Review: Celtic Tenors at Symphony Nova Scotia

The Celtic Tenors and Symphony Nova Scotia received numerous ovations this weekend.

It wasn’t even St. Paddy’s Day, but you wouldn’t have known by the good cheer in evidence at yesterday’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, with an audience pumped for a good time at one of three well-attended shows by Ireland’s The Celtic Tenors. Fresh from performances at the DeCoste in Pictou and the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, the Tenors did not disappoint their many fans, with the audience clapping and singing along to their favorites in a program of traditional, classical and opera pops hits. What wasn’t to like? Good looking tenors with a superb “back up band” (Symphony Nova Scotia under the leadership of guest conductor Martin MacDonald) serving up hot Irish hospitality with a side of Nova Scotian feel good – sláinte!

Consummate showmen, the Tenors charmed the crowd from their first number, Red Haired Mary, three-part harmonies soaring over an amplified (but still sweet sounding) orchestra. Their arrangements are great and they take turns on the solo lines, tossing melodies and harmonies back and forth like a soccer ball. When the orchestra took a break, the Tenors were accompanied occasionally by musical director Cian on piano and tenor Daryl Simpson on guitar.

One of the most touching moments of the afternoon was Matthew Gilsenan’s rendition of Galileo, a beautiful song by Irish singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke. Gilsenan introduced this one with a touching story about missing his three kids and wife while on the road. Another favorite was Tenor Daryl Simpson (who bears a bit of a resemblance to Downton Abbey’s Allen Leech/AKA Tom Branson) – I think he could do a great Billy Joel impersonation if he put his mind to it! Tenor James Nelson endured some good-natured ribbing about his age, and demonstrated some mock Irish dancing. These guys look like they have a very good time both onstage and off.

Although the tenors said they’ve toured Canada for many years, they’ve only recorded a couple of Canadian songs, including one by the Rankins, the other one being Four Strong Winds. We all sang along, but the lads need to work on the second line’s melody, which came through clearly when the audience sang alone – we know our Ian and Sylvia, guys!

The show ranged from some well-loved “popera” hits like Libiamo! to Simon and Garfunkel’s The Boxer, with traditional gems like Wild Mountainside, Spanish Lady and Caledonia, which more than one audience member noted is “owned” by the Barra MacNeils. There was some slightly naughty wink wink humour, and the patter overall was engaging.

Assistant Concertmaster Mark Lee was in the driver’s seat, providing a lovely solo, with SNS Assistant Principal Brian James also applauded for his beautiful English horn solo playing.

The show garnered a few spontaneous standing O’s, including after an a cappella version of Danny Boy that brought the house down. Bravely, the tenors sang it without amplification, and in their pianissimos you could have heard a pin drop. Full on swooning followed the ending number, Nessun Dorma, a de rigeur tenor mega-hit.

An enjoyable show that made the time pass quickly, and then we were all out in the lobby watching the Tenors sign CDs for their fans. You can check out the many happy comments from the Nova Scotian fans on their Facebook page.

On a more serious note, The Charitable Irish’s Brian Doherty read a (somewhat lengthy) letter from the President of Ireland, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Easter rising, ending with an off the book partial recitation of William Butler Yeats’ moving “Easter, 1916“. Doherty, proprietor of the Old Triangle and half of the venerable musical duo Evans and Doherty, was mentioned from the stage, as was the owner of Celtic Corners in Dartmouth, a school chum of one of the Tenors back in the day. Which just proves that it’s a small world after all, and yes, the Irish are everywhere. Now if only I could get that earworm Westering Home out of my head…..