University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT
September 28, 2003
Anthony Kearns began his fall concert tour on a definite high note yesterday afternoon. He appeared at the University of Hartford's Lincoln Theater, to a packed house, despite torrential rain, and some sightings of animals walking two by two along the highway. There were several dignitaries in attendance, including State Senator Kevin Sullivan, who presented Anthony with a proclamation signed by the members of the Senate, in appreciation of his coming to Hartford. There was also a proclamation read making September 28 Anthony Kearns Day in Bloomfield, CT.
Now, to the concert. Anthony is singing better and better, each time I hear him. His lower voice has gotten darker and richer, and his upper register has become quite powerful. In a mostly Irish program, Anthony sang one aria-"E Lucevan le Stelle", from Tosca, which brought the house down. As his voice is now more powerful, this aria really suits him, because he also has the lyrical quality for the soft passages. It was magnificent. There was a short grouping of Italian songs, including the popular "Mattinata", which was soaring and beautiful. Also, a lovely song called "A Vucchella", which Anthony sang charmingly. It's interesting to note that this song was one of Rosa Ponselle's standbys, and that famous soprano was a CT native. I'm going to just list some of the Irish songs, since they are all so well known, and well-loved. They included "Gentle Maiden", "Off to Philadelphia" (a big hit), "The Palatine's Daughter", "Phil the Fluther", "Little Grey Home in the West", and of course….."Danny Boy." All of them were wonderfully sung. There were, however, some very special moments. Anthony sang "Dein ist mein Ganzes Herz", by Lehar. It has a special meaning to me, and it was exquisite. He sang part in German, and part in English, and the audience cheered after he was finished.
There were three duets between Anthony and Patrick, and they were just fabulous! The audience just screamed with appreciation. After a period of about 2 years, the men brought back "The Bould Gendarmes." This is a duet from a very obscure opera by Offenbach, called Genevieve de Brabant. But according to Patrick, the duet is the only thing ever done. Anthony and Patrick play 2 policemen, who only arrest old ladies, or children who can't do much harm. It was delightful, and it was adorable to watch Anthony "chase butterflies." There also was the rollicking duet between two tenors, which Patrick wrote for his Gilbert & Sullivan performances in Dublin last week. Not hardtop believe, knowing Mr. Healy, but an enormous feat nonetheless, was the fact that Patrick rewrote the words to make them more pertinent to American audiences, just a few hours before the concert. Both men pulled off this duet with great panache, and as Patrick said, Gilbert & Sullivan really suits Anthony's voice "right down to the ground." There was a lovely duet by Ivor Novello, called "We'll Have Lilacs", which was written in the 1930's, and it was evocative of pre-war London. It was simple, and quite beautiful.
Patrick had the luxury of a wonderful piano-something not always available-and he played marvelously. From the fast-paced to the very moving "Pale Hands Beside the Shalimar", with lots in-between, he was the compleat accompanist. Always supportive, never overshadowing, and very funny besides. Who could ask for more?
by Berta Calechman