WOLF TRAP
VIENNA, VA
AUGUST 11, 2006
A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening
These words to the old favorite came to mind when I sat down to write
my thoughts of this past Friday night at Wolf Trap National Park for
the Performing Arts. Mother Nature had certainly given us a treat
with the fine cool weather and the Irish Tenors certainly gave us
another with their performance.
Maestro Arnie Roth set the tone for the evening with a bit of O’Carolan
and later added a bit of Jimmy Kennedy’s “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic.”
The orchestra did a particularly fine job for him this evening.
The trio took the stage and looked very dapper in their white dinner
jackets and seemed totally relaxed and comfortable. There was
not a hint that the new songbird hadn’t always been in the nest.
Finbar opened by saying that it felt like coming home to be at
Wolf Trap again, and indeed the evening had a warm, tender
and comfortable feeling. The air of camaraderie which is the
earmark of the Irish Tenors was evident throughout the evening.
The first set opened with “Star of the County Down”, then “The
Irish Medley” and concluded with one of my favorites, “Isle of
Hope, Isle of Tears.” Finbar then took us to the “Isle of Inisfree”
and I have never heard it sung better. Anthony delivered a hauntingly
beautiful “She Moved through the Fair” and Karl sang “A Song for
Ireland.” He executed this with his own style and emotion and I felt
he gave it a more “today” feel.
The full staff then returned with a superb rendition of “The Town I
Loved So Well.” The epic quality of this piece was so much
better having been sung by the trio than as a solo when its length
can get a bit –well, long. Tonight every word was understood and
the story told with three viewpoints. For a bit of fun, our heroes
came forth with the “The Courtin’ Medley”: “Courtin’ in the
Kitchen,” “The Stone Outside Dan Murphy’s Door” and “I’ll
Tell Me Ma.” Tonight there was no problem with the stone
and much to Mr. Kearns’ surprise, it was Finbar Wright
whom the girl from Belfast city loved best.
The second round of solos took us “Off to Philadelphia” and “…
Home Again, Kathleen” courtesy of Anthony and Finbar. “The
Water is Wide” was nicely done by Karl. The first half of the
show concluded with an entertaining and upbeat “Dublin Medley.”
Having just returned from that fair city, I know that “Dublin Can
Be Heaven” but I didn’t experience “The Rocky Road to Dublin.”
During the intermission I was regaled with the comments from
friends who attended with us. One couple had never been to
an IT concert before and the other couple were both accomplished
musicians; a TENOR and a pianist/organist. The “Tenor Virgins”
professed that they were entertained and delighted and why had
it taken them so long to find these guys. My other friends, though
not “TVs,” had not seen a live trio performance and really
appreciated the talent and hard work that goes into these
seemingly “effortless” performances. They also had kudos for
the arrangements and intricacies of the harmonics which they
were hearing. Both had been gob smacked by Anthony’s recital
in Williamsburg last fall and will be returning to see and hear
him again on October 27! See your favorite website for ticket
information!
“Maire’s Wedding/I Know My Love” began the second half
with the challenging rhythm and lyrics which seemed to pick up
where the Dublin Medley left off, albeit in a different vein. This
was a lovely new slice of Tenor delight for me and it went down
a treat! But put that mood aside, Ann, it was time for “The Irish
Rover” which everyone, including the singers seemed to enjoy.
“Lift the Wings” from Riverdance was sung effectively and
beautifully by Karl. Finbar, who always seems to be taking us
somewhere, then went “South of the Border.” You wouldn’t
think this song was made for an Irish tenor, but Finbar makes it so.
I just wonder if we could talk him into wearing a sombrero?
Anthony’s final solo was the heart string tugging “The Old Bog Road.”
This is not my favorite song for Anthony, but as usual, he immediately
had me right there beside him as he longed for home – such a talent!
When the gentlemen reappeared, we knew that the end was coming
even if we were hoping to go on forever being entertained by them
on this beautiful evening. “Whiskey in the Jar” got our toes tapping
and our hands clapping and listening for the “YEE-HAW” that has
come to be the delight of this piece. The melancholy “The Parting
Glass” was dedicated to the maternal family of Manager Sean Casey,
who had just lost their matriarch at age 102. It was a heart-felt tribute
and executed with devotion and emotion. Sean was very touched by this gesture.
Although they had been delighted throughout the show, my “TVs”
were enchanted with “The Golden Jubilee,” and I doubly enjoyed
it watching their reactions. But now it was my turn to be “blown
away.” “Amigos Para Siempre,” the Lloyd Webber piece, was
the highlight performance for me – it was spectacular! Anthony
hit that top C (as usual) to literally close the show on a high note.
Oh, say it’s not over! The audience is on their feet (again) for
sustained applause and as a reward are treated to a very
lovely “America the Beautiful” – a nice change from “God
Bless...” – and finally the “Danny Boy” reprise.
As Finbar said at the opening: Anthony Kearns, Karl Scully,
and Finbar Wright – they ARE the Irish Tenors and they have
proved it again to a packed house of thrilled fans; some new and
some old. And as the old ad man would say “Accept no substitutes.”
These guys are the genuine article and it was a lovely way to spend
an evening!
Ann Loker