Paul Potts Germany Tour 2011 and a Crazy Project (by Dirk Bräutigam)

I did several crazy things in my life. Strangely it all started to be more frequent since I became a fan of this British tenor called Paul Potts and joined the best fan-group that a performer can have. Since then I’ve travelled a lot, met lots of wonderful people, as well as our Pottsy and his wonderful family. I was soooo happy when we got the information about another tour in Germany. It was for certain I will attend a few shows, but in the end I have found myself holding six tickets in my hands. Slowly it was becoming obvious that planning and organisation will take a bit more effort than I thought.

First there was a problem getting time off at work. I needed almost an entire month of holidays! Fortunately my boss had his good days and approved this. After this problem was solved I’ve started to book hotels and train tickets and all these things. Meanwhile some other family members decided they want to come to some shows and it was for sure that we will meet. The big get-together should happen in Munich but this story will come later!

My journey should start at the beginning of November in Hamburg. Fortunately, I arrived a few days before the show so I could spend some time sightseeing and running and all those kind of things. During such a running-session I saw a few meters in front of me a well-known tenor who was photographing. Of course I stopped and had a short chat with Paul. The first question that he asked was „Where is my milk”? Some of you will not understand why he asked me that. It was a conversation on twitter and it is a long story so I will not repeat it here as it is not important for the rest of the story. Anyway I started feeling cold in my running gear so I said good-bye to him. Then a really stupid idea came in my mind. I ran back to the hotel, jumped under the shower, ran into a store and bought him 2 pints of low-fat milk as he ordered. I ran back to the place we met first and gave him his milk. He had to laugh very loud but for me it was a must to do! Reason!? He would ask me that question in 10 years had I not done so and therefore I had to do this. I can tell you, it cost me 5 years of my life to do this so fast. We’ve had a good chat again about the upcoming tour and a few other things. After a while it was time to say good-bye. So that was my first meeting with Paul in Hamburg. Many more would follow!

The first show in Hamburg would take place in the wonderful Laieszhalle. This venue was built for classical music and the world famous orchestras and soloist gave concerts there. So this venue fits perfectly Paul and the orchestra. You will find further information about the show in the end so I will not write about it here again. But what I have to say is that it was the greatest show I’ve ever seen from him. And now, after the tour is almost finished for me, I still have this opinion. Paul was in best form and the audience went absolute crazy and gave him well deserved applause and standing ovations. He blew me away with his powerful and emotional voice. Have to mention that I caught the rose for the first time. I gave it to my very nice neighbour. I’ve had tears in my eyes and was on cloud 9 again after it. We met at the signing again. What a great start I can tell you.

Next stop was Munich. I was very excited because I knew that I will meet some other family members again. I reached Munich a day before the show, and also Emily, her hubby and Sally were there. We’ve met in the city at Marienplatz for some Weizenbier (Joe would like that ) and had a great chat. Sally’s German became so good, I’m telling you! I mean she has been taking lessons for just a year and she talked in German almost the whole time. It was also great to meet my very special friend Emily and her husband again. Since I found my way to the PP family we are very close and can talk about everything. After Alzenau it was our second meeting and the welcome was very nice and warm. Anyway we all were tired from our long travels so we parted ways in the evening.

I woke up very early in the morning and after breakfast I decided to go out for a wander. It was drizzly and cold but I wasn’t the only person from our family that was up this early. Not necessary to say that Paul was up and guess what he did? Photographing )….This time I got a very warm welcome with „oh nooo not you again” …we had a walk to the Marienplatz where Paul continued with his photographing. It was quiet funny and interesting at the same time to see with how much patience and knowledge he does it. He forgets everything around him. He didn’t see the people who photographed HIM, also not the vans and cars. Good that I was there since I rescued him a few times. He should always have an assistant with him otherwise he will get in trouble someday. After a while it was time to go because I wanted to meet the others and Paul wanted to take some breakfast.

When I came back to the hotel, Petra and her friend Petra sat in the lobby and waited for Allie and her friend Ineke from Holland. It was a very warm welcome and I was really happy to see them. After a while Alie and Ineke joined us. I will never forget our first meeting in Amsterdam 2 years ago. We never saw each other before so I thought it will be difficult to meet her as there were a lot of people in the city of Amsterdam. But as I saw this lady I was 100% sure that this has to be Roxy. I really cannot tell you why but I was right. From the first moment we fell in love with each other and we’ve had such a great time. So it was wonderful to see them again. We’ve started to chat and to laugh and all this kind of things and had a great time.

After a while we met Emily and husband again and had lunch together. The time runs so fast and it was time to prepare for the evening and for meeting Erika and her friend Hedwig. We met them in the lobby and the welcome was also very warm. We went to the restaurant in a vicinity of the venue. This time it was the Philharmonie in Munich. Also a very good choice for the show as it’s the best venue in Munich for such concerts. We had very good seats in the fourth row. The stage and the seats were on the same altitude so we were eye to eye with Paul. This time Petra caught the rose. But he threw another one at the end of the show and Sally caught it. Emily was a bit disappointed. But hey…she had only eyes for Paul. The rose could have landed at her feet, and she still would not notice it. So next time she has to be better prepared. After another great show we met Paul after the signing and had the opportunity for a picture with him and the family members.

Unfortunately, time to say-good bye came very quickly as he had the next show a day later 600km away. But we all were on cloud 9 again and had some champagne in the lobby. I gave others the gifts that our very kind Ian sent us. Thank you again for this Ian.

Meanwhile, it became late and it was time to say good-bye again. Such a pity that time runs so fast and we‘ve had to separate again. But it was a great meeting and we had a lot of fun together.

I had a few days off before the next show…well, I thought I would have. I spent the day sightseeing and running in Munich. I knew Paul will perform in Heilbronn the next day, which is not far from Munich. This concert wasn’t on my list but I thought I could make it. So I planned very spontaneous trip to this city. Paul told me that Heilbronn is a really nice city and it’s worth a short visit. I knew there are still tickets available at the venue. I decided to surprise him and as he asked me if I would come I said that I can’t cancel the hotel in Munich. Otherwise I have to pay the last night. Of course I could manage it and I found myself on the next train to Heilbronn. I reached the city at 6pm so just two hours before the show should start. I bought a ticket and enjoyed another very good show. I knew that he didn’t see me this time so I surprised him at the signing.

Next three days were very stressful, as there were shows lined up in a row in three different cities; Nurnberg, Dresden and Berlin. Of course, I bumped into him again. To be honest, I started to feel insecure. I really didn’t know was he annoyed not only to see me at the signing but also in his private time every day. And I know that he is too polite to say it, before he is really pissed off. So I decided to give him some well-deserved break from me and therefore I missed the signing in Nurnberg and Dresden. Btw, Nurnberg and Dresden were my absolutely favourite cities I have visited on the tour. So many wonderful buildings to see, and unfortunately not enough time to enjoy it really.

When I was in Dresden I got the information that Emily and her husband want to go to Paul’s show in Frankfurt and they asked me if I would come too. So it was for sure that I would come of course and the next day I found myself on the train again, on my way to Emily. She picked me up and we went to her home. We cooked together and had a great meal before we left for the show in Frankfurt.

The venue was “Jahrhunderthalle”, and unfortunately it is not well-known for a good acoustic, especially in classical shows. So it happened that Paul and the orchestra sang and played very well but the acoustic was very bad. But the audience was very enthusiastic and gave him his well-deserved applause and standing ovations. After the show Paul had a few minutes for a chat and Jake made a nice picture of us. Our Emily got a very warm hug from Paul…not necessary to say that she was speechless the whole trip back home The next morning we’ve had a good breakfast together and after a while it was time to say good-bye again. Friends…saying farewell to friends started to upset me, but there is no other way of course.

The next concert (Dusseldorf) will be the last for me on this tour. I was a little bit sad about it but everything finally has to come to an end. Show took place in the same venue like two years ago. So many great memories came back because I’ve met some of our family members there, including Adam and Judy from Asia. We had a great time together. Anyway, I enjoyed the show very much and finally it was time to say goodbye to Paul. I’ve waited patiently until the signing was over. Paul shocked me, in positive sense, as he gave me a gift. It was a picture he took during our encounter in Munich. I was really touched and speechless. Not to mention what effect on me had some really kind words Paul wrote on the backside of this picture. Paul, if you read this, I can’t thank you enough for this. This will get a special place in my house and in my heart. We had a nice chat and after Jake took a final pic of us it was time to say goodbye, for the final time for this tour in Germany. I went…No… I flew back home on cloud 9!

For the time being, I am back in Dusseldorf at my parents’ home. The last weeks I was living out of the suitcase and that is over, and I can say that I’m really happy about it. I loved traveling but it’s always good to have the opportunity to stay in one place like home. It was also very stressful from time to time to get the trains, check in the hotels, unpack and then pack the suitcase again. Find the way to the venue etc. Maybe I have a very small insight now how Paul and who is with him must feel. And not to forget that he has to do a full show in the evening, and I’m just listening. But if someone was to ask me would I do it again I would say 100% yes. All the stress is worth it because I could enjoy such great concerts. I have met wonderful friends from our PPWWF as well as the person who is guilty for all these things that happened around me. I really can’t thank our friends enough for the great time we’ve had together. I will always be in Paul’s debt because he is the reason why we all come together. And I will continue supporting him with all what is possible for me. Last, but not least, I just want to thank our Ian again for his great work and such wonderful presents.

Thanks for your attention. It’s time now for a further report concerning the show before this blog ends.

With Paul on tour, and on stage, are well-known music-director, a pianist, and good friend Chris Taylor, the conductor Rob Willis and musicians from the Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt. It was great to see this team again as I know that they work together incredibly well.

Show starts with the overture, which we have come to know from Paul’s Passione Tour, which included songs like “time to say good-bye” and “Maria” for example.

Granada
Paul opened the concert with the wonderful “Granada”. I guess the first challenge for him in this show, as the song is very powerful and feisty. It works all the time and it is in my opinion a very good beginning for the show. This song is one of my all-time favourites because he sings it with so much passion and power. Simply beautiful!

Il mio cuore va (My heart will go on)
I remember the time when Celine Dion performed this song and one absolutely had no chance of NOT hearing it if you turned on the radio. It was always on. When I heard that Paul recorded it for his third album I was not really delighted, but I knew that Paul is able to surprise me so I wanted to give this song a chance. Anyway I’m still not convinced. No question, he performed this song very well, and the audience reaction was always positive, but it’s still not one of my favourites.

Maria
What should I say…I love Leonard Bernstein and I loved this musical for many years. I remember having tears in my eyes as I’ve heard this song for the first time as a teenager. I cried like a baby as “Tony” died in the end of this musical. So I was really happy when I found it on Cinema Paradiso. The song works incredibly well with his voice. It sounds as it was written just for him. Him, performing it liv, is always brilliant and one of my highlights of the show.

Se
Was very good, also the orchestra did great work.

Caruso
I don’t want to attend the concert when Paul is NOT performing this song as I would miss it very, very much. It’s a MUST like Phil Collins “In the air tonight”. This song is so difficult to sing as it needs so much power and passion. And Paul did it every time and you can feel that he enjoys singing it. It was another highlight of the show.

Libiamo (Brindisi)
It was time for the wonderful Vanessa Calagno to come on stage with Paul. I’ve heard a lot of duets in the last years and I can tell you that this is one of my favourites. Paul is a pro on stage of course. Vanessa was a bit insecure the first show, but it’s great to see how they work together and how she gets better, also with her acting on stage and her interacting with the audience. Her voice is incredibly good. To be honest I was not sure if they would work well together. I know she was the second winner of a talent show in Germany but haven’t heard something about her before. But she has a very good voice and fits perfectly with Paul.

O mio Babbino Caro / O sole mio
Vanessa continued with these two songs during Pauls well deserved break. As I told before, I liked her voice very much and she was very professional. It was a very good choice to take her with Paul on tour this year

Nella Fantasia
Another highlight of the show in my opinion. I love this song since I’ve heard it the first time on Paul’s first album. I hoped he would sing it live as he didn’t during the first tours in Germany.

Gelsomina
Another song from Cinema Paradiso that works and fits very well with this year’s program.

Forbidden Colours
This was probably the most doubtful song from the set-list. Announcing this song, Paul said that this is the most difficult song that he sang at this time. And I really didn’t know would it work live. But fortunately, Paul surprised me again. As I’ve heard this song live the first time in Hamburg I was so impressed. In my opinion, it sounds much better than on the CD. Well done, Paul!

Il Gladiatore
The last song before we got a well-deserved break from Paul (as he said). He told that Julz wished (or commanded him) to record this song. And I am really thankful that she was so strict with him. It is a really great song and a very good choice before the break. One of my favourites from CP.

After the break it was time for Paul’s second guest artist. It was Melissa Venema, who is only 16 years old, from the Netherlands. With 8 years Mellissa started to play trumpet. Just 2 years later she started to study this instrument on the Conservatorium. In the meantime, she recorded 4 CDs and had the honour to play in front of the queen of Netherlands. She performed two songs (Il silenzio and “Königin der Nacht” from “Der Zauberflöte”) before she welcomed the audience in very good German. She continues with “Una Voce Poco Fa from “The barber of Seville”, which was my favourite. Her last song was “Habanera” from the opera Carmen. She really played incredibly well and I think it was a great choice to have her perform with Paul on this tour.

Un giorno per noi
Paul came back on stage with “Un giorno per noi”, and that is another one on my favourites list from Passione. A compliment to the cello player, who played the beginning very well, which is very important in my opinion.

Medley from “the student prince”
We all know that Mario Lanza played a very important role in Paul’s musical life, so it was for sure that he will do a medley again. I loved the first two and I really couldn’t believe he could do it better. But this one was really great again. He sang it with so much power and it was a joy listening to it. I really hope that he will record the medleys someday.

What a wonderful world
Louise Armstrong performed this song incredibly well with his priceless voice, and I still have tears in my eyes when I hear it. Also Paul performed it incredibly well. And he reminds everyone before he starts singing it that they should think about the “natural” things like nature, children, friends and not only listen to the bad news in the world. Yes…he is so right.

It was time to welcome back the wonderful Vanessa Calagno. Vanessa was also contestant in a German casting show called “Das Supertalent”. She won the 2nd place, behind a dog (yes…you read correctly). She had private lessons and also studied opera singing in Conservatorium. She performed the great “Ave Maria” and my absolute favourite “Torna a suriento”.

Parla piu piano
Paul came back to the stage with a great performance of “Parla piu piano”. I really love the melody and Paul performs it incredible well.

Love Story
Like every other tour, our Paul dedicated one song to the wonderful Julz and thanked her for her support in good and bad times. On this tour, he dedicated the theme from “love story” to her and I think all the ladies in the audience had tears in their eyes.

Time to say good-bye
After “Love story” it was time for a few well deserved thank you for the people on and behind the stage and not also a big thank you to the audience and the fans. I really don’t like to hear this sentence as I know that show is almost finished. And so it happens that he performed the wonderful “time to say good-bye”. This is always the sign to jump from the seats and start clapping and shouting very loud.

Nessun Dorma
Paul left the stage and came back a few minutes later to perform another song. He asked the audience „which it would be“. NESSSUN DORMA, of course. It always reminds me at the first time I’ve heard his performance on BGT. I will never forget what has been going on in my mind. It was such a powerful feeling that I was afraid I could burst! I always enjoy when he performs it, and he did perform it very well indeed!

Unfortunately the show ended with this song and it was time to give some more standing ovations and a well-deserved applause.

Really well done, Paul! The set-list was the best until now. Very varied, and both guest artists fitted very good in this show.

And again, thanks for your attention.

Dirk

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