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Bittersweet - The Last Concert

I've entitled this review "Bittersweet" for two reasons. The first reason,
is that the last concert of any Anthony Kearns tour is always a bittersweet
experience. Especially when it's one of his best concerts. Now, with the
dearth of Irish Tenor concerts, and Anthony's next scheduled solo on the
east coast not until October, this will be an extremely long summer! The
second reason is the final song Anthony sang. It was a wonderful surprise,
and one of the loveliest ways to say good night I could ever imagine! The
song was "I'll See You Again", written by Noel Coward, from the musical
"Bitter Sweet." It's an absolute jewel of a song, and the feeling and
expression Anthony put into it made a sublime ending to a wonderful
evening.

Both Anthony and Patrick (who was suffering from a bad cold) were in good
humor, and the evening was full of laughter and fun, along with beautiful
singing. The audience, made up of many Naval people, loved the concert. I
spoke to several, including Tony Sheridan, head of the Groton Chamber of
Commerce, who thoroughly enjoyed their first Anthony Kearns evening.

There were a couple of other surprises which Anthony took out of that
famous bag of vocal goodies that he has. He added an extra high A at the
end of "The Bould Gendarmes", and it was flawless. And....he brought out
his famous trill in the same duet. I've said before that Anthony is only the second tenor I've ever heard, who has a good trill, and it's so
infrequently that one hears a male voice do a trill, that it reminds me of
someone who wears a very brilliant jewel, but sparingly, precisely because
it's so special. The rest of the songlist remained the same, so I 'll just
mention some individual highlights. "Younger Than Springtime" remains a
perfect song for Anthony, and it was so beautifully sung on Saturday, I
honestly don't think it could get any better. "Mattinata", with it's
fabulous high notes, was sumptuously sung, as was "O Sole Mio." They both
brought the house down, and the audience to its feet. "Kitty of
Coleraine", with Anthony's sly vocal innuendos, and smoochy face, was
adorable, and a surefire audience favorite. Now that I've heard Thomas
Moore's "I Saw From the Beach" several times, I can say that Anthony has it
solidly "in his voice", and his perfect enunciation of the lovely words is
heartfelt and very meaningful. Not to mention gorgeously sung. "Vienna
Mine", and "With A Song in My Heart" were wonderful, and "Girls Were Made
to Love and Kiss" was darling, and Anthony flirted outrageously with the
audience. I can imagine Richard Tauber looking over his shoulder from
Heaven. Because Anthony Kearns is gaining on him!! I normally don't speak
too much about "Danny Boy" because it's a given at the concerts, and as
Anthony says, they'd lock the door and not let him out if he didn't sing
it. I spoke to one of the Navy people who wondered out loud before the
second half, if he'd sing it. I told him to just sit tight. Well, of
course Anthony did sing it, and it was sublimely beautiful, the final high
note hanging suspended in air, until with a beautiful "fil de voce"
(literally thread of voice), it disappeared like the wisp of a cloud, into
thin air. My Navy friend was practically jumping out of his seat with
delight!

Despite his cold, Patrick Healy, who had flown in from Ireland the previous day, just for this one concert, delighted the audience with his funny
stories, and his reading of church bulletins and advertisements he'd come
across on his travels. He apologized for his voice before he sang a
marvelous "Galway Bay." But there was really no need to apologize. There
was just a little huskiness, but the tones were quite good. And "And Her
Mother Came, Too" had the audience in stitches. Patrick's delivery and his
pinpoint timing are so perfect, he's a joy to watch.

I'll close with the words, taken from my own copy, of "I'll See You
Again", and paraphrase to Anthony and Patrick- "time may lie heavy
between, but what has been is past forgetting." And "though the world may
go awry, in my heart will ever lie"...............memories of a great
concert tour, wishes for good health and safe travels, and a big thank you,
for sharing.

I'll See You Again

I'll See You Again, whenever Spring Breaks Through Again.
Time may lie heavy between,
But what has been, is past forgetting.
This sweet memory, across the years will come to me
Though my world may go awry, in my heart will ever lie, just the echo of a
sigh,
Good bye.

words & music by Noel Coward
copyright Harms , Inc. New York(1929)

Berta Calechman