The Irish Tenors - Ellis Island

The music is well-selected to balance familiar material ("Danny Boy," "My Wild Irish Rose," "Nearer My God to Thee") with appealing rarities, notably "The Green Fields of France" and two memorable Gaelic songs in an "Irish Medley." --Joe McLellan

Description
Recorded in the magnificent, soaring Registration Hall on Ellis Island, this landmark performance by the Irish Tenors captures in music the emotionally-charged atmosphere of this hallowed ground of U.S. Immigration. From "Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears" - the heart rending story of 15 year old Annie Moore, the first immigrant to set foot on Ellis Island - to the resounding choruses of "God Bless America" and "A Nation Once Again", the concert is a historic treasure. Irish Tenors Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan and Finbar Wright deliver the performance of a lifetime.

This CD has a bit more of an Irish American theme as "Isle Of Hope, Isle Of Tears" and "God Bless America" illustrate. Interspersed among these tunes are traditional Irish tunes such as "Macushla" and "Croppy Boy", along with newer songs, such as "The Green Fields Of France" and "How are Things In Glocca Morra?"

The singing is excellent, the words understandable. I appreciate the inclusion the lyrics of the songs contained on the insert of the cover. These are songs you will want to learn, whose stories you will want to research. I have. Listen again and again!


Music & Song of Emigrants through Ellis Esland   September 10, 2005
Kathleen Gallagher (Ireland)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

As a child I listened to stories of emigrants who arrived at Ellisland. Leaving homeland, family and friends maybe never to see them again. Sometimes they lost touch with their families fo make it easier for them to settle in this beautiful large country. A lot of songs were written about it. The lyrics came across as haunting and beautiful. You could feel the lonliness of those people some only 14 years. It is a wonderful Tribute to Ellis Island.


How are things in Ellis Island   September 3, 2003
I think that the Irish tenors Ellis Island CD is great. They are better then before. The rich vocies of Anthony,Roana and Finbar. I am telling all who haven`t yet saw it please go and watch it. You`ll love it.I promise you.


Irish Tenors - Ellis Island VHS   January 13, 2002
Steven C. Myers (Bedford , PA USA)
22 out of 23 found this review helpful

Typically outstanding in their songstry-work, the Irish Tenors gave a memorable performance in March, 2001, in the Great Assembly Hall at Ellis Island, NY.
I have a CD of the performance and find it better than the video. Two points struck me while seeing the VHS as opposed to the CD: (1) Acoustically, the CD seems richer and more demonstrative of the three voices than did the audio on the VHS. I presume this is because the CD was recorded in a studio and the VHS was in concert at the Island -- blended in cuts from several performances. Clearly, acoustics in the Hall were inferior to other live performences in architecturally-intended performance structures in Ireland. (2) The NY audience did not, IMHO, enthuse as had audiences in Dublin and Belfast (why am I not surprised?). The "magic" chemistry btwn performers and hearers just didn't seem the same at Ellis Island. The performers' eyes and body english suggested they saw this difference, too.
Nevertheless, it was a grand experience for me and I hope for future teaming by these three expert minstrels.

As a matter unrelated to the performance -- but immensely moving to me -- the VHS's opening credit footage, when scanning across the water and to NYC's skyline showed two tall towers there, gleaming in a westering sun. Now they are no more. No one can see that scene without a profound sense of loss.