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Well, it's officially official! The store windows are animated, the Christmas
tree at Rockefeller Center has been lighted, as has the tree in Lincoln
Center Plaza. And The Irish Tenors have bestowed their own gift on
New York, with an absolutely enchanting concert in Avery Fisher Hall,
Sunday afternoon. Christmas is here! There weren't too many new
pieces in the show, but what was there, was choice, to paraphrase
an old Spencer Tracy line. The program promised a couple of new
things, which would have been wonderful, but unfortunately didn't
materialize. It was more than made up for, in what was actually sung.
I'm sure I've said it before, but this was the best Christmas concert
I've heard the Tenors present. All three men were in exemplary voice,
and very good humor, and they seemed to having as much fun onstage,
as we were having in the audience. "Isle of Hope" was especially
moving this afternoon, whether because of the proximity of Ellis
Island to Manhattan island, or due to the beauty of the men's voices.
Finbar began the succession of vocal beauty, with a wonderful "Isle
of Innisfree." He was in sumptuous voice, and sang with great feeling,
and his other two solos were just beautiful. Anyone who has heard
him sing "How Great Thou Art" knows with what grace and beauty
he sings it. But it was another of his songs that made a deep
impression on me. On the Tenors' recent CD, Sacred, the song
"Shelter Me" is sung by John McDermott, very simply. Finbar sang
it so magnificently, with such feeling and emotion, yet keeping the
humility of the words, it was turned into a prayer, and I found it
profoundly moving. Anthony's first solo, "Love Thee Dearest" is
one of his favorites but, (and here is my only complaint), the orchestra
was at times too loud, and there were lovely tones of his which got
lost. I felt the same way about his beautiful "If I Can Help Somebody."
A word to the right ears, and this was corrected. The orchestra was
softer during the second half. As a result, we had the opportunity to
hear the supremely exquisite "Lord's Prayer" as only Anthony can
sing it. Karl Scully will (possibly) be very glad to know that almost
every woman in the audience wanted to take him home with her!
With his cherubic face and voice as smooth as the inside of a
chocolate candy, he more than held his own among the high
talents of Messers Kearns and Wright. He again sang a beautiful
and loving "Song for Ireland." And if that wasn't enough to win over
the audience, his endearing version of that old chestnut "I'll Be
Home for Christmas", in which he danced with himself during the
musical interlude, sealed the deal. He's definitely a keeper! As
a matter of fact, this incarnation of The Irish Tenors may indeed
be the finest one. The 3 voices blend wonderfully, and there is a
cohesiveness in the trios that wasn't always present in the past.
"We Three Kings", "Be Thou My Vision", "O Holy Night" (Anthony
in French), "Silent Night" (Finbar in Spanish and Karl in German),
to name a few, were a seamless blend of vocal velvet, with no
rough edges. The program proper ended with a spectacular "Amigos
Para Siempre" by Andrew Lloyd Webber, at the end of which
Anthony unleashed his extravagantly beautiful Top C.
Finbar mentioned that the concert was made up of spiritual songs
to reflect the season, but there was plenty of humor as well. Karl
has loosened up quite a bit since the summer, and he jumped
right in, to hold up his end as Finbar and-especially-Anthony,
teased him, and each other. In "I'll Tell Me Ma", when Karl sang
that "...it's Finbar Wright that she loves still", Finbar flexed his
arm and made a big muscle. Anthony did his adorable "windup
doll" impersonation in "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", and Karl
curtsied when Finbar was the boy and he was the girl, in "Dan
Murphy's Stone." .
The orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Arnie Roth, was
exuberent, and played beautifully. It was their exuberence, I
think that caused them to be a little too loud in some pieces,
and to rush once or twice, causing one or two minor tempo
difficulties. I'm not sure, but I thought I recognized one or two
members of the New York Philharmonic. But regardless, they
sounded especially lovely in their solo numbers, led with care
and feeling by Maestro Roth.

I've left for the end, my enormous thanks to Jim and Angela Kelly-
Molloy, the promoters of this concert. They are two wonderful
people who have done their best to bring to us, some of the
finest of Irish talent, and indeed, talent in general. Angela read
a beautiful poem which embodied the feelings we should all
carry with us, and the spirit of Peace on Earth, Good Will to
Men. To them, and to Sean Casey and Vince Mitchell of CMI
Entertainment, and of course to our own Anthony, Finbar, Karl,
and Arnie, I'm sending my best wishes for a wonderful holiday
season, and a bright new year.