star, it was obvious how much of a better choice she was than any other classical soprano. I agree with Hekse that Clavicula Nox is probably my favourite song of the whole show. Judit Molnar was also very very good, did a great job on Lemuria The orchestra and choir were simply adorable, you could see such a big difference between them and the romanian ones... It was lovely for me as a fan to see how much they were enjoying themselves with Therion I think it was a very wise decision to have less instrumentists and more choir than in Bucharest... the sound was a lot better. The aftershow gathering with the band was also very very much fun... Thanks to Mats, Lori and Kristian especially for the great chats and pictures which I will post a bit later on. I also have videos of Blood of Kingu and Lemuria that I have to compress first and then upload them on YouTube. All in all, I think the word of the evening was "LOVELY"...

PS: also a big thanks to the very nice and sweet girls of the choir that told us about the afterparty

[ozeatti]

Huh, I think it was the best concert I've ever seen. I can't express in words how I felt when I had heard Blood of Kingu and Lemuria and al the other fantastic songs with orchestra and that huge choir! It was also great to hear Mats sing, and Lori.... I think she was simply amazing(she is one of the best and most beautiful singer I've ever seen). The tracklist was also really good, although I missed some songs( To Mega Therion, Call of Dagon and one of my dreams was to hear Kali Yuga), but I can't complain, because I could hear a lot of songs that are my favourits. So I want to say thank you to Therion, the orchestra (especially to the old lady of course  ) and the choir and Mats and Lori. I hope I will have a chance to see you with orcestra in Hungary one day.

[Christofer Johnsson]

It was explained properly after the Bucharest, but as information on internet have a best before date of aprox  one week:

We performed songs that made sence with an orchestra, songs that don't make sence to do on normal shows with pre-recorded orchestra on back track (like Via Nocturna and Eternal Return, there would be long parts where more would come from tape than from the band). The intention is also to make a different type of show, not just same as always but with orchestra, something unique.

To Mega Therion was not played because there was no nice arrangements to do based on the keyboardparts in it (that would be playable) and I also don't like the idea of shouting vocals in an evening like this. We play To Mega Therion on all other shows. This is something different.

[dreaming] I would like to hear:
To Megatherion
Birth Of Venus Illegitima
Crowning of Atlantis
Mark Of Cain
Son Of The Son
Melek Taus
...
[/dreaming]

Out of those 6 songs, 3 of them don't have any orchestral parts at all... What would be  the point in having an orchestra on stage to perform songs without orchestral parts?  

This is how things are with many fans. They don't understand much of how things work, they just know what songs they like (which is enough for 99% of the cases, one doesn't have to be a mechanic to drive a car).
Luckily we never pay attantion to any wishes and just do what we find best instead  

[harmonia_mundi]

You mean the lady behind Kristian? She was smiling all the time.

[Lucy]

That's her, exactly! The Metal Granny.