Last night, I watched the Sarah Brightman Harem concert. It was mesmerizing. Our mouths just dropped when she started singing and it stayed that way, dropped and gawking, throughout the whole show. The stage, her voice, her band and hip-girating, belly-dancing back-up troupe. Now I want to become a belly dancer. I'm raving my heart out today but I'll try not to ramble endlessly.

The stage was amazing - a half-circle with a catwalk leading to a pentagram shaped island covered in moroccan prints (it even had a little gold lamp). The orchestra pit was behind the main stage, and could be elevated when wished. And enveloping them from behind, a screen where they project images of falling petals, moving clouds, and even a full moon. The curtains were not your usual red velvet- they were printed ala persian carpets, complete with giant tassels. The lighting? Incredible!

Her voice. I can't find the words to describe it. This heavenly air just wraps around the whole hall (not considering there was a smoke machine). She could belt out her adaptation of Prince Igor while lying down on her side. Oh and can we conclude that she is not afraid of heights (as in pwede sya sa Fear Factor)? We watched in awe as she sang Nessun Dorma, reaching all the 8-octave notes, while elevated 3 or 4 storeys high on a 2-sq.ft. hydraulic platform (in 4-inch platform shoes) with a wind machine blowing at her to make the chiffon gown sway in the air (tabi dyan, Regine Velasquez). How about when she sang her rendition of What a Wonderful World while perched on a swing swaying storeys up over the stage. And the crowd just cheered when the band and orchestra segued to the sound of the Phantom of the Opera's overture. She ended the concert proper, befittingly, with Time to Say Goodbye, and maaaaaaaaan that was good. Utter awe. I could cry.

She gave 2 encores, the last one where she was suspended from the top. B-R-A-V-O. Three standing ovations. After, we waited by her limo and snapped this picture (blurred, yeah but better than the lady beside me who got the bodyguard's arm). She's this beautiful petite woman and you'd wonder where all that voice comes from.

It was a surreal experience. Worth every cent. Okay I'm rambling. I'll stop now.