By Anand Holla


By tweaking the classical music wheel, The Celtic Tenors do what few artistes have been able to neatly pull off – blend classical music, opera, traditional Celtic songs, pop and folk to serve a delightful concoction of rich, soulful music.
On January 15, one of the most successful classical crossover artistes to ever emerge from Ireland will perform at the Raddison Blu’s Giwana Ballroom at 8pm.
The story of how The Celtic Tenors, who sing a fine variety of Celtic, operatic and popular songs, made it into the music circuit is interesting. The group first started off as the Three Irish Tenors on RTE’s Theatre Nights in October 1995. The group, then, consisted of James Nelson, Niall Morris and Paul Hennessey.
Matthew Gilsenan replaced Henessey in 2000. What followed was an impromptu audition at EMI in London, where they were signed right away to an international record deal – a rare event that became the talk of the music industry.
Ever since, the group has sold over 1mn albums worldwide – with three albums achieving Platinum status – and has topped the charts in the USA, Canada, Germany, the UK and Ireland, while regularly playing sold out shows across the globe.
Around 2007, when Morris left the group, Daryl Simpson joined. The current trio comprises Matthew Gilsenan, James Nelson and Daryl Simpson.
Following their self-titled debut album in 2000, they have released six more. Almost all seven have been very successful albums such as 2002’s So Strong, 2003’s Irish Album, 2005’s We Are Not Islands, 2006’s Remember Me, and the 2006 DVD Celtic Tenors: Live in Concert.
Having performed with the world’s leading orchestras, including The Toronto Symphony, the Cincinnati Pops and the Vancouver Symphony orchestra, The Celtic Tenors is known to charm the audience as easily with soaring operatic classics like Puccini’s Nessun Dorma as with the haunting Danny Boy.
In fact, the group was invited to sing for former US president Bill Clinton during his visit to Dublin Castle in 2002 as part of a fund-raising effort for the Northern Ireland Peace Fund. Clinton has since said The Celtic Tenors’ version of his favorite song, Danny Boy, is the best he has ever heard.
In 2004, the trio had the special honour of singing in a private audience for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his wife Nane during a trip to Ireland. The surprise recital in honour of Annan’s birthday was a personal gift to the couple from U2 lead singer Bono.
For the uninitiated, Celtic music, essentially, is an umbrella term for the traditional music of the Celtic countries such as Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Brittany in France, Galicia in Spain, etc. While it refers to the musical genres that evolved out of the folk music traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe, it usually speaks about the music of Ireland and Scotland.
Referred to as “an experience overflowing with vitality and variety from start to finish,” The Celtic Tenors’ live performance is known as much for their quality vocals as it is for their humour, charm, and connection with the audience.
“The only tenor group with a truly global audience, The Celtic Tenors will give you a night to remember,” says their website, “Whether playing at a neighbourhood cathedral or major concert halls in international cities like New York, Amsterdam or Shanghai, you are assured of a professional, sparkling and most of all, good humoured performance.”
The entry is priced at QR395 per person, inclusive of buffet dinner and you can call 44281555 for reservation and tickets.