ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y., Feb. 17, 2006 — If you think that all tenors from Ireland are alike, think again.
In 2002, in the midst of traditional Irish tenor groups appearing on the American music scene, The Celtic Tenors were beginning their own world tour, pioneering a new style never before seen on classical stage.
The three young dynamic vocalists will bring their new and unique audience experience to the Olean area for “An Evening with the Celtic Tenors” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21. The performance will be held in the San Damiano Room of Francis Hall (former Francis Chapel) on the campus of St. Bonaventure University.
The Celtic Tenors — Matthew Gilsenan, Niall Morris and James Nelson — are now established internationally as Ireland’s most successful classical crossover artists.
The group has toured Germany, Holland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, and has appeared at festivals in Latvia, Lithuania, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong and Singapore. In December 2004, U2 lead singer Bono arranged for them to sing at the birthday party of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, and former President Bill Clinton described them as “The best singing group I have ever heard. Their version of Danny Boy quite honestly brought tears to my eyes.”
Their newest album, “We Are Not Islands,” is a new departure: a collection of 13 contemporary love songs, six of which were written especially for the group by some of the most respected songwriters of our time. The title track “Non Siamo Isole, which features a guest appearance by Brian Kennedy, is by multi-award-winning British songwriter Simon May, and there is a new song, “Still By Your Side,” by popular Cork songwriter Jimmy MacCarthy.
The Celtic Tenors were signed on the spot to an international record deal, following an impromptu audition in London in 2000, an event so unprecedented that it soon became the talk of the music industry. Their debut album, “The Celtic Tenors,” went immediately to No. 2 on the UK classical charts. It went to No. 1 in Ireland and Germany (where it went platinum twice) and won the Echo Award (the German Grammy) for Best Classical Crossover Album in 2002. Their second album, “So Strong,” was recorded at Abbey Road Studios.
Tickets for “An Evening with The Celtic Tenors” go on sale at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24, and are priced at $10 for students and $25 for the public. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Reilly Center Ticket Office, at all Tops Friendly Markets, by phone at (888) 223-6000 or online at tickets.com. For more information call the ticket office at (716) 375-2500. All seating is reserved.