The Performer's Eye
Wichita, Kansas - June 10, 2009
I purchased presale tickets to this show and went alone, not knowing where I was going to sit until I got there. I drove 846 miles round trip in 36 hours to see the show a second time. And boy did I see it. I arrived in Wichita one hour before the show. Barely had time to get there using a trusty GPS, check in to my hotel where I did not have a reservation, and change for the show. Twenty-five minutes before the show, I waited in the Will Call line and they handed me my ticket. It had my name hand-written on it. I entered the hallway of the fantastic, brand new Hartman Arena. With beet red eyes, and the floor feeling as if it was still moving under me, I looked at my ticket. Was too pumped to focus on what it said, so I walked down to the seats and someone kindly interpreted it for me, informing me that I was seated in the front row, just across from Yanni's piano. I had the absolute best seat in the house. The very kind family next to me was from Pakistan. Eight hundred forty-fix miles suddenly didn't seem like it was that far.
The show began. I had seen it once before back home in St. Louis. This one seemed like a whole new show. All four vocalists looked me directly in the eye at times as they performed. I could see the veins pumping blood into Yanni's forearms as he slammed the ivories. I could see detailed expressions on the musicians' faces. Wow was this a treat. I paid out the gazoo for this seat but it was well worth it and I would have paid $500 for it if i had to.
There wasn't a single moment when the vocalists, or anyone on stage for that matter, were out of "character." Such staunch professionalism was prevalent. Add the talent on top of that, and I think it was one of the best concerts I've ever seen. Nathan looked us in the eye as if to say, "isn't this music unbelievable?" Chloe looked us in the eye as if to say, "I've got your undivided attention and you've got mine." Leslie looked us directly in the eye as if to say, "I know you understand these lyrics and feel the same." And Ender looked us in the eye (and once me with a huge guilty grin) as if to say, "I feel the music, I'm hot on a roll, I just twirled Chloe around by the piano, I feel sexy as heck and who's next?"
These four young singers have really improved and totally mastered the stage and their act. They've changed a few things, a few amazing notes and trills here and there but they've got it down to a science. A very valuable lesson for their careers. Yanni seems so comfortable on stage, it was reaffirmed for me that this is where he is happiest. You can only write music for yourself for so long, until you discover the rewards from sharing it and mentoring. He is bursting with a show-and-tell syndrome borne from all the hard work they put into this show and the blossoming of these young talents.
In one of the songs, it appeared as if Yanni was just playfully banging on the piano keys - one hand at a time, back and forth - as a child would do while pretending to play. It was almost comical to hear such beautiful, and technically difficult music coming out of such playful gestures.
This is what I mean by professional. There were a couple times when I heard a voice just start to waver off key. I mean, so slightly, that I bet most did not catch it. I'm actually surprised I didn't hear it more often, given the grueling nature of this tour. I didn't care because what impressed me was their ability to get right back on the note and seemingly hold it longer and more forcefully dead on, as if almost to seek revenge on the slight error. Unlike what some do when they make a mistake, they never got nervous, made more mistakes or even showed any emotional reaction whatsoever. Having been on stage myself, I can appreciate the discipline this requires.
Watching Chloe perform, i can't believe that perfect, adult, experienced voice is coming out of her tiny frame. Her energy is contagious and she's a star, from head to toe. Nathan is one of those rare diamonds in the rough. A talent one doesn't always get to witness in a lifetime. Leslie is the definition of feminine. The meaning of her lyrics sneak up on you when you're not paying attention, and there is no voice out there as crisp and golden as hers. Ender makes you feel desire as you watch him sing Desire. And everything else he sings too. Ender was indeed "born to sing," as Yanni said, and to dance! To quote Ender himself, but change the nouns, Ender is a "very, very, very sexy" performer, from his stunning cowboy boots to his fluffy locks.
A message for the sound crew - The Hartman Arena, which just opened this past April, has amazing acoustics and the sound quality was incomparable. The crisp, clear sound from this concert was the highest quality sound I have heard from any of the seven shows I've been to. It seemed even, all around, never distorted and the volume was perfect. That, combined with the audience energy and the fact that it was clearly an "on" night for everyone, made it truly a blockbuster show! Kept saying to myself, "man, are they on tonight!" The fact that this venue was much smaller than most, was the reason I drove so far to see this particular show and you all never let me down!
There was a foreign man sitting behind me and I could hear him throughout the show. His comments revealed he was clearly a lifetime follower of Yanni's music and the musicians. He would snicker at the funny moments, and name the musicians by first name and was repeatedly blurting, "oh my god,"ohhhh" and "wow." Certainly put a smile on my face.
I spoke with Charlie for a while after the show and we straightened out our deal about the six bucks he owed me from 2003. I forgave the debt and was honored to speak to him about how one keeps our bodies in shape at this precious age. He looks fantastic! I overhead the lady near me thanking him for changing her daughter or grandaughter's outlook on music. I'm sure it touched him very much.
At one point near the end, I saw Ric sitting alone in the empty seats off to the side of the stage. He looked just as proud as Yanni did. I imagined I could hear Yanni telling him backstage during intermission, "they're so on tonight, you've got to come out and watch for a bit."
The most poignant moment for me was near the end of the show when Yanni was saying goodbye. He was getting up from his piano bench, oh so proud. Despite my exhaustion, I found myself looking at him with almost a motherly love while I was clapping. Just wanted to reach out and hug him, along with the entire orchestra. The pride he has for these vocalists, his own personal happiness of where he was at the moment, his focus, the rewards of their hard work and the sheer joy of just performing this show all seemed to wrap up into one bond of energy streaming between myself and him and I know he could feel it. Can you imagine how this felt for him, coming from all of us in the audience? I was clapping hard, my head turned slightly sideways, looking him directly in the eye with tears in my eyes from feeling this bond. This is the part of music I like the best. I would have driven to China for that.
p.s. I was too focused on the show to take photos, but I'll be posting some soon on my website from the misty drive through the Kansas prairies - the heart of America taking me to the heart of music.
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