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Our seats were so high up and so far back that I could not even
identify the Tenors! I could only tell which was which by their placement
and by their voices. However, that did not affect their performance one whit.
The auditorium at the Jones Center was almost full, which was gratifying,
since it means that maybe they will come back. Surely they will see that they
have many, many fans in that area.

The orchestra, conducted by Eric Stern, led off with the “Brian Boru March,”
always a rousing good way to set the tone for the evening. It is an exciting
piece of music that conjures up visions of soldiers ready to fight for their
country. As the strains of the march died down, the Tenors came onstage
and the orchestra began the opening chords of “The Minstrel Boy.” Next
came “The Isle of Hope and Tears,” followed by Finbar’s “Isle of Innisfree.”
I hadn’t dared hope for it, but Anthony came out next and gave us his
breathtaking and spellbinding rendition of “Love Thee Dearest.” If I had to
choose a favorite of Anthony’s performances, there would probably be a tie
between that song and “Macushla” (which is, as I’m sure many of you
know, my husband “Dub’s” very favorite). As many times as I have heard
him sing, I never get over my amazement at his breath control,
especially evident on his high notes and his soft passages: most difficult,
but, being the virtuoso he is, he makes it appear easy.

Another crowd pleaser was next: the medley of “Courtin’ in the Kitchen,”
“The Stone Outside Dan Murphy’s Door,” and “I’ll Tell Me Ma.” They elicited
the usual delighted response from the audience. “The Spanish Lady” I had
not heard them sing in a long time, although of course they may have
done it in one of the many concerts I have not had the privilege of
hearing. After that was an orchestral interlude I did not know;
maybe someone else who was there can help out on this. It
sounded like a hornpipe in two-beat rhythm and then a jig in
six-eight, maybe.

Anthony next sang a song that was completely new to me: “Angels
Guard Thee.” I’m sure he has sung it at other concerts. It was,
lack of a better description, gorgeous. Finbar’s rendition of “How
Great Thou Art” was well received, as was “Panis Angelicus” by
Anthony and Karl. “Amazing Grace” was the last song before
Intermission.

The second half of the program opened with the orchestral Christmas
medley, begun and ended with “Christmas Eve in New York.” Then
came “We Three Kings” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” by all
three Tenors, and the favorite by Karl, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
Before he sang he told the story of how he was home in a way,
since he had lived in Houston for two years—from age two to age
four. He had told the same story at last year’s Christmas concert
in College Station, Texas. He confessed to having very little memory
of his experiences. He did a cute little dance in the middle of the
song. After that was “Mary’s Boy Child” by Finbar, “The Lord’s Prayer”
by Anthony, and then “Silent Night” with Finbar singing in Spanish or
Italian (not sure which), Karl in German, and Anthony in English,
followed by another orchestral interlude. This one was familiar to
me, but I couldn’t identify it. I think I remember hearing the Chieftains
play it before Derek Bell died. Berta thinks it may have been
“O’Carolan’s Overture.” Again, maybe someone else who was
there can help out.

“Dublin Saunter” and “Rocky Road to Dublin” were next, and then
“Christmas Eve in New York” (yes, it was both played and sung!). Then
came “O Holy Night,” with Anthony singing a verse in French, and
Karl and Finbar the next two verses in English. That concluded the
program, but the audience rose to its collective feet and applauded
thunderously until the Tenors came back out and gave us three
encores (one at a time, of course!): a medley of “Irish Lullaby”
and “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” then a Christmas group of “Winter
Wonderland,” “White Christmas,” and “Jingle Bells.” The third and
final call was, as one might expect, “Danny Boy.” As Anthony says,
they could never get away without singing “Danny Boy.” I was
beginning to think this might be the first time. I, for one, never
tire of that song or its sentiment. We did miss Finbar’s “South
of the Border”; we were just sure he would do it in Texas, of
all places. Our two friends from Spring, north of Houston, were quite
impressed and pleased with their first Tenors concert. The only
disappointment was that there was no “Meet-and-Greet,” but we had
been warned that there probably would not be one.

Lavonne McClish