A photo documentary of the rehearsals before Jon Lord's last concert in the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, 23. May 2010. Suggested reading order for new visitors: Start with post 1, and navigate from the bottom of the post.
Seen from behind the mixer desk: Jon Lord, Nathalie Lorichs, Sveinung Lillebjerka, Ellen Fjærvoll Samdal (I think), Åse Våg Aaknes, and conductor Torodd Wigum.
Jon Lord, Nathalie Lorichs, Sveinung Lillebjerka, Ellen Fjærvoll Samdal (I think), Åse Våg Aaknes, and conductor Torodd Wigum.
A view of the stage from behind the sound mixer desk.
Seen from left to right:
Jon Lord, vocalist Nathalie Lorichs, violinists Sveinung Lillebjerka, Ellen Fjærvoll Samdal (I think), Åse Våg Aaknes, and conductor Torodd Wigum.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There are two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
The score for the ballad “Evening Song” on Jon Lord’s grand piano. Vocalist Nathalie Lorichs and conductor Torodd Wigum are seen at the back.
The score for the ballad “Evening Song“, again from the beautiful and contemplative 1998 album “Pictured Within“, is now placed on Jon Lord’s grand piano. Vocalist Nathalie Lorichs and conductor Torodd Wigum are seen in the background.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
The song “The Sun Will Shine Again” was originally released on Jon Lord’s “Beyond the Notes” album from 2004. On the album, the song was sung by Frida from ABBA. There is a story behind it.
From the left: Jon Lord, vocalists Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, conductor Torodd Wigum, and backing singers Karina Hanssen and Nina Brovoll.
From the left: Jon Lord, vocalists Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, conductor Torodd Wigum, and backing singers Karina Hanssen and Nina Brovoll.
The song “The Sun Will Shine Again” was originally released on Jon Lord’s “Beyond the Notes” album from 2004. A melodic, simple ballad with an uplifting tune. On the album, the song was sung by Frida from ABBA. There is a story behind it.
I’ll tell it through the words of Christer Lorichs, father of vocalist Nathalie Lorichs, who handled the lead vocals for this concert.
“Knut Morten Johansen knew Nathalie was very familiar with the material. Asking Jon about using Nathalie as singer, Jon swiftly replied “Excellent!”. As Nathalie sung backing vocals on Jon’s concert in the Nidaros Cathedral in 2007, Jon was well aware of her voice.
One question Jon had for Nathalie during preparations for the show was regarding “The Sun Will Shine Again”. Would she prefer doing the original Frida-version, or the current version in a key suitable for Kasia Laska? Nathalie said she probably couldn’t sing in a key as low as Fridas. “Well, no one can”, Jon said with a smile. So the higher key it was.
On the first day in Trondheim, Wednesday before the show, there was a meeting with media and the first meeting with the band. Jon immediately took Nathalie aside from the rest, held her arm, looking very serious, saying: “Nathalie, I want to dedicate “The Sun Will Shine Again” to Ronnie. It is a song I wrote for Frida when her husband died. Do you think you can hold it together?”. “I hope so” Nathalie answered. “Perfect” smiled Jon.” View the song as performed during the concert.
“Ronnie” was of course the legendary rock vocalist Ronnie James Dio, known from Rainbow, Elf, Black Sabbath, and his own band Dio. Ronnie lost his battle with cancer just a week prior to this concert.
Here’s a performance of the song with Jon and Frida from German television.
And it only seems to fitting to add this cut:
Ronnie James Dio singing the beautiful songs “Sitting in a Dream” and “Love is All” from Roger Glover’s “Butterfly’s Ball” with Deep Purple and the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in 1999, for the 30th anniversary for Jon’s “Concerto for Group and Orchestra”:
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
From the left: Jon Lord, vocalists Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, conductor Torodd Wigum, and backing singers Karina Hanssen and Nina Brovoll.
Seen from the left: Jon Lord at the grand piano, vocalists Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo, conductor Torodd Wigum, as well as backing singers Karina Hanssen and Nina Brovoll. The Lord Chamber Orchestra behind the, with the wonderful arches and the mighty rose window of the Nidaros Cathedral forming a stunning backdrop.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
Jon Lord signalling to the musicians with his right arm, as Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo sing the final high notes during the second verse of “Child in Time”
We continue with the large bulk of photos taken during the last run-through of “Child in Time” before the concert. Here we see Jon Lord in a typical pose in the background, playing the Hammond organ and signalling to the band and orchestra, as vocalists Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo are reaching the higher notes during the second verse of the song. See the video of the song performed during the concert here. The cover photo for that video is indeed taken at more or less the same moment during the song as this one, but from another angle.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
The book is out – head to the bookstore to order your copy. There is two sizes and two bindings for each size available, from the standard sized book with soft cover, to the lavish coffee table book on high-end photo paper.
Nathalie Lorichs singing backing vocals during “Child in Time”
Nathalie Lorichs singing backing vocals during “Child in Time” – the second of two photos.
Organizing the concert, Knut Morten Johansen knew Nathalie Lorichs was very familiar with the material, and suggested her to Jon Lord. Jon remembered her from her backing vocals in 2007, and swiftly answered “Excellent!”. Jon asked Knut to have Nathalie contact him via mail for preparartions. The mails shared between the two displayed both Jon’s attention to detail and his ability to inspire people – all according to a good source.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
Nathalie Lorichs singing backing vocals during “Child in Time”
A study in two parts of Nathalie Lorichs singing backing vocals during “Child in Time”, where Steve Balsamo was the lead singer.
Nathalie Lorichs is a vocalist who truly knows Jon Lords music. Her father, Christer, met Jon for the first time as a fan in the early Whitesnake days in 1979. Eventually they became friends.
Among other things, Christer Lorichs’ friendship with Deep Purple resulted in the band visiting the music high school Nathalie went to – although this was in 2003, shortly after Jon had left the band.
(For those curious as to what these photos look like in colour – this is one of the photos I’ve previously published, so you can have a look over here.)
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
Nathalie Lorichs and Steve Balsamo singing “Pictured WIthin”
Nathalie Lorichs singing backing vocals and Steve Balsamo handling the lead vocals for “Pictured Within”.
Vocalist Steve Balsamo practically came “out of nowhere” when he impressed Andrew Lloyd Webber so much that he landed the title part in “Jesus Christ Superstar” in the production at the Lyceum Theatre in London from 1996 to 1997. His TV performance of “Gethsemane” reputedly sold tickets for the show for GBP 160,000 within half an hour, and saw the world famous composer calling him “one of the most exciting talents it’s ever been my privilege to discover”. Steve had only played the part at college prior to this.
In 1997 he also sang the part at Værnes Church during the Hell Blues Festival in Norway – where Knut Morten Johansen was one of the organizers. Knowing Knut Morten’s part in organizing Jon Lord’s orchestral concert in the Nidaros Cathedral in 2003 – the concert that in large part gave Jon the confidence to continue with his orchestral music – I wouldn’t have been surprised if Knut Morten was the one suggesting Steve as a fitting singer for Jon. But indeed – the man himself assures me that this was not the case, and that Jon and Steve starting to collaborate had nothing to do with him.
Steve Balsamo reputedly has a massive three and a half octave vocal range, thus nearly matching the vocal range of the young Ian Gillan – who sang the title part on the original studio version of “Jesus Christ Superstar“ in 1970. Steve matches Ian in vocal range, but has a distinctly different voice – what I would call a “cleaner” sound, where the young Ian Gillan could add a rawer, more powerful sound. Apples and oranges – both are / were great. Steve clearly states Ian’s version was a huge influence.
No usage without my written consent. Links to the blog and blogs posts on social media etc are of course OK, but stealing the photos without permission is not.
