We arrived at the hall at 7:05. I was able to upgrade my ticket and had a marvelous seat. (Before I really get started, if this review is a little, or a lot, disjointed, please bear with me!!
The stage was only decorated with a couple of poinsettia arrangements but the backdrops were beautiful and fit every song that was sung. Anyway, when the "LADS" came out, I did not even clap I was so memorized…I'm thinking,
"OH GOD, THERE THEY ARE AND HERE AM I IN THE SAME ROOM. "
Ronan introduced everybody!! And here is FINBAR WRIGHT, handsome as ever!! And beside me ANTHONY KEARNS with a bit more gray in his hair…and orchestra Leader, Mr. ARNIE ROTH…and that leaves me RONAN TYNAN-a bit more mature this year-I hope!!!!
Their first song was, of course, We Three Kings!! Anthony sang a wonderful "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear". Finbar brought the house down with "How Great Thou Art" and Ronan's "Mary's Boy Child" received a standing Ovation. I loved Ronan and Finbar's "The Little Drummer Boy"' Ronan and Anthony's "Panis Angelicus" and Anthony and Finbar's "Pie Jesu". Their Winter Wonderland Medley was wonderful. I especially like their "Fairytale of New York". I have the "We Three Kings" CD, so I was familiar with it. At one point, Anthony turned to Ronan and said" Well, you are getting better"!!! Their "Love Me Tender" was sweet-Their voices were so sincere. Finbar, Anthony and Ronan each sang a song relating to the 1916 liberation.
I wanted to get autographs but there were at least 200 people in line and I felt that, after performing for an hour and forty-five minutes, they were not going to sign that many autographs…. They did the Meet and Greet backstage because there were so many people. There were no empty seats!!!! After their third encore, they waved and as they left the stage, Ronan waved and said "SEE YOU NEXT YEAR"!!
My Husband was really impressed---He had listened to my CD's and watched the videos and he liked them. I think he is a real fan now. We are just hoping they will perform near enough that we can attend.
A FOREVER IRISH TENOR FAN
JUDY FRIEDMAN
MY FIRST TENOR CONCERT
THE IRISH TENORS
RUTH ECKERD HALL
CLEARWATER, FL.
DEC. 1, 2003