UKRAINE – The first day of rehearsals concluded at the International Exhibition Centre in Ukraine and here are the highlights of the day in titles.
- Portugal was represented by Salvador Sobral’s sister as already announced due to careful strategy over the singer’s health situation. Luisa gave a brave performance and she impressed the press.
- The press centre is almost ready. Last minute technical work is done but still the press didn’t get all the necessary press packs and transportation cards. The electricity guys are still struggling to add some lines but we have to admit the WIFI is amazing.
- Belgium seems to be the biggest disappointment so far in the gossip talks inside the press area today.
- Manel Navarro from Spain, speaking to fan site, said that his favourite song this year is the Portuguese entry, praising it as the most magical entry for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.
- The entire rehearsal of Azerbaijan leaked on the web. The staging builds slowly in an empty room covered in chalk writing with the lyrics from the song. The room represents complex self-destructive relationships, inner barriers and hidden truths — the skeletons. A man wearing a mask serves as a “bad boy” with a symbolic ladder showing the emotional distance between the two lovers. Our heroine, being a strong woman, eventually overcomes her self-destructive feelings. The walls come down, as well as the bad boy’s mask. He’s prepared to reconnect with her, but it’s far too late. She’s made him take off the mask he was wearing in their relationship, but she is leaving him alone in the room that she has bravely escaped. At the end of the performance, four backing vocalists join Dihaj on stage. “This staging is more of a theatrical approach. I’m happy that our delegation was brave enough to bring it to the Eurovision stage. It’s not about technology or special effects anymore. For me the story is what really matters. It can raise different emotions, and I hope it won’t leave viewers indifferent,” says Dihaj. The number is directed by famous Azerbaijani choreographer and stage director Naila Mammadzada, whose portfolio includes the interval acts for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest and the closing ceremony for the 2015 European Games.
- The Icelandic delegation has touched down in Kyiv ahead of their first Eurovision 2017 rehearsal – but 42 of their suitcases didn’t make it to the Ukrainian capital. It seems the suitcases made it as far as Brussels where the team had a flight connection on their way from Reykjavik, but no further. Due to a delay, they had to rush for their connecting flight but their bags didn’t make it. They’re expected to arrive in Kyiv after tomorrow’s rehearsal takes place. (source: metro.co.uk)
- In the betting odds the changes after the first day were the following: There are better odds now for: Italy, Bulgaria, Portugal, Armenia while there was drop for Sweden, Australia, Belgium. In the press centre the media representatives clearly favour Finland Azerbaijan and Portugal after the first day of rehearsals.
- In the meantime Valentina Monetta and Jimmi Wilson are already in Kyiv spreading somehow their song spirit in the streets of the Ukrainian capital
- Meet the Australian jury members: Lucy Durack Lucy is one of Australia’s leading ladies of the stage, with a list of major roles to her credit. She has won awards for her roles of Glinda in Wicked and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical. She performs regularly in concert and has a popular radio show ‘My Soundtrack’ on the ABC. Jordan Raskopoulos Jordan is a comedian, musician and digital content creator. She is best known as the lead singer of The Axis of Awesome, a world-renowned musical comedy group and YouTube Juggernaut. Jordan also hosts ‘This is About’, a narrative non-fiction podcast on ABC. Stephen Capaldo Steven is a conductor and music educator working with symphony orchestras, wind orchestras, chamber ensembles and in community music and education. He is an active composer and arranger. His works have been performed and recorded in Australia, Canada and the U.S.A Jackie Loeb Jackie maintains her reputation as a stand-up comedian, while distinguishing herself as an actor, musician and writer. She has performed cabaret shows at New York City’s ‘Don’t Tell Mama’ and had a sell-out season at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. She has released two albums, and brings her latest stand-up show Forty-five to the Sydney Comedy Festival this week. Peter Hayward Peter has been working professionally in the entertainment industry for over 15 years. He has performed as a Music Director across Sydney and as a backing vocalist and percussionist for numerous live events. Peter is Creative Director of Southern Stars – The Arena Spectacular and Associate Director of the Schools Spectacular.
- Mistakes with the tickets: The Head of the ticket seller Concert.ua admits mistakes were made when they sold 2% of tickets, which have now been removed or had its view restricted. The Head of Concert.ua stated that when tickets went on sale in February, they were using a previous planning scheme and thus sold seats where they believed they would have no issues. However in the period between the first sale and the stage being completed, a number of seats have either had to be removed or had their view restricted. In total around 2,000 tickets were sold in these areas, as a result refunds or new seats are having to be offered to those ticket holders. (source: depo.ua / eurovoix.com)
- Watch Slavko kazelic performing Lane Moje at the meet and greet session
