Orange, France – Places Of Stone

Tonight was a return to one more of the places created by the Romans from stone, and thankfully still standing today, when David’s tour arrived in Orange, in the South of France. The Théâtre Antique d’Orange (“Ancient Theatre of Orange”) was built early in the 1st century AD, and is one of a few Roman theatres which still retains the Scaenae frons, its rear wall. This did mean that the circular projection screen for this tour had to be retired for the night, forcing the lighting design to be adapted just for this one show by the lighting team, but the show lost none of its power as a result.

A collaboration between Sony Music France and France’s national railway, the SNCF, led to a specially-chartered train being run from Paris to Avignon, close to Orange, and the lucky contest winners carried on the train were able to witness the band’s soundcheck, in addition to being able to attend the sold-out show. Once again the production was lucky with the weather – the rain that fell during the morning dampened the arena briefly but didn’t affect the show, which was as spectacular as ever.

Two songs from the Rattle That Lock album grabbed the audience’s attention in particular tonight: the powerful In Any Tongue and, as one might imagine, given its inclusion of the famous SNCF 4-note jingle, the title track, Rattle That Lock.

The full list was…

First Set: 5 A.M.; Rattle That Lock; Faces Of Stone; Wish You Were Here; A Boat Lies Waiting; The Blue; Money; Us And Them; In Any Tongue; High Hopes.

Second Set: Astronomy Domine; Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-5); Fat Old Sun; Coming Back To Life; On An Island; The Girl In The Yellow Dress; Today; Sorrow; Run Like Hell.

Encores: Time/Breathe (reprise); Comfortably Numb.