St John's Smith SQ Concert 2022 - Dec 4th

[Lux Aeterna]

No newbies

Not onstage but there was a group of about 6 watching from the side under Barbara G's supervision. They were wearing the Libera blue shirts, gray trousers & blue coats.

Probably they are not ready to sing in concert yet. Maybe we'll see them next spring .

[Luckdragon]

Not onstage but there was a group of about 6 watching from the side under Barbara G's supervision. They were wearing the Libera blue shirts, gray trousers & blue coats.

Is Barbara Steven's mom?

[Celtic]

I'm not even going to bother trying to write a concert review. Many others will write more detailed, more nuanced, more technical and more expressive reviews. I will instead just post what will always define this concert for me in my memory:

freddie.jpg (33.32 KiB) Viewed 11756 times

freddie.jpg (33.32 KiB) Viewed 11756 times

The utterly stunning Freddie Mushrafi, who brought tears to my eyes in what may be the best ever solo performance I have heard at a Libera concert. (and you know how much of a DW fan-boy I am, so this is a strong statement)

[Mercurial909]

In a year when there were times when Libera struggled to get decent audience numbers, they don’t record the Christmas concert for fans that can’t get to concerts? That seems counterintuitive in the extreme.

This concert is probably the last time we’ll see the bigs performing, maybe the last we see of Victor and Daniel as mainstays, and by next Christmas Freddie’s age group will be closer to age 14 if not 14 already, and their voices may have broken by then.

Whole point of Libera’s YouTube channel and online presence is to bring the group to those who can’t get to concerts, and to entice new fans. I don’t understand the thinking behind this.

[Luckdragon]

In a year when there were times when Libera struggled to get decent audience numbers, they don’t record the Christmas concert for fans that can’t get to concerts? That seems counterintuitive in the extreme.

This concert is probably the last time we’ll see the bigs performing, maybe the last we see of Victor and Daniel as mainstays, and by next Christmas Freddie’s age group will be closer to age 14 if not 14 already, and their voices may have broken by then.

Whole point of Libera’s YouTube channel and online presence is to bring the group to those who can’t get to concerts, and to entice new fans. I don’t understand the thinking behind this.

Being in the US, I share your frustration. However, I think if the video sales had been good enough the past couple of years, they would have made an effort this year even with the different format. If that's the case, the worldwide fanbase has only themselves to blame.

[Luckdragon]

Luke B-D is absent

Not even in the program. That makes me sad.

[bachmahlerfan]

When I saw that Libera was doing an arrangement of Albinoni's Adagio, I knew it would be a winning combination.

[fan_de_LoK]

Remember this tweet from libera, a few weeks ago?



We can now understand it was the filming of a video of the new song 'Ave Verum Corpus', with Freddie in central position.

Based on the fantastic performance that Freddie gave tonight at the St John Smith Square, the video promises to be truly exceptional. Can't wait to hear and to watch it.

The video will probably be released next year, in connection with the release of the Forever album.

[bachmahlerfan]

Remember this tweet from libera, a few weeks ago?



We can now understand it was the filming of a video of the new song 'Ave Verum Corpus', with Freddie in central position.

Based on the fantastic performance that Freddie gave tonight at the St John Smith Square, the video promises to be truly exceptional. Can't wait to hear and to watch it.

The video will probably be released next year, in connection with the release of the Forever album.

It would be an appropriate song to release during the Lenten season.

[bachmahlerfan]

In a year when there were times when Libera struggled to get decent audience numbers, they don’t record the Christmas concert for fans that can’t get to concerts? That seems counterintuitive in the extreme.

This concert is probably the last time we’ll see the bigs performing, maybe the last we see of Victor and Daniel as mainstays, and by next Christmas Freddie’s age group will be closer to age 14 if not 14 already, and their voices may have broken by then.

Whole point of Libera’s YouTube channel and online presence is to bring the group to those who can’t get to concerts, and to entice new fans. I don’t understand the thinking behind this.

Being in the US, I share your frustration. However, I think if the video sales had been good enough the past couple of years, they would have made an effort this year even with the different format. If that's the case, the worldwide fanbase has only themselves to blame.

Unfortunately, they may not have enough money to take such risks right now. I doubt there's a billionaire donor ready to write them a blank check. The only solution I can think of would be for Libera to do a fundraiser (like Luca did) to pay for filming expenses.

[Yorkie]

By the way, in the speeches it was mentioned that they would soon be releasing two promotional singles for download, one of which would be the Beach Boys song - God Only Knows.

[in2dwww]

It was so worth the travel from Texas. Freddie and Luca were incredible. The new "Lighthouse" song was such a thrill to hear. Overall, they were much more vocal than ever. Their volume was noticeably louder than ever and sometimes I could puck up on the echoes in the room. So worth it! Many thanks for the help on attending this concert!

[filiarheni]

I can reveal most of the set list if interested:

Ding Dong Merrily on high
Sanctus
Walking in the air - Luca
Wexford Carol - Laurence??
Gaudete - Freddie
Sing forever - Joseph Hill & Nathan
Lighthouse - Luca
Voca Me - Luca
Beati - Nathan & Pietro
Libera - Mitchell & Freddie
Conditor alme siderum - The bigs
Carol of the bells - Freddie, Cameron & OH ending
Noel nouvelet - Mitchell, Ethan & Laurence
Come my way - Dan W
Ave Verum (Albinoni) - Freddie
Smile - Mitchell & Victor
Ave Maria (Robert) - Lewis, Luca & Laurence
God only knows - Luca, Daniel & Victor
I saw three ships
Sing for our World (encore)

Thank you for the list and to all for maintaining the secrets! This was the first time I had no look whatsoever at the programme throughout the entire concert and so the only spoilers were done by Libera themselves. Which was lovely.

I did miss Morgan, as he is such a dedicated singer and I love his feather-like voice. I had been hoping that there's a different reason for not finding him on the pre-concert photos.
Yes, it was the very good Laurence on Wexford Carol.
And Mitchell as lead soloist on Noel nouvelet, not Morgan.

It was a brilliant, very, very enjoyable concert with a fantastic choir/solo singing and sound and expression!

[Celtic]

We also got solo's from Dan W & Victor which was great.

My biggest wish for the Xmas Libera concert is that DW sings one "last" solo.

Oh yes, agreed, of course! Dear Santa, IF I had just one wish...

If only! I would bet against it at this point.

Pay up Surpinto.

So happy I was right about DW's voice making it to the Libera concert and managing a solo. Partly because I can now be smug about being right, but mostly because I got to hear DW one more time.

[in2dwww]

I agree, and I pray that it was recorded. It was beautiful.

I'm not even going to bother trying to write a concert review. Many others will write more detailed, more nuanced, more technical and more expressive reviews. I will instead just post what will always define this concert for me in my memory:

freddie.jpg

The utterly stunning Freddie Mushrafi, who brought tears to my eyes in what may be the best ever solo performance I have heard at a Libera concert. (and you know how much of a DW fan-boy I am, so this is a strong statement)