Publisher Daniel Hines and wife, Brooks
backstage with Tenors after concert
Irish Tenors
breathtaking with
breadth, meaning of songs with
Spiritual message, based from upcoming
Album, ‘My Forever Friend’
By Daniel Hines
Publisher
TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com
There can
never be any doubting of the tremendous talent of The Irish Tenors,
Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns and John McDermott, but at the end of a
truly magnificent and moving performance at The Fabulous Fox Theater in
St. Louis, a very special, intimate side of the group was revealed, as
well as a major move in an expansion of the breadth of their
performances.
Of course,
there were the usual delightful and always popular Irish folk songs
ranging from jigs to ballads of sacrificed love for freedom, but the
first part of the show was a breath-taking insight into the commitment
of the Tenors and their strong faith in God exhibited by a wide range of
selections from a soon-to-be-released new album, ‘My Forever Friend.’
The title song
was performed by John McDermott, who was one of the original members of
the Tenors. based upon his fantastic styling throughout the evening,
but especially on ‘My Forever Friend’, written by Charlie Landsborough,
it is great to have him reunited with Finbar and Anthony.
The evening
was filled with highlights, one after the other. At the risk of leaving
one or other of the highlights out, we have picked one for each singer
that left us most impressed.
John’s
rendition of ‘My Forever Friend’, with its haunting lyrical qualities
relating a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and his gift of life
on the cross, should give one thought for His sacrifice and His
steadfastness as a friend. (See Lyrics by clicking here).
Finbar, the
subject of a previous interview (click here to read Finbar’s tribute to
the role of Americans in preserving the Irish music heritage), was
equally moving with his rendering of ‘How Great Thou Art.’ His
wonderful voice and his respectful manner for the song brought the
audience to its feet.
Anthony, who
seems to be the most ‘youthful’ of the trio, brings boyish good looks
that belie his wonderful voice, and his story of the goodbye of an Irish
rebel awaiting death in prison to his love, Grace, is the best rendition
of the lovely ballad I have ever heard.
A poignant
moment was provided by a tribute to veterans when the group asked all
veterans to stand for a moment of applause and tribute from the
audience, the prelude to a moving song about the contributions of those
who had paid the final sacrifice along with a pledge that ‘we shall
never forget.’
We reviewed
the Tenors during their last visit to St. Louis. At that time, I
commented on the fact that while Italian tenors get the credit for ‘love
ballads’, actually the commitments of the Irish love songs, the deep
affections of husband and wife, lovers and friends, exceeds that of the
Italian songs. In many of the ballads such as ‘I’ll Take You Home
Again, Kathleen,’ the sincerity of the delivery transformed the music
from just a singer performing to one expressing a quality of commitment.
Added to the
truly inspiring selections from ‘My Forever Friend’ this show by The
Irish Tenors was memorable. And, as my wife, Brooks, said after the
show, she wondered if the angles in Heaven could make music as
beautiful.
Perhaps so, but it is wonderful to know that when we do get to Heaven,
the Tenors will be there…and I’m sure God will have a request or two for
His favorite songs.
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