Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

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Imperishable Procol Harum

6 December, Spettacolico, Milan


As with our other translations of Italian webpages from December 2002, BtP here presents a full and literal version for the benefit of hardcore Procol fans who will relish every detail. If we were preparing this page for a more general audience, we'd want to weed out or smooth over some of the more convoluted constructions and even misunderstandings in the originals ...


Brooker, Fisher e Withehorn infiammano uno Smeraldo affollato di over "anta" Inossidabili Procol Harum Una serata di emozioni indelebili tra brani storici e risate

RECENSIONI / MITI

Brooker, Fisher, and Withehorn [sic] set light to an Emerald Theatre thronged with 40-plusses. Imperishable Procol Harum. An evening of indelible emotions, among historic pieces and jokes.

REVIEWS / LEGENDS

Splendido! Nessun’altra definizione per lo spettacolo di mercoledì sera allo Smeraldo di Milano, in compagnia degli amici Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher e tutta la formazione dei Procol Harum degli anni 2000. Il 57enne Gary, signore inglese dall’eleganza pari solo a suo humour, un 56enne Matthew in ottima forma, più i raffinati comprimari, tra i quali il brillantissimo chitarrista Geoff Whitehorn, prendono posto alle 21:20 in un palco sobrio ed essenziale – un massiccio Hammond per l’organista, piano elettrico e microfono per Gary, batteria, basso e chitarra – e attaccano con Shine On Brightly, la bella titletrack del secondo album. Subito Pandora’s Box, altra gemma, indi Homburg: in meno di un quarto d’ora il biglietto è già ampiamente ripagato.

Splendid! No other description for Wednesday evening’s show at the Smeraldo (Emerald Theatre) in Milan, in the company of our friends Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher, and the whole line-up of the 21st-century Procol Harum. Gary (57) an English gentleman with an elegance matched only by his humour, Matthew (56) on top form, and their refined colleagues, among them the quite brilliant guitarist Geoff Whitehorn, appear at 9.20 on a sober, pared-down set – a chunky Hammond for the organist, electric piano and microphone for Gary, drum-kit, bass, and guitar – and launch into Shine On Brightly, the fine title-track from their second album. Next Pandora’s Box, another gem, then Homburg; in less than a quarter of an hour the cost of the ticket is amply repaid.

Sala stipatissima, con gli over "anta" in netta superiorità sui più giovani. Presenti in sala i Dik Dik (non sarebbe potuto essere altrimenti), membri dei Camaleonti, Enrico Ruggeri e Andrea Mirò. Dall’imminente nuovo album The Well's On Fire viene proposta la piacevole So Far Behind, poi i suoni retrò di Magdalene (My Regal Zonophone) e Gary, inizialmente austero, si lancia nella sua irresistibile verve: «Qualcuno parla inglese? No? Francese? Italiano? Eh, noi impariamo lentamente! Che pezzo volete sentire?»: il pubblico si lascia conquistare. A She Walked Through The Garden Fence seguono battute scherzose con Geoff su cosa suonare. In Separation, bellissimo strumentale, orpelli romantici piano-organo si attorcigliano armoniosamente.

Jam-packed hall, with those of a certain age in a marked majority over the more youthful. Amongst those present the Dik Diks (it could not have been otherwise), members of the Chameleons, Enrico Ruggeri and Andrea Mirò. From the imminent album The Well's On Fire we are offered the agreeable So Far Behind, then the retro sounds of Magdalene (My Regal Zonophone) and Gary, austere to begin with, launches into his irresistible patter: "Anyone speak English? No? French? Italian? Hey, we’re slow learners! What song d’you want to hear?"; the public lets itself be won over. Following She Walked [sic] Through The Garden Fence, wisecracks with Geoff about what to play. In Separation, a quite lovely instrumental, romantic phrases intertwine harmoniously between piano and organ.

La scaletta scorre rapida, con i brani che van via come succosissine ciliegie fuori stagione. Tv Ceasar, splendido estratto da Grand Hotel, chiarifica l’influenza verso Alan Parsons e molti altri artisti. «Gary, sei un grande!» grida il pubblico. Lui continua a scherzare: «Fa caldo, però, a Milano! E’ sempre così?». Ecco la solenne Grand Hotel: non poteva essere scelto un chitarrista a caso per certe spettacolarità, e Whitehorn è la soluzione migliore. La ritmata Piggy Pig Pig, da Home precede Holding on dal penultimo disco Prodigal Stranger del ’91. «Ma il biglietto era in lire o in euro?» chiede Brooker, tra le risate, e introduce il secondo inedito An Old english dream, pezzo in stile Elton John con un falso finale che spiazza gli applausi. A Salty dog, immensa, strappa l’ennesima ovazione. Stupefacende come solo cinque strumenti, senza alcuna base, riescano a ricreare lo spessore sonoro di un’orchestra.

The programme moves swiftly on, with pieces which are gone like the juiciest cherries out of season. TV Ceasar, a splendid track from Grand Hotel, clearly shows its influence on Alan Parsons and many other artists. "Gary, you’re one of the greats!" yells the public. He continues joking: "But it’s warm in Milan! Is it always like this?". And now the solemn Grand Hotel: guitarists aren’t chosen at random for particular spectacular effects, and Whitehorn is the best choice. The rocky Piggy Pig Pig, from Home, precedes Holding On from the penultimate LP Prodigal Stranger, from ’91. "But were the tickets in lire or euro?" asks Gary, amid laughter, and introduces the second surprise, An Old English Dream, an Elton-John-style piece with a false ending which wrong-foots the applause. A Salty Dog, immense, brings forth the umpteenth ovation. Stupefying how just five instruments, with no backing, succeed in recreating the sonorous density of an orchestra.

As Strong As Samson precede l’incredibile finale: Se per l’attesissima A Whiter Shade Of Pale abbiamo un’ovazione, per Repent Walpurgis, i cui tamburi iniziali incalzano sullo smorzare degli applausi alla precedente, è un tripudio. L’eroico Whitehorn è addirittura galattico in uno dei primi assoli del rock, tra l’organata solenne di Fisher e la ritmica pomposa del bassista Matt Pegg e del batterista Mark Brzezicki: un brano spettacolare sin nell’ultimissima nota. Emozioni impresse indelebilmente grazie a un altro concerto che verrà ricordato vita natural durante. Grazie, Procol Harum! La formazione al completo dei Procol Harum mercoledì sera ha fatto scintille al teatro Smeraldo

As Strong As Samson precedes the incredible finale: if after the long-awaited A Whiter Shade Of Pale we have an ovation, for Repent Walpurgis, whose first drum-beats cut across the dying applause for the previous number, it is a riot. The heroic Whitehorn is nothing short of cosmic in one of the great rock solos, between the solemn organ-work of Fisher and the stately rhythm of the bassist Matt Pegg and the drummer Mark Brzezicki: a spectacular piece right to its very last note. Emotions indelibly etched thanks to one of those concerts that will be remembered to one’s dying day. Thank you, Procol Harum! On Wednesday, the whole line-up of Procol Harum brought lustre to the Emerald Theatre.

Translated into English by Martin Clare


Procol Harum concerts in 2002: index page

 


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