Mini-Angels

Monday, December 21, 2015

Libera on Japan TV

While 9 Libera boys were signing autographs and meeting fans at 2 record stores yesterday, 13 Libera boys appeared on a TV show in Osaka. They sang "Angel" with Isaac singing the solo as on the CD. The interviewer then spoke to Taichi in Japanese. I can't understand a word of it, but it was so cute because Taichi is cute. :D

This is the video of it. It is a little blurry from recording the actual TV. Thank you to tomobarbie for posting it!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Libera at Universal Studios Japan

Libera performed at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka today. It was magical!!!

You can see Libera performing Song of Life and Angel in the video above. I love the flying and dancing angels! You can also see the entire concert by watching on this link -

https://www.periscope.tv/w/1lPKqQgomDmKb

Libera sang 5 songs -

1. Joy to the World
2. Carol of the Bells - high notes by ? and Alex Gula
3. Sanctus - last "Sanctus" by Merlin
4. Song of Life - solo by Ciaran
5. Angel - solo by Isaac (this is USJ's theme song for Christmas)

Speeches were done by Alessandro and Ciaran with Taichi interpreting into Japanese. They mentioned how impressed they all were with Japan's performance in the World Cup.

During the concert there were beautiful images projected on the wall behind the boys, and during "Angel" there were dancing angels on the stage above them! Fantastic!

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Christchurch, UK Concert

Christchurch Priory on concert day ~ photo by Dani

After their Exeter concert, Libera had a second UK concert in Christchurch on July 28, 2015. The line at the door to purchase tickets for this concert was surprisingly long. The church even added extra rows of seats at the back.

Libera poster outside the church ~ photo by Dani

Stage ~ photo by Dani

The boys rehearsing ~ photo by Libera

The choristers and song list were the same as for Exeter. Alex M's high parts were again sung from the balcony above but there was no railing this time, so good job Alex at being so fearless!

Audience ~ photo by Dani

The fans who attended said the boys sang just as well and are in top form to head off for their Japan concert at Universal Studios in Osaka.

Moose watching the show! ~ photo by Libera, obviously :D

Photo by Dani

Congratulations to Libera on another excellent concert!

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Universal Studios Japan Concert

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka

Universal Studios map

Libera is in Osaka, Japan for a very special concert at Universal Studios Japan and so is our friend Patrick from France. He took all of the pictures to share with fans. Thank you, Patrick.

The concert was at Stage 33 in the Hollywood section of the park (#22 on the map). Only 400 people got to attend, and the tickets sold out in 10 minutes! What a special concert.

Universal Studios Stage 33

Friendly employee at the entrance

Line waiting to get into concert

It was a "Christmas in Summer" concert with lots of great surprises. There are 20 boys here along with the staff.

1. Marc Alvares
2. Shay Balsekar
3. Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey
4. Merlin Brouwer
5. Gabriel Collins
6. Kavana Crossley
7. Thomas Delgado-Little
8. Alex Gula
9. Matthew Jansen
10. Timothy Lee
11. Isaac London
12. Alessandro MacKinnon-Botti
13. Micael Menezes
14. Alex Montoro
15. Oliver Mycka
16. Cassius O'Connell-White
17. Taichi Shinokubo
18. Camden Stewart
19. Sam Wiggin
20. Lucas Wood

Stage with Robert Prizeman's seat in front center

Piano and musicians seats

Musicians seats

Interior

Audience filling up the seats

There were so many cameras. Some looked like television station cameras and some fans were interviewed by the press, so watch for Libera to be on tonight's news. There was also a camera on an overhead boom, so maybe the concert is being filmed for a mini-DVD or a special feature DVD in a new CD. Japan is great about producing those!

Large boom camera - filming for a DVD?! :D

Many cameras for television news!

An extra special surprise was that Mr. Takatsugu Muramatsu, the composer of "Song of Life" which Libera sang and recorded, actually played "Song of Life" while Libera sang it on stage! How thrilling!

Here is a video of part of "Song of Life." Isaac is singing the solo, and you can see Mr. Muramatsu playing the piano at the beginning.

Photo by Osaka The Page JP

Ciaran and Taichi gave the first speech. Taichi's part was so long that he had it written on a paper that he kept folded up in his sleeve. Both boys are wonderful speakers and do such a good job. This is the video of parts of the first 5 songs and Taichi and Ciaran speaking.

Photo by Osaka The Page JP

Then an even bigger thrill, the encore song was the world premiere of Takatsugu Muramatsu's new song "Angel." Isaac sang the solo and Mr. Muramatsu played the piano. Patrick said that at the beginning and end of the song, Matthew Jansen stood to the side and played 3 slow notes on a tubular bell with a hammer. Just wow! The single is scheduled for release this Fall. Please let the video be on a new CD/DVD!!! :D

Here is the song list -

1. Joy to the World
2. Carol of the Bells
3. Sanctus
4. Exultate
Speech - Ciaran & Taichi
5. Song of Life - composer Takatsugu Muramatsu on piano

~ Intermission ~

6. Orinoco Flow
7. Amazing Grace
8. The Prayer
9. Wonderful World
10. Wayfaring Stranger
11. Stay With Me
12. Nearer to God
13. Joyful, Joyful

Encore - Angel (world premier) - solo by Isaac, composer Takatsugu Muramatsu on piano

Just look at the beautiful stained glass projected onto the screen behind Libera! Gorgeous!

Libera waving goodbye!

Libera pictured with Mr. Takatsugu Muramatsu, composer of "Song of Life" and the new song "Angel."

Photo by CinemaCafe.net

Then many fans gathered to wave good-bye to Libera as they boarded their bus.

Alessandro

Oliver

Alex G

Taichi

Congratulations to Libera on a great concert, and congratulations to the 400 fans who got to be there! Thank you again to Patrick for sharing his experience and pictures with us!

Monday, July 27, 2015

Exeter, UK Concert

Tonight was Libera's 1st summer concert, and it was held at the Exeter Cathedral in Exeter, UK! The boys are on a choir tour with 2 stops in southwest England, and then they are off for a concert in Osaka, Japan!

Beautiful lights! ~ pic by Luke Avery

Libera rehearsing before the concert ~ pic by Libera

Pic by Dani

Tom rehearsing solo for "O For the Wings of a Dove" ~ Pic by Dani

There were 29 boys listed, but apparently Taichi rehearsed earlier but did not sing in the concert. Hope he is OK. It's great to see that Kavana is back in the singing line-up!

The song list is full of awesome Libera favorites plus a new song, "Nearer My God to Thee." We sing that hymn here in the US, but I'm not sure if it's the same tune as the one we know.

There were also speeches by Tadgh, Ben, Ciaran, Alessandro, Alex G, and Cassius, and 2 standing ovations at the end!

Choristers -

1. Marc Alvares
2. Shay Balsekar
3. Leo Barron
4. Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey
5. Merlin Brouwer
6. Benedict Bywater
7. Gabriel Collins
8. Kavana Crossley
9. Thomas Delgado-Little
10. Tadhg Fitzgerald
11. Alex Gula
12. Adam Izghouti
13. Matthew Jansen
14. Timothy Lee
15. Isaac London
16. Matthew Madine
17. Alessandro MacKinnon-Botti
18. James Menezes
19. Michael Menezes
20. Alex Montoro
21. Oliver Mycka
22. Cassius O'Connell-White
23. Taichi Shinokubo
24. Camden Stewart
25. Rocco Tesei
26. Mark Ustynovych-Repa
27. Joseph Walshe
28. Sam Wiggin
29. Lucas Wood

Musical Director - Robert Prizeman
Assistant Musical Directors - Steven Geraghty & Sam Coates

Violins - Carina Vince, Rowan Patterson
Viola - Andrew Gillett
Cello - Hilary Boxer
Double Bass - Patrick Butterly
Percussion - Jon Fairey
Flute/Recorder - Lucille Burns
Clarinet - Paul Sanders
Oboe - Jesse Bescoby
Horn - Raoul Neumann
Piano/Keyboards - Josh Madine

Sound Production - Sam Coates
Stage Direction - Steven Geraghty
Stage Management - Jonathan Barrington & Kavana Crossley
Lighting - Luke Avery
Libera Co-ordination & Chaperones - Barbara Geraghty & Eleanor Lewis
Production Co-ordination - Andrew Winter

Song List -

1. Joyful, Joyful
2. Sanctus - descant Merlin
3. Amazing Grace
4. Voca Me- high parts by Alex M standing in the balcony above
5. The Prayer
6. Sacris Solemnis - solo Isaac with Alex M. & Lucas
7. Lullaby - solo Camden
8. Song of Life
9. Salva Me - high parts by Alex M standing in the balcony above
10. Danny Boy - a Capella, solo Isaac
11. Exultate

- Interval -

12. Mysterium - solo Alessandro
13. Orinoco Flow
14. How Great Thou Art - solo Alessandro
15. Dreaming of Home
16. O For the Wings of a Dove - solo Tom
17. Wayfaring Stranger - solo Alessandro
18. Stay With Me - solo Merlin with Lucas
19. Nearer My God to Thee - new song sung a Capella! solo Isaac and Alessandro with Alex M, Camden and Sam
20. How Shall I Sing That Majesty - solo Lucas

Encore - Wonderful World

Libera during the Exeter concert ~ photo by Libera

Song list ~ photo by Dani

Chorister and staff list ~ photo by Dani

Exeter and Christchurch concert posters ~ photo by Libera

Dani wrote a review of the concert that she said we could share -

"The concert was simply amazing , a lot of the boys are on top form and it showed . Stand out performances for me was Danny Boy , Mysterium and Sacris Solemnis ( it was great to have these two back on a set list )

Alessandro did the solo for Mysterium , How Great Thou Art and Wayfaring but Lucas did both of the solos for How Shall I Sing That majesty . Alex M is now doing the high parts on Salva and Voca Me.

Merlin did the solo part for Stay With Me and he was really composed for such a young child and he did it wonderfully . Lucas I think did the high notes on this but he was the other side of the stage of me so I am not 100% sure .

A new song which I have not heard Libera perform before was "Nearer My God To Thee" which was not on the set list . Neither was Danny Boy or Lullaby which was also performed. A wonderful world was the encore.

So some small little tit bits

ETA - Voca and Salva the high parts were done from the balcony above us"

Thank you, Dani! Tomorrow Libera has a concert in Christchurch, UK. Stay tuned for more! :D

Friday, May 22, 2015

New "America the Beautiful" Music Video

Today Libera released their new music video for "America the Beautiful." It's beautiful and touching! My great-grandparents emigrated from Ireland to America just as they show in this video. Libera says this video is "in honour of the many emigrants across the world who have sought and continue to seek freedom from disease, poverty, starvation, war and repression." Thank you, Libera!

On May 3, Libera flew to Ireland and filmed this video on the famine ship SS Dunbrody in New Ross, Ireland. Here are some of the photos from the day of filming.