Guest Review by John W. Mann

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They did not lie to us. Those PBS personalities who kept saying that the Celtic Woman concert experience coming to us would match, or perhaps even exceed, the visual and auditory delights they were showing us in their broadcasts of Celtic Woman: A New Journey. As millions of viewers in the USA watched, enraptured by the film of the live performance at Slane Castle, Ireland in August 2006, we thought: surely, this level of performance cannot be captured live, night after night, in a tour rolling by bus across America. Having witnessed two concerts, I can say unequivocally and gratefully, they were right.

Kentucky was blessed with three (3) concerts by Celtic Woman, a concert in Louisville in April 2007 quickly sold out, resulting in the scheduling of an additional concert the next night. Then on November 9, 2007, we were graced by a concert at Rupp Arena in Lexington. I was fortunate to have been present for concerts in both Louisville and Lexington. They were experiences I shall always treasure. By the time of the Lexington concert, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha had been replaced by Lynn Hilary. To my amazement, the quality of the show was undiminished by the change, showing Lynn to be a most able and worthy replacement.

"Angels, they are!" is a comment so frequently heard that it is in danger of being dismissed by hearers as a cliché. However, its use serves perforce to go where mere language fears to tread! One seeing their performances quickly realizes how difficult it is to verbalize the visual and auditory delight being experienced. Their harmonies, the music and the beauty of the performers themselves all lead to angelic comparisons. Add Orla Fallon's harp playing and it is little wonder that the audience would not be terribly surprised to see wings suddenly sprout from their shoulders (and on fiddle-player Máiréad Nesbitt, from her heels as well).

For those of us who have become particularly entranced with one of the CW angels, Lisa Kelly, a description of her performance in concert might serve to let future listeners know of the delights which await them, whether they learn of her from her concerts, DVDs or music. Her physical beauty and charm is obvious. But it is when you add her beautiful soprano voice (easily at home in alto range), the sincerity of her countenance in conveying the emotion of the lyrics she sings and her lovely mannerisms, completely at home on the stage, that one realizes the treasure before you.

Lisa's talents are quickly before you in A New Journey. Following the opening number of "The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun" and Chloe's rendition of "The Prayer," Lisa is showcased in Dougie MacLean's "Caledonia." Supported by a lovely arrangement of choir and instrumentation, Lisa's stage background is evident, as she moves fluidly and seemingly effortlessly through the number. To many Americans, the song harkens us to a region left by our ancestors long ago. Moved by her performance, we would love to be there when Lisa returns!

Lisa's next solo number is "The Blessing." Accompanied by piano, the blessing is indeed ours. Amazing to me was the sincerity and undiminished enthusiasm with which it was sung by Lisa at the November concert, when surely the temptation to succumb to fatigue or boredom from repetition must have been present. No evidence of it whatsoever though, in her performance. An audience aware of the difficulties of touring greatly appreciates the effort she is making on our behalf.

One of the really "fun" numbers of the show for all is "The Céili," which features Lisa prominently as one of the young ladies eagerly anticipating the upcoming prospects for romance there. The combination of fast-paced singing and dancing to the delightful pipes, fiddling and percussion in the number make it certainly one of the highlights of the show. One cannot but feel for Lisa's beau, however, whom we know from the song is in for a nasty surprise on his return from Boston!

The last of Lisa's solo numbers is the "The Voice," featuring her on vocals and Máiréad on fiddle. The combination of these two in this haunting melody is charming. Lisa's vocals and movements are such that we have no trouble believing her when she sings "I am the voice." To us, she certainly is.

We eagerly look forward to the return of CW to our shores in 2008 and to their media releases always.

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