2010ITphilly2

The Irish Tenors

Ireland Tour

Celebrating the Irish!

March 5, 2010

Philadelphia, PA

Review submitted by

Peg Baselice

The Irish Tenors' Newest CD: Ireland

Released February 23, 2010

A friend and I decided we needed to be crooned to, so off we went to see the Irish Tenors at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA, the first stop on their St Patrick's Day Tour. This concert was the Little Sisters of the Poor 25th Annual Irish Concert. The audience was not only filled with patrons of the Little Sisters, but also admirers of the Irish Tenors.

So, let the celebration begin!

Shortly after 8PM the orchestra, led by Eric Stern, began playing the introduction. Handsomely dressed in their black tuxes with white vests, our favorite guys walked onto the stage and opened with one of many Irish tunes for the night, resulting in resounding applause. The songs included The Star of the County Down, Toora Loora Looral and almost every cut on their new CD. Wow! What a night!

Finbar delighted us with Beautiful Dreamer. And, this being the weekend of the OSCARS, he sang The Isle of Inisfree from The Quiet Man. I don’t think I ever heard him sing it more beautifully, painting a picture of the country with the words to the song.

Anthony was brilliant singing Knocknashee, resulting in thunderous applause. His contribution to the OSCAR weekend was How are Things in Glocca Morra from Finian’s Rainbow. But of course in Philly tonight, the song that charmed the audience was Off to Philadelphia.

Karl serenaded us with Phil Coulter’s The Old Man. And, he was absolutely magnificent in his rendition of The Water is Wide.

I enjoyed hearing each of them individually. But, most of all I enjoyed the ones they sang together: The Dublin Melody, Galway Bay, Isle of Hope-Isle of Tears, and Lord of the Dance. As a trio they really complement each other. All of The Irish Tenors just get better with time

The show did have its light-hearted moments when they joked with each other. The Tenors amused themselves and the audience during The Irish Rover, The Courtin’ Melody and Galway Girl. After singing the phrase "Summertime is coming" during Will Ye Go Lassie, Anthony piped in "So they SAY!" and Finbar and Anthony showed off their Irish dancing skills during The Kerry Dance.

The audience was very appreciative of the tenors, and rewarded them with several standing ovations throughout the night, and the lads ended the show with what the crowd chanted for: Danny Boy.

Thanks lads for a great start to the St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Safe home, boys!