van morrison royal albert hall

So, it was the big night.  Expectations were high. Travel arrangements were in place. Friends were greeted (glad you were there, FTFSOT).

Here's the Royal Albert Hall (built by Prince Albert to promote arts and science, opened in 1871) looking spectacular:

And here's the poster (no photos allowed in the auditorium):

As ever he came on very promptly. His early arrival on stage often catches out the new audience member but you could tell that most of the people there had been many times before. Despite the high ticket prices, it was full. This was an audience of die-hard fans, willing him to be at his best. It was billed as a concert of classics and, depending on your definition of what constitutes a Van Morrison classic, this was.

I knew I'd need the tissues and I did. I cried all the way through Fair Play and Into the Mystic. I wasn't much better during In the Garden and Ballerina. By the time he went off (promptly after 90 minutes), I was an emotional wreck. The only consolation was that I wasn't the only one.

But that's the problem with music that represents the soundtrack to your life. It touches you in places that nothing else can. All you need are the opening bars and vaboom....you're off.....you're there, in the exact emotional moment you were in the first time you heard it.

And after he'd gone and the band had brought Gloria to a foot stomping end, the audience ebbed away and the crew arrived to clear the stage. Those few of us that were left, hanging on to the last few magical moments before heading for home, were delighted to see Jay Berliner, legendary guitarist on Astral Weeks, who came back to pick up his guitars. Several people went up to say thanks.

And then it was time to go, until the next time. It was a crisp, clear night and we walked back to South Kensington, caught the tube to Victoria and went our separate ways.

So, once again, thank you Van Morrison. I hope you enjoyed it at least a fraction as much as we did.