Mario Lanza Tribute at UCH with Jablokov

Tenor Sean Costello with Mrs Hanrahan and pals at UCH

We had heard good things about this tribute show to iconic singing star of the silver screen.  The format consisted of a  prerecorded narrative   relating the singer's life story  punctuated with solos and duets  from soloists Sean Costello, Niall Morris and Sandra Oman accompanied by a chamber ensemble lead by violinist  Vladimir Jablokov.  A slide show of photographs were digitally projected onto a screen backdrop and added an interesting dimension  to the vocals

Music of Grief Stabat Mater

On Good Friday, I took a break from the Easter duties with the hard working Ennis Cathedral Choir to join Limerick Choral Union and Orchestra as a violist for their Easter concert featuring the Stabat Mater by Karl Jenkins. Conductor Malcolm Greene had assembled a range of forces to deliver a memorable performance of this very moving work. It was my first experience of playing a work by this Welsh composer.

Singer Camille Malaawy's performance of the arabic segments was spine tingling and the addition of the Ethnic wind instrument, the Mey to the soundscape and dimming of lights added enormously to the conjuring up of a differnt world. Surely only the most steely heart could fail to be moved by Sarah Ellen Murphy's Lament.

Also on the programme was a Puccini Mass featuring big sweeping operatic melodies and carried off beautifully by the young singers Peter O Donohue and David Howes who I expect we will hear a lot more of in the coming years.

All in all, it was a wonderful musical extravaganza which was very exciting to be a part of . Well done Malcolm Greene