The Very Best Of The Irish Tenors

Chronique

The Very Best of the Irish Tenors: 1999 -- 2002 collects Ronan Tynan, Anthony Kearns, and Finbar Wright's best solo and trio performances. Indeed, their voices are so full and rich and blend together so well that the orchestral backing on several of the songs here only serves to gild the lily, competing with the tenors' already compelling singing. When the accompaniment is relatively subtle, as on "Fields of Athenry," "Molly Malone," and "Danny Boy," The Very Best of the Irish Tenors truly lets its stars shine, but too often it seems like the orchestra is in danger of overpowering the tenors. Still, Tynan, Kearns, Wright, and guest tenor John McDermott's impassioned performances of these traditional Irish tunes are impressive despite the occasionally overbearing arrangements surrounding them. Other highlights include Tynan's "Last Rose of Summer," Kearns' "She Moved Through the Fair," Wright's "Maggie," and McDermott's guest spot on "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." Fans of simply performed traditional Irish music may be somewhat disappointed by The Very Best of the Irish Tenors' frills, but anyone partial to any of the tenors' solo work or pop-oriented classical music will enjoy the album's mix of soaring vocals and orchestration.
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