The gig is, as expected, divided in two sets. The first set is an integral performance of the Merlin opera. All aspects of the show had profoundly been taken care of. The décor, a large video screen and even three dancers filled the stage. The video screen is used to back up the narrator between the songs, but also to project footage of a studio orchestra, a feature that worked out nicely since it perfectly showed what parts were played live and what music came from tape. I was amazed by the power of the light show during the gig. The light engineer perfectly matched the atmosphere of the music with the appropriate lights, which again lead to an even more powerful presentation of the music.

Some of the songs gave me immediate chills, something that happens rarely when I’m not familiar with the music. Especially the vocal harmonies and the duets between Bert Heerink and Monique van der Ster (stand-in for Cindy Oudshoorn) were very impressive. Watching the dancers visualize the different characters made me regret that I was born too late to witness the rock shows during the late seventies and early eighties. It makes me understand what the shows of early Genesis and Pink Floyd were really about.

After the break the band played a short set of hits from the early days. Heerink persuaded the over fife hundred visitors to get out of their chairs, to give more power to the performance of songs like “Starlight Dancer”, probably the only song I’d ever heard before and “Wintertime”. My personal favorites of the second set however were the instrumental songs taken from the “Spetters”-soundtrack. After the show I could not leave without buying the Merlin cd, which I’m listening to right now (and probably the rest of the week). There will be a few more dates to see Kayak perform the entire Merlin opera. You can find the exact dates on the band’s website: www.kayakonline.nl

(Review: Geert Oldenmenger)