Cathy's Reviews

A Homecoming Hug with Pierce Turner

2013-05-15T00:24:00.001+01:00

Pub Song

'A mixture of O Riada, Wexford mumming and classical music' was how Fr. Aodhán Markham summed up the elements in a new Mass composed by Pierce Turner, heard at Bride Street Church as a pinnacle of a weekend of events featuring the Wexford musician. That the acclaimed singer songwriter sees his canvas in a global context is apparent in the listing of the event as a 'world premiere'.
The church was full with a mixture of regulars, local dignitaries, family& friends and fervent atheists to hear the work sung by the Bride Street Church Choir with organist Ger Lawlor, soprano Róisín Dempsey and the composer on keyboard. 'Powerful and beautiful' were the comments on the featured Communion piece, Union, composed to commemorate the 1798 Rebellion and recorded by Kathleen Tynan. The work included a gathering hymn, parts of the Mass Ordinary in Irish and Latin and a setting of the Our Father. It may not be very rock and roll but Turner has always acknowledged church music as a major influence on his musical style both in interviews and in song. No gig is complete without a sing along rendition of Faith of our Fathers as a coda to his song 'The Sky and the Ground'* and thus ended The Gathering Mass. It is

Turner Family with Roisin Dempsey and Mayor Allen

surely a measure of the extent to which Turner is cherished in his hometown that a pub is named after one of his signature songs.

The weekend kicked off with a performance at Greenacres Art Gallery by Turner accompanied by string quartet and bass. Moving from piano to guitar and keyboard, the set list included old favourites with songs from his new album, Notes for a Verry Small Orchestra. The age group was 50 + and the mood was oddly reverent in the white walled gallery space. We shuffled to our feet for the closing numbers, the charge led by a lady on crutches almost like a scene from a Christian Revivalist meeting. The excellent string quartet, fitted with pick ups added a lush element and the arrangements are reminiscent of Beatles Sargeant Pepper with a touch of Handel. Among the devoted fans who had travelled a distance for the event was Mo Maloney, a regular at Turner's Manhattan appearances who was at the gig with his son Michael.

We're not in obscurity, but we're not top of the pops either' . So said playwright, Billy Roche somewhat ruefully at the forum on Saturday . Turner gets great press being generally referred to as being an unorthodox genius with his name bandied about with those of literary giants, Beckett and Joyce for the quality of his lyrics . A flick through his biography sees him photographed with the likes of Pete Seeger and Phillip Glass- major figures from stylistically very different musical worlds. Why he continues to fly under the radar of national consciousness, remaining relatively unknown outside an ardent but modest fan base is something of an enigma addressed by the forum on Saturday titled 'From Wexford to Manhattan and Back'. Chaired by Jackie Hayden of Hot Press, it opened with the screening of a short documentary by Colin Murnane. Billy Roche spoke about growing up in Pierce's extended family with wry self deprecating humour. Broadcaster Frank Phelan is probably Turner's most passionate advocate and you can hear my audioboo with Frank below. Editor of the Wexford Echo, Tom Mooney drew comparisons with Julie Feeney and spoke about the impact of the changing nature of the music business.

Critic, Liam Fay completed the panel. 'The most intrinsically Irish artist of our generation was his assessment. . While the panelists were well informed and made interesting observations, no interaction from the floor was encouraged as advertised.

For me Turner is a quixotic figure, An engaging live performer who somehow combines elements of a cosy parlour party with big stadium shapes. He takes the details of his life story from his early life as a working class boy, growing up in a musical family in an Irish coastal town, to his journey to America and weaves them into an eclectic and entertaining song set. The style veers from sophisticated introspection to cheerful schmaltz, interlaced with great yarns. His sense of glee and joie de vivre is rare and very appealing.

Turner has a few dates coming up . He will be in Coughlans, Cork on 23 May . More information on the website www.pierceturner.com

*Correction. The hymn Faith of our Father's is sung at the end of the song You Can Never Know, not the Sky and the Ground as stated. . Both songs include references to religious symbols.

Related articles Hawley and the Savoy and Turner Pierces Gloom

listen to ‘Frank phelan’ on Audioboo

An Unclouded Day at Cork Choral Festival 2013

2013-05-13T09:19:00.000+01:00

The University of Oregan Chamber Choir Winners of Fleischmann Trophy

With festivals re branded under the catchy new title of Gathering, Cork Choral Festival continues to do that better than most. Founded in 1954 as part of An Tostal, a government initiative to boost Ireland's failing economy, Cork International Choral Festival is the longest running Irish festival in its' original form, Chairman John Fitzpatrick reminded us at the closing gala. Over the weekend song seeps out of the formal concert venues to permeate spaces all over the city. Here is my selection of Sunday's highlights.

Afternoon in the Atrium The afternoon slipped away pleasantly at the Clarion where MC Colin Nicholls kept procedings moving along in cheerful fashion. With ground floor table seats in demand, patrons ascended to the balconies to hear the ten choirs which included several barbershop quartets . Our favourite was Polyfonica, a choir from Belarus which had a fiddle player and included Kalinka in the set of folk songs.

An Unclouded Day. The University of Oregan Chamber Choir came to the platform at the closing gala concerts anointed as best in festival 2013. Would they have that special something that set them apart. They did. It was elegant simplicity. Choosing two pieces in a spiritual vein, one traditional and a modern number, (The Road Home by Stephen Paulus), in contrast to most of the other choirs, they simply sang . No busyness. No actions. No clever vocal clucking noises. Just seamless unadulterated vocal harmony. Dressed in sober grey suits and dresses, the mixed voice chamber choir under director Dr. Sharon Paul, created a serene and heavenly sound that made me long for an encore. Of the novelty pieces, the French choir, Alter Echo, did make me chuckle with their stylish dynamic performance of The Ferret. Delightful also was the clarity of diction from of the English ensemble Coro. Ceoltoirí Muscraí under director Martin Power presented an attractive and varied show case of Irish song and dance.

Malcolm Wisener

Organ Postlude at St Finbarres . We did a bit of singing ourselves as the choir had a rare evening off evening duties after the Sacred Music competition. We specially enjoyed Malcolm Wisener's playing of a postlude by French composer Pierné on the organ at St Finbarre's Cathedral at the close of Evening Prayer Service for Rogation Sunday.

Festival Club What did the choristers do at the wrap party. Carry on singing of course -and dancing. At the Clarion, the more energetic made their way to céilí room where visitors seemed to have no trouble picking up the steps of Falla Liminí. In the lounge, Jack O Rourke, piano player extrordinaire from Oregan anchored the sing song around the piano, backing all comers and filling in during lulls although in my opinion the French delegation proved to have all the best chansons.

The Sub-terraneans

Best Buskers It is quite a while since I've seen a melodica. The last one was worn by Sr Pius when I was in 2nd class. New kids on the block The Sub-terraneans include it in their arsenal snapped here on their first outdoor busking session on a lethargic Monday after all the singers had departed.

Related Posts Unholy Haikus, Great Glee and Brilliant Buskers A report from 2012 Festival

Examiner Review of Festival here

Gritty Urban Carmen at the Watergate

2013-05-10T16:04:00.002+01:00

Sopranos consigned to wheelie bins, costumes direct from the urban grunge section of Penneys and hold the manzanilla, it's Dutch Gold and spice burgers all round for the cast of Opera Theatre Company’s latest production of Carmen.

It’s Carmen all right, but not as we know her. Director Gavin Quinn relocates the anti-heroine of Bizet's opera comique from Spain to the Northside of Dublin with a sleazy cast of hoodlums that would fit right into a party scene of Love Hate. The soldiers are transformed to unruly members of An Garda Siochana, with culchie accents , flirting with the tarty girls, in lurid leggings and hoopy earrings . There is a shiny suit too for Escamillo, (Owen Gilhooly) a fighter, maybe of the bare knuckle or kick boxing variety given the absence of gloves with a fetching mix and match wardrobe including pedal pushers and sleeveless hoodie ensemble that is surely the envy of baritones all over the opera world. Some of the dialogue and lyrics are very funny and convincingly delivered- lots of Dublineze but no swearing. Don Jose reads his mother's letter on his smart phone. Of the on stage action, a gentleman next to me said 'It reminds of John Street on a Saturday night after the pubs close' And I suspect that, for many theatre goers, the problem with this Carmen was that it was all too familiar with a gritty set of characters that repulsed rather than seduced. Compelling but appalling in a sort of 'Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' sort of way.

The singing from a 18 strong cast is excellent. Imelda Drumm in the title role has an element of pantomime dame Twink in her portrayal of a minxy Carmen toying with a gormless Don José played by American tenor Michael Wade Lee, who is understandably a little confused where to place his accent at times. Maireid Buicke is tender and lovely as Micaela and Maria Hughs was impressive in her debut performance as Mercedes

By any standards, this is a big production with 30 or so musicians and singers conducted by Andrew Synott. Luxurious in terms of the calibre of singing and quality of the orchestra led tonight by Mircea Petcu , placed on stage right giving the audience another performance aspect to watch .
And the verdict of the interval audience . 'Well- quite different but the singing was wonderful ' said one lady. A gentleman who had arrived in elegant dress suit appeared after the interval in less formal attire obviously feeling the occasion didn't warrant the full dressing up treatment after all.

Seductive and sultry? No- but compelling and enthralling in its own way and worth seeing? Yes!

Venue Note . The foyer of the Watergate Theatre Kilkenny is a little cramped but the cafe upstairs had the nicest willow pattern tea cups I've seen in any theatre café. There is good leg room and the seats were very comfortable in this converted cinema with good visibility in stalls and balcony.

Carmen continues to tour with a dozen dates around the country extending to Autumn 2013

Related articles Pagliacci for Everyman
http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2012/06/pagliacci-for-everyman-cork-midsummer.html