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Colorful Celtic Woman Warms St. Patrick's Day Crowd

 
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:36 am    Post subject: Colorful Celtic Woman Warms St. Patrick's Day Crowd Reply with quote

Music Review: Colorful Celtic Woman warms St. Patrick's Day crowd at arena


Celtic Woman, a group of classically trained sopranos, gave the Mellon Arena crowd what it expected on St. Patrick's Day.

Celtic Woman gently rolled into the Mellon Arena on St. Patrick's Day amid a green sea of mixed concert-goers bedecked in holiday-themed hats and sweaters and some of their best evening finery.

Old and young alike gathered for the New-Age concert -- this reviewer spotted a long-haired rocker type in his best suit escorting his grandmother on his arm to her floor seat. Nice.

The show itself was delayed 40 minutes as lighting issues were worked out. Violinist Máiréad Nesbitt opened the show when she seemingly floated to the stage through the smoke, opening "The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun" for Órla Fallon, Lynn Hilary, Alex Sharpe and Chloë Agnew. The ethereal stage was washed in white and pale lighting that set off their flowy gowns as the singers slowly moved on the stage.

The performers, a tight-knit group of sopranos, carefully presented their first set, which featured fan favorites "Caledonia," "Danny Boy," "Orinoco Flow" and "The Blessing." Chloë Agnew sang lead on "The Prayer." It was disappointing that the song's Italian section was not sung but played by the band -- especially when, later, she capably presented "Lascia Ch'io Pianga." The rest of the set included a stunning a capella "Over the Rainbow."

Following intermission, the set began with the women wearing jewel-toned gowns of red, green and purple against a backdrop of a starry night set. The effect was beautiful.

The set featured more solos by Fallon, accompanying herself on the harp, and for each of the singers. They joined together for "You Raise Me Up," which fell flat -- they continually pulled back on vocals on the sections that should have been building. Even the choir couldn't help pull this number out of its tailspin.

On a positive note, Nesbitt produced a beautiful tone on the violin throughout the evening -- a difficult feat considering that she was running about the stage, engaging the audience and the other performers. She especially shone on "Ashoken Farewell/The Contradiction," while trading musical barbs with the percussion players as they laid out some great rhythms on the bodhran (an Irish handheld drum).

Speaking of the band, the centerpiece was two big drum and percussion kits that would have made even the wildest rock drummer envious. The rest of the group featured musicians on grand piano/synthesizer, guitar, bass, flutes and electric guitar.

All of this came together for an enjoyable evening with no surprises. Although it was pleasant, one hopes that in the future this show will deliver something unexpected. That is, after all, the essence of live performance.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
By Rosa Colucci, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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