I’ve sent this letter directly to QR but I am also posting it here in case there are others who would like to add their voices to this message of thanks. Luna
January 7, 2008
Dear Loreena,
As one year ends and another begins, when you reflect on your many 2007 An Ancient Muse tour appearances, please accept my deepest thanks for your commitment to one performance in particular: the Vancouver concert held September 30th, 2007. This appreciation extends to your musicians and the entire touring ensemble. Shifting venues from the Orpheum Theatre to the “Pontiac Theatre Bowl” with such short notice must have required a tremendous amount of work and on-the-fly planning; I am deeply grateful to you all for investing that effort in order to avoid canceling the show altogether.
I imagine the decision to perform in an unscheduled and unplanned for venue must have been difficult for many reasons. When I read Live Nation Canada’s press release about the new location, their use of the word “intimate” three times in three sentences gave me a general idea of what to expect; there’s only so much one can do with a hockey arena. Before we ever set foot inside, it was clear to me this would never have been a location you would “select” as a performance site. One glance at a list of your theater choices indicates the preference, if not the necessity, for a blend of size, atmosphere, and acoustics which make it possible for you to weave your musical magic and create the mood you strive for each night. You have high performance standards and as someone deeply moved by my own personal experience during your concerts, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
That said, please let me express again how grateful I am for your decision in favor of a venue change rather than canceling your last 2007 Canadian tour appearance. In a way, your choice to perform made that particular night even more meaningful. The concert’s success is a testament of your collective willingness and ability to carry it off in the manner that you did, with grace, style, and good humor. Be assured your combined artistry, your lovely self and beautiful voice transcend any surroundings. As someone sitting near you in Row One, I was in a position to know.
I sincerely hope you and the extraordinary musicians with whom you travel regard the final stop of your Canadian tour as a success, both professionally and personally. You remained dedicated to those who long to be in your company for an evening and you deserve both credit and thanks for that commitment. Know how much it meant to us and, speaking personally, how much it meant to me. I send this message as both a “fan” and friend who traveled to be with you after so much time apart; my thanks come from the heart.
Enjoy the rest you so richly deserve and be well as you watch the deepening of winter and the return of the light.
