BufCinnrev09 - Page: 1 of 1

God Bless us Everyone!

To hear the Weather Channel tell it Hell had frozen over and I was
about to fly into it!

I landed in Buffalo under cover of snow and came face to face with a
freezing wind! However, Buffaloans (or is a person from Buffalo simply a
buffalo?) seem to take all of this extreme weather in stride even as
roads were being closed and events cancelled. Worried I had come
all this way for nothing I called the University at Buffalo venue and
asked if the Irish Tenors concert had been cancelled. The lady on the
other end of the phone sounded surprised at my question and answered
accordingly, "No, the show is going on as scheduled [why shouldn't it, idiot]".
That last bit was what I read into her reply, not that she actually called me
an "idiot", out loud.

I had a few hours before the concert so I laid down for a short winter's
nap. I suddenly sprang to my feet when I realized it was almost seven
o'clock in the evening. I threw back the sash to discover it was dark
and I was in danger of missing the concert all together. I dressed in
rapid motion and faster than corsairs I flew to the venue just in time
to see the Three wise-cracking men take the stage. They joked
and sang and joked some more and left everyone with sugar plums
dancing in our heads!

My flight to Cincinnati the next day didn't leave until two o'clock in
the afternoon so I lazily ate a room service breakfast and drank
down a hot cup of chai latte. I went to the Buffalo airport and, Lo
and behold, there came three Irishmen about to board the exact
same plane. I was a bit worried they were cutting it close flying to
Cinci a little too late in the afternoon. The plane was small and all
three had to hunch over a bit to get themselves through the bulkhead.
I enjoyed a magnificent view of the back of their heads for the entire
hour plus plane ride; for all of us who have watched them over the
years from the front these guys are just as beautiful from the back,
so I was thankful in spite of my trepidation. Yes, Virginia, there is a
Santa Claus!

Cincinnati is a lovely city, almost like a miniature New York, and the
Aronoff Center is a jewel in her crown. The venue lobby was packed
and ten minutes before the show the theatre doors still had not
opened for seating and patrons were getting antsy. When they
finally did open the doors we rushed to our seats, well as fast as
mud can rush, that is. This sea of people moved forward like a
vast glacier of woolen scarves and fur coats. Then, safely in our
places, Eric Stern bounded out, hopped onto the podium and gave
the down beat - the show began!

The fall and winter Holiday season is always a time for family
and after nine plus years The Irish Tenors, and all their fans, have
become part of our extended families. In these times of war,
worries, floods and famine it is good to surround ourselves with
those we truly cherish and hold them dear. Our three beautiful "brothers",
Finbar, Anthony and Karl, are as essential to all our Christmases as
cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. They give off an air of old world
charm that was so much a part of Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol'.
They are as comforting as a crackling fire, frost on the window
pane and a hot cup of cocoa stirred with a candy cane. Handsomely
dressed in white dinner jackets, all sported the red rose boutonnieres
provided by us older "sister" siblings and everyone was catching the
warm fuzzies radiating from the stage.

Anthony's brilliant and powerful "Ave Maria" left us breathless and
Karl's "I'll be Home for Christmas" was received with sweet smiles
and expressions of "aw" as if we were all adoring an infant child
playfully cooing before us. Elegant and suave as ever, Finbar sang
"Sweet Sixteen" which he has recorded on one of his earlier
albums. This time his mature voice conveyed the reminiscence
and affirmation that James Thornton surely intended when he
wrote in response to his wife's query, "Do you still love me
after all these years?"

Feliz Navidad/Buon Natale is a wonderful song for these tenors and
they do it with all the vim and vigor of a Latino marimba band or a
band of Italian merrymakers at La Scala! Finbar ringing in the
geographic switch and Anthony and Karl leaping into character
like quick change artists.

"Danny Boy" was, as always, enthusiastically received, but at one
point my heart nearly broke, as it looked as if Finbar quickly closed his eyes
and took in a deep calming breath and, thus comforted, exhaled.
That song has to be tough for him just now with the recent passing
of his mother so fresh in his memory. Our prayers are with you, Finbar.

The most magnificent piece, in my humble opinion, was "Silent Night".
I had a bright light in my eyes most of the evening causing me to see big round
spots obscured the faces of our three lovely lads on many occasions,
so during this song I just closed my eyes, depriving myself of the eye-
candy, and just allowed my other senses to experience the sheer
pleasure of this beautiful rendition. It truly is a wondrous sound these
men create with their incredible voices.

Anthony played the comedian to the hilt delighting the concertgoers
with his antics, mostly at Karl's expense. Karl took it all in good humor
while the unflappable Mr. Wright showed off his razor sharp wit and
inherent timing occasionally chiming in with a barb in Karl's defense.

As the men would leave the stage each made a gesture of encouragement
to the one remaining for his solo and once Anthony even gave a pat to
Finbar's chest as an extra little expression of support. There seems to
be genuine man-love going on with these guys which is a wonderful
dynamic not often seen in the bickering, quarrelling world of boy bands.

Enthusiastic comments on their singing came from around the hall and
questions arose, as usual, about the men themselves. Are they married,
where do they live, do they have a website, was he really a priest;
all questions we core fans have heard and delighted in responding
to for many years now. We again enjoyed answering all the queries
as we welcomed newcomers into the Irish Tenor fold. People were
going holiday nuts for our guys and we all beamed like proud parents!

The concert was too soon over, the CDs were all sold out and the
boys were on their merry way to Atlanta, the final venue on this
Christmas tour. Atlanta will love them too, of course, there is no
doubt about that. Then THE Irish Tenors, as individuals, will be headed
home for Christmas and I do indeed wish them all the peace, joy and
happiness that they have given me over the years be returned to them
tenfold this holiday season and in the years to come!

God bless us everyone!

Sharyl Madeloni