Universal appeal
Garth Wilshere17/02/2010 11:18:00 a.m.
The Seven Irish Tenors, Opera House, reviewed by Garth Wilshere
THE phenomenon of grouping voice types together got international recognition and the famous Three Tenors became an astonishing marketing success.
Here we have The Seven Irish Tenors, based in the UK, but touring the world. They are all of Irish heritage, but not all are from Ireland. Their performances are polished, professional and perfectly pitched to their mostly middle-aged and senior audience.
They introduced themselves, and the song selection, with easy, relaxed charm.
The songs ranged from Beatles numbers to Queen songs, Simon and Garfunkel, Glenn Miller, musicals, classical and opera. Nessun Dorma was well sung and with a combative edge between two soloists in an interesting arrangement.
The content was understandably populist and in places corny, but fun, with the expected Irish humour sprinkled into the mix. The Beatles medley, Twist and Shout had them dancing with the audience.
The three, four and five year old girls sitting next to me loved it all just as much as the senior members of the audience did.
Pre-recorded backing arrangements (some of which had their genesis from New Zealand arrangers) by the Vector Wellington Orchestra were augmented by the excellent live string quartet of New Zealand players (the only women on stage), who entered into the spirit, jiving along in some of the pieces.
THE phenomenon of grouping voice types together got international recognition and the famous Three Tenors became an astonishing marketing success.
Here we have The Seven Irish Tenors, based in the UK, but touring the world. They are all of Irish heritage, but not all are from Ireland. Their performances are polished, professional and perfectly pitched to their mostly middle-aged and senior audience.
They introduced themselves, and the song selection, with easy, relaxed charm.
The songs ranged from Beatles numbers to Queen songs, Simon and Garfunkel, Glenn Miller, musicals, classical and opera. Nessun Dorma was well sung and with a combative edge between two soloists in an interesting arrangement.
The content was understandably populist and in places corny, but fun, with the expected Irish humour sprinkled into the mix. The Beatles medley, Twist and Shout had them dancing with the audience.
The three, four and five year old girls sitting next to me loved it all just as much as the senior members of the audience did.
Pre-recorded backing arrangements (some of which had their genesis from New Zealand arrangers) by the Vector Wellington Orchestra were augmented by the excellent live string quartet of New Zealand players (the only women on stage), who entered into the spirit, jiving along in some of the pieces.
