The Irish Tenors, with a mix of standards and Irish songs, help lead off a bevy of holiday performances.
By JOHN FLEMING
Published November 27, 2003
Irish Tenors
There's something about a high Irish tenor that goes well with holiday tradition, so it's apt that one of the first seasonal concerts in the area is by the Irish Tenors, who appear Monday night with an orchestra at Ruth Eckerd Hall.
It promises to be one of the highlights of a holiday stage lineup heavy on Nutcrackers, adaptations of A Christmas Carol and traditional fare crooned by Anne Murray to Rockapella, Sheena Easton to the Four Freshmen.
The Irish threesome bring quite a lot of variety to their arrangements of classical and popular songs. "We have the luxury of being able to incorporate solos, duets - the Pie Jesu, for example, is a perfect duet for tenors - and three voices," said tenor Finbar Wright, speaking from his home in Cork, Ireland.
"We open this year with Hark the Herald Angels Sing in an intricate three-part harmony which is almost like a choral delivery."
Wright and his mates Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan follow the formula laid down by the original operatic Three Tenors: Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. Since starting out in 1998, the Irish tenors have released six albums with sales of 1.5-million.
On their 17-city Christmas tour, they sing a solidly mainstream program of religious and secular carols from their latest album, We Three Kings, including Silent Night, O Holy Night, Winter Wonderland and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.
What sets them apart are the Irish songs they perform. Kearns does a rendition of the Wexford Carol that never fails to bring down the house. "Being from Wexford himself, it's one that is particularly dear to him," Wright said. "It's a very beautiful, very old carol."
John McCormack set the standard for Irish tenors. "He was the great Irish tenor, there's no doubt about that," Wright said. "I don't think anybody has ever lived up to his achievements. His earlier recordings from around 1910 of some of the operatic arias are incomparable."
Tynan has become famous for his heartfelt rendition of God Bless America during New York Yankees games. "It has become almost like another career for him," Wright said. "Ronan lives a lot of the time in New York, and he's an avid sportsman. So he certainly enjoys it, I can tell you that."
More New York holiday flavor is to be found in The SantaLand Diaries. Here's the opening paragraph from the David Sedaris short story that anyone who has ever had to hunt for a job during the economy's big season can relate to:
"I was in a coffee shop looking through the want ads when I read, "Macy's Herald Square, the largest store in the world, has big opportunities for outgoing, fun-loving people of all shapes and sizes who want more than just a holiday job! Working as an elf in Macy's SantaLand means being at the center of the excitement.' "
Thus begins a mordantly modern Christmas tale that has been turned into a popular one-man stage show. Brandon Boyd stars as the Macy's elf in tights in a production at American Stage, with Wendy Leigh directing. It opens Dec. 5.
Another Big Apple holiday tradition is the high-kicking Rockettes, featured in a touring version of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular that includes the "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," a nativity scene, Santa Claus and rapping elves.
"We realize not everyone can get to New York for Christmas, so we'll bring Christmas to you," says Howard Kolins, executive producer of the show, which opens Dec. 11 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
Here's a sampling of holiday offerings on Tampa Bay area stages this year. For venue addresses, please see the December Datebook on Page XX.
THEATER
’Santaland Diaries‘
Salute to vienna: America’s New Year’s concert
’A Christmas Carol‘ at TBPAC
A Christmas Carol, by Carrollwood Players, continues through Dec. 13 at Carrollwood Playhouse, 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa. $10, $12. (813) 265-4000.
A New York Christmas opens Friday and continues through Christmas Day at Show Palace Dinner Theatre, Hudson. (See Hot Ticket, Page 19.)
In A Christmas Cannoli: Or A Tale of Two Families, Yellow Snow Productions presents mob-style Christmas comedy. 3 p.m. Sun. and Dec. 21, 7 p.m. Dec. 19-20, Clearwater Cinema Cafe, 24095 U.S. 19 N, $12. Also 3 p.m. Sat., Dec. 6 and 13, and 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Dec. 5, 6 (sold out), 12 and 13, Silver Meteor Gallery, 2213 E Sixth Ave., Ybor City, $10. (813) 818-0991.
The "Almost Broadway" series has a concert version of A Country Christmas Carol by Ron Kaehler and Albert Evans on Monday and Dec. 8 in the Cook Theatre of FSU/Asolo Center for the Performing Arts, Sarasota. $15.
The cabaret show A Christmas Carol - The Musical is Dec. 4-7 in Ferguson Hall of Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa. $15.50-$25.50. (813) 229-7827.
The Long Christmas Dinner by Thornton Wilder runs Dec. 4-21 at Gorilla Theatre, Tampa. $15-$25. (813) 879-2914. David Sedaris' The SantaLand Diaries runs Dec. 5-21 at American Stage, St. Petersburg. $22-$32. (727) 823-7529.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is Dec. 5-25 at Angel Cabaret Dinner Theatre, Hudson. $21.95-$34.50. (727) 847-0019. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular runs Dec. 11-Jan. 4 at TBPAC. $33-$65.
A Carol's Christmas, staged by Eight O'Clock Theatre, is Dec. 12-13 at Largo Cultural Center. $10-$15.
Merry Chriskwanzanukah!, with Shana Banana, is at TBPAC on Dec. 13. $5.50. Also Dec. 19, Largo Cultural Center. $7.50. (727) 587-6793.
Langston Hughes' Black Nativity, with Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, is Dec. 18-28 at Florida Studio Theatre SecondStage, 1247 First St., Sarasota. $21. (941) 954-4651.
The Oft Told Story by Margo and Alan Armstrong, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Palladium, St. Petersburg. $6-$12. (727) 822-3590.
MUSIC
Bryson
Murray
Skitch Henderson
Tampa Oratorio Singers, with Florida Orchestra Brass Quintet, perform carols, 4 p.m. Sunday, Plant Hall, University of Tampa, 401 W Kennedy Blvd. $17.50. (813) 247-3866.
"The Colors of Christmas 2003," with Peabo Bryson, Irene Cara, Christopher Cross and Sheena Easton, orchestra and gospel choir, 7 p.m. Sunday, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota. $45-$60. Toll-free 1-800-826-9303.
The Irish Tenors sing Christmas favorites, 8 p.m. Monday, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. $50-$65. (727) 791-7400.
Gulf to Bay Chorus of Sweet Adelines Christmas show, 3:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Palladium. $10. The Chanukkah Story, with Western Wind vocal ensemble, 8 p.m. Dec. 10, Ruth Eckerd Hall. $30-$35.
Skitch Henderson conducts the Florida Orchestra in a holiday pops program, 8 p.m. Dec. 12, Ferguson Hall, TBPAC. Also 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, Ruth Eckerd Hall and 8 p.m. Dec. 15, Mahaffey Theater at Bayfront Center, St. Petersburg. $21-$45.
Anne Murray Christmas show, 8 p.m. Dec. 12-13, Ruth Eckerd Hall. $44.75-$47.75. Also 8 p.m. Dec. 15, Van Wezel Hall. $45-$55.
The Four Freshmen holiday show, 1 p.m. Dec. 16, Ruth Eckerd Hall. $15.Dave Koz's Smooth Jazz Holiday, 8 p.m. Dec. 17, Ruth Eckerd Hall. $35-$42.50. Also 8 p.m. Dec. 16, Van Wezel Hall. $38-$45.
"Pearls of Yiddish Song," with Zalem Mlotek, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center. $13-$15.
St. Petersburg College Chorus and Madrigalians Candlelight Concert, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19-20, SPC Music Center, 6605 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Call (727) 341-4678 for free tickets.
Florida Orchestra and Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, 8 p.m. Dec. 20, USF Special Events Center. Also 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21, Ruth Eckerd Hall, and 8 p.m. Dec. 22, Mahaffey Theater. $21-$45.
Susan Haig leads the Florida Orchestra, Kids Time Classics Holiday Spectacular, 2 p.m. Dec. 20, USF Theater II. $10.
John and Mary K. Wilson holiday concert, 4 and 7 p.m. Dec. 20, Largo Cultural Center. $10.
Sunstate Opera Classical Christmas Concert, 2 p.m. Dec. 21, Palladium. $10-$15."Salute to Vienna: America's New Year's Concert," 8 p.m. Dec. 31, Ruth Eckerd Hall. $39-$55.
NUTCRACKERS
Miami City Ballet's ‘Nutcracker’
The Chocolate Nutcracker, 7 p.m. Dec. 5, Ruth Eckerd Hall. Also Dec. 6-7. $12-$17.
The Nutcracker with the West Florida Youth Ballet, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7. Largo Cultural Center. $12-$15.50.
"Nutcracker in the Park" by the Ballet Society, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7, North Straub Park, St. Petersburg. Blanket seating free; grandstand $5. (727) 827-3828.
