The Irish Tenors Stanley World Stage Event March 7, 2009
Date Posted: February 6th, 2009
UTICA, NY (February 6, 2009) - Just in time for Saint Patrick's Day, the Stanley Center for the Arts presents THE IRISH TENORS in concert at the Stanley 8pm Saturday March 7, 2009.
This special event is sponsored by M&T Bank.
Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns, and Karl Scully first joined voices in 1998, and since then THE IRISH TENORS have made countless traditional treasures breathe with new life.
Moreover, they've proven themselves gifted interpreters of a wide range of material, with such songs as "My Heart Will Go On", "Fairytale Of New York" and even Jimmy Kennedy's "South Of The Border".
These songs live comfortably in their repertoire alongside "Danny Boy", "My Wild Irish Rose" and "Fields Of Athenry". The magic they've captured on The Irish Tenors (1999), Home For Christmas (1999), Live In Belfast (2000) and Ellis Island (2001), and the Razor & Tie releases We Three Kings (2003) and Heritage (2004), has resulted in millions of albums sold.
THE IRISH TENORS tour constantly, thrilling old fans and winning new ones all around the globe. In the United States, they are one of the most successful Irish touring acts ever, second only to U2.
"For everyone celebrating St. Patrick's Day," says Frank Malfitano, Presenting Manager of the Stanley Center for the Arts. "Our upcoming holiday concert with THE IRISH TENORS is going to be an incredible evening of music, song, artistry, Irish cultural heritage and fun. This is an amazing ensemble, and certainly one of the highlights of the 2008 / 2009 Season and our inaugural Stanley World Stage Series, and we're positively thrilled to be presenting THE IRISH TENORS who have been garnering rave reviews and playing to sold out houses worldwide for the past two years. We know that our audiences are going to love hearing these lyrically brilliant voices join forces to present a delightful program of great songs and a memorable evening of cherished favorites."
Finbar Wright, known as "Ireland's Great Romantic Singer", grew up on a small farm in Ballinspittle, just yards from the sea. He began his music education on piano at the age of five. Wright also studied for the priesthood, heading off to board at Cork's Farranferris College at 11. He was ordained in 1980. At 22, he was the youngest priest in the world; his ordination required a special dispensation from the Vatican.
Anthony Kearns' invitation to join the trio may have been based largely on his illustrious halftime performance at the culmination of the 1996 All-Ireland Hurling Championship and subsequent appearance at the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) finals, but he was singing publicly in his hometown of Kiltealy since the age of ten. These "tops of the town" shows gave way to years of high-level vocal competition and intensive training at FCJ (Faithful Companions of Jesus) Secondary School in Bunclody, an institution renowned for its music program.
Karl Scully is the newest member of The Irish Tenors. Karl's operatic roles include Albert in "Albert Herring" by Benjamin Britten, National Concert Hall, Dublin, Paolino in "Il Matrimonio Segreto", Cimarosa, Orvieto, Italy, Ferrando, in Cosi Fan Tutte, Orvieto, Italy. Whilst living in Italy Karl was resident tenor in Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Italy.
The Tenors will be backed by the full complement of the Utica Symphony Orchestra.
Tickets are now on sale at the Stanley, 724-4000, online at www.StanleyCenterForTheArts.com, or through Ticketmaster. For more information, contact the Stanley at 724-4000.
