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CONCERT IN MANSFIELD
On July 23, 1996 Celine Dion performed at the Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts in Mansfield, USA (the south-southwest suburbs of Boston) with the "Falling Into You Tour". This was the first concert of the tour in USA. According to Steve Morse, from the Boston Globe (a daily newspaper based in Boston), on that night, Celine opened her national shed tour in considerably more intimate conditions, with 10,700 fans braving a massive downpour to see her. But the result was the same, as she captured and held the audience with a display of the vocal dramatics that have shot her to pop divahood.
CONCERT IN HARTFORD
On July 24, 1996 Celine Dion performed at the New England Dodge Music Center (also known as The Meadows or Meadows Music Theatre) in Hartford, USA with the "Falling Into You Tour" and in front of about 30,000 people. According to Dana Tofig, from the Hartford Courant, Celine blew through a 90-minute set that made one realize how talented she is and how many hits she has amassed. This was just the second date on her concert tour in USA. Clad in an all-white suit, she used her voice to switch among sweet- sounding ballads, raw blues and jazzy scats. In the center of a surprisingly simple stage, and bathed in rows of stage lights, Celine started with a wonderful version of "The power of love", hitting the highest notes just perfectly. The crowd, which spanned all ages and leaned heavily toward women, was quickly on its feet. Celine chatted with the crowd, recounting her Olympic experience (less than a week ago) and her first days of performing and profusely thanking the appreciative audience. Whether rehearsed or not, her banter seemed genuine. A couple of remakes made nice highlights. Eric Carmen's "All by myself" allowed Celine to show off her great vocal chords, and "River deep, mountain high" showcased a bluesier voice, with rough edges. Perhaps the one drawback was that she did not do full versions of some hits. Her performances of "If you asked me to" and "Misled" were noticeably shorter. "Beauty and the beast" was sung with one of her backup singers, Terry Bradford, who blew the lid off the song. But it, too, was shortened. Throughout the whole show, Celine strutted, struck dramatic poses and smiled. She mugged for video cameras and graciously accepted roses. She saved the most-anticipated moments for her encores. She pleased the crowd with a version of "The power of the dream", the Olympics song. She muffed the words a little, plus, without all the hoopla and excitement, the Olympic moment might have been just another B-side. "Because you loved me", her current hit, put a nice end to the show, although it could have survived without the scenes from the "already-on-video" Robert Redford movie it is from. This was for sure the most touching moment of the night. Celine dedicated the song for Mathew, a little boy, very fan of Celine, who suffered a vicious beating in July 1995. Celine changed clothing once and there was only one somewhat-choreographed moment. Celine could be singing in a small Canadian club or at the Olympic Games and she´d still be the same, talented, beautiful and a tad bit silly.
CONCERT IN NEW YORK
On July 29, 1996 Celine Dion performed at the Madison Square Garden in New York, USA with the "Falling Into You Tour", in front of about 20.000 people. It was Celine´s first time at the Madison Square Garden. She returned there, during the same tour, on April 12, 1997.
CONCERT IN DARIEN
On August 1, 1996 Celine Dion performed at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien, USA with the "Falling Into You Tour", in front of about 20,000 people. Jim Santella from The Buffalo News, wrote: "If Celine´s Thursday night concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center had been an Olympic event, not only would she have won the gold easily, but she would have scored perfect 10s in vocal splendor, emotional intensity and unabashed theatricality". Footage from this concert was shown during the TV show "Behind Closed Doors With Joan Lunden", on September 19, 1996 on ABC channel in USA.
CONCERT IN CUYAHOGA FALLS
On August 2, 1996 Celine Dion performed at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, USA (a suburb of Cleveland) with the "Falling Into You Tour", in front of about 13,000 people. The famous Irish folk rock/pop The Corrs did the opening act. Before the last song of the concert, Celine said goodbye to the audience with a "Thank you very much Cleveland!", and then she performed "Because you loved me". Footage from this concert was shown during the TV show "Behind Closed Doors With Joan Lunden", on September 19, 1996 on ABC channel in USA.
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