CORK OPERA HOUSE
COUNTY CORK
CORK, IRELAND
MAY 25, 2007
ANTHONY KEARNS
TENOR
in concert with accompanist PATRICK HEALY
Featuring Special Guest Artist
CARA O'SULLIVAN
I could just write one word, fabulous, but I'll try to write a few more. When
we heard of the concert, we decided to fly to Cork for a few days. It was
our first visit to Cork,and it was very enjoyable, especially the bus tour of
Cork and our visit to Cobh to follow the emigrant's trail.
The Opera House was rather dark, so we realised there would be no photos
with our camera. But we didn't mind, we were there to see our favourite
tenor and his backing group. When they arrived on stage, we realised,
by their cheeky expressions, that we were in for a good night. From the
start, the singing was absolutely perfect. Anthony sang six songs,
which were out of this world, starting with, With a Song in my Heart, followed
by a quick tour of Ireland to Coleraine and Kitty with her spilt milk. Then
it was Paddy's turn, he told a funny story, as only he can, followed by
And her Mother Came Too. Anthony returned, with You are my My Heart's
Delight, then introduced Cara O' Sullivan, who I think is a very good
soprano. She sang well with Anthony. They performed the duet from
La Traviata. Then, it was back to Anthony, with Kitty me Love. Then a
fabulous version of Somewhere a Voice is Calling, a comical duet from
the comical duo, Bould Gendarmes. Then Come Back to Sorrento in
Italian before the interval.
My wife, June, had been in tears most of the way through, as were, most
of the ladies, of course us men don't do such things? Ha ha. It was time
for more songs from Anthony, including a new one to us, Snowy Breasted
Pearl, women in tears again, and even more tears for To the Children.
It was then time for Paddy again, an inspiration for older people
eveywhere, and long may he reign. He told the Tosca trampoline story,
then sang Modern Major General with great gusto.Anthony returned with
a lively La Donna e Mobile, then it was time for Cara again, who I
think is in a class of her own. Her solo was That Man of Mine, then a duet,
Make Believe, with Anthony. She has a likeable personality, she told how she
cried for an hour when she heard Anthony sing for the first time , on TV.
Sadly, it was nearing the end, but first there was the
Tenor duet, Friendship, the song about the old tenor and the young tenor.
Anthony said we would have to work out which was which! There was
a stunning Granada, then a duet with Cara, I'll See You Again, hope we
do see her again. That was the final song, but of course we wouldn't let
them go, so they returned for as Anthony said, one for the road, a
powerful O Sole Mio.
My impressions of the concert are that although we were in a large modern
concert hall, it seemed that we were in a Victorian parlour, listening to songs
as they used to be sung. Not many singers could hold the audience like Anthony
can. In my opinion, he is the best Irish tenor, bar none. I have always admired
Irish tenors, like John McCormack, and my great favourite, Josef Locke.
I thought I would never hear anybody as good, but Anthony is by far the best.
Ron Fletcher, Mansfield, UK
