Russia at the Oktyabrskiy Concert Hall/ Petersburg

Report by Andrew Rumjantsev
photo by Jana Nikulina / www.fontanka.ru

The Concert-fairy tale began! After the first composition goes slightly lengthened "Cartouche" upon termination of which Candice in Russian speaks "Greetings!" And the hall amicably answers "Good evening!" Having greeted the hall, Night declares " Queen For A Day ". Upon termination of which in a hall even has muffled the beginning "Under A Violet Moon". By the way, about a sound. Lack of power for such huge hall was obviously felt, and at execution "Under A Violet Moon" was heard also extraneous background noise. The Hall have woken up only on "Past Time With Good Company" when Ritchie has taken in his hands a legendary "white lightning", and Candice from all force have blown in a pipe directly before a microphone, that I have not become deaf nearly. It followed with "Soldier of Fortune" and one of the surprises of this concert "The Temple Of The King". Very much, it was very pleasant to hear this hit by Rainbow in execution, by the way, to it echoed and Bard David. The beginning is necessary. The hall starts "to grow"! "You still want to hear something from Rainbow?" - has asked Night, and having heard loud "Yeaaah!", has declared the name following songs "16th Century Greensleeves".

After the magnificent execution "Diamonds And Rust" it's time for two compositions has come, as always, is masterful played. After the termination "Durch Den Zum Bach Haus", Candice has presented spectators of the new participant of the group – a multi instrumentalist under the scenic name Tudor Rose. That she got up with a violin, is simple so words to not describe... I did not trust the ears... She is possible to put safely in one number with Vanessa May. Similar the hall too has understood it, because after the termination solo, to the Rose has got such quantity of an applause, that, probably, Blackmore himself has envied her.

Declaring the following song "Village On The Sand", Candice has told, that she will be played on a mandoline and, that Ritchie not at once has mastered technics of game on this tool. During execution songs, Candice approaches to one edge of a stage, then to another, calling the hall to support her. At any moment our eyes have met, I have even more assiduously begun to clap, and she has shown the big finger upwards and has burst out laughing. It is very difficult to not fall in love at first sight with this charming and cheerful girl. Her voice, naturalness, boundless fun and kindness at each concert causes the sea of positive emotions.

Then was the amicable "All For One". Sing all together. What a composition!! Further Candice has presented the public of the keyboard player – talented Bard David who has played over Rakhmaninov's complex play, than has earned an applause. And further the Maestro, the Person in black has acted! Storm "Highway Star" has imperceptibly passed in "Writing On The Wall" and all the hall this time has departed to other galaxy under the name "Ritchie Blackmore"! It to not describe words! Candice has clapped and having turned to the hall has asked: "And what will be now?" And not waiting the answer has declared one more gift "Child In Time". And then there has come the turn "Memmingen". As well as the last year, before the beginning of the songs, Candice told in Russian "very pleasantly to be again at home". At last sang all the hall, to be exact everyone who knew words. The composition has been specially lengthened. On it the concert has been finished. Musicians have said goodbye and have left the stage. That was created in a hall! And they have returned! Yes, you will tell, that "encore" has been planned. It so, but all also depend and on public.

"Smoke On the Water!", however Ritchie has shaken a finger and started to strum "Wind In The Willows". After the termination of this composition Candice left the stage, there was a pause, and Ritchie, once again having checked up the amplifier, the master has shown class, having executed the beginning of "Difficult To Cure". The hall did not trust the ears - I too... It was so extremely! Hands and a guitar have merged in a single whole... rise, falling and again rise! Beethoven's ninth Symphony has smoothly passed in "Self Portrait". It is one of the most favourite compositions of Candice. Having ended her, Candice and other musicians have once again said goodbye and have again left for side scenes. But, in 5 minutes they have returned again. Public was in ecstasy! Ritchie with a business kind began to choose a guitar - acoustics or electric... Having stopped a choice on Fender Stratocaster, Ritchie has started in the hall, the second after "Smoke On the Water!", A hit "Black Night". Candice it was even more played and began to compare the bass-guitarist of Sir Robert Normandy with Ritchie, and then, having given up as hopeless, began to push Robert to a microphone, however that has not wanted to take place Candice and it had to begin a song itself. Through 2 couplets Robert all the same has approached to a microphone started to sing, accompanying itself on Fender Precision, and is so class, that the hall has met it squall of an applause and approving singing! Having ended "Black Night".

Musicians have again left a stage. Public has rushed to a stage, however hope for reception of autographes it was not fated to come true. For Ritchie there is a rule, autographes the group distributes only to public, basically, in new cities, and in St Petersburg the concert already was earlier in 2002. But, nevertheless, Ritchie has thanked everything, having run from one end of a stage to another and "having shaken" hands all worth in the first number at a stage (to me also has carried to touch a hand of the maestro) then has left for side scenes.

Showtime: 1 hour and 50 minutes

Setlist:

Waiting Just For You...
Cartouche
Queen For A Day
Under A Violet Moon
Minstrel Hall
Past Time With Good Company
Soldier of Fortune
16th Century Greensleeves
Diamonds And Rust
Instrumental of Tudor Rose
Village On The Sand
All For One
Mond Tanz
Instrumental of Bard David of Larchmont
Writing On The Wall
Mond Tanz / Child in time
Home Again
Gone With The Wind
Wind In The Willows

Encores:
Self Portrait
Black Night