The five women who make up supergroup Celtic Woman showed the just-about-capacity crowd of 2,600 at the Landmark Theatre on Thursday night why each is a star in her own right back home in Ireland.
Orla Fallon played harp and sang like an angel during her solo songs, including "Isle of Inisfree."
Lisa Kelly's voice soared like a bird for "Send Me a Song."
Chloe Agnew's tender performance of "Someday" was good enough for Broadway.
Meav Ni Mhaolchatha's devoted "Danny Boy" made all Irish eyes in the audience ready for St. Patrick's Day.
And fiddler Mairead Nesbitt's dancing, prancing and soaring violin work brought the well-dressed crowd to its feet.
Yet the bestcame when they all joined together onstage for more than a handful of spirited tour de force pieces that proved that musical director David Downes came up with a truly wonderful idea when he decided to produce "Celtic Woman" as a group. Their TV special on PBS introduced them to America with style. The self-titled CD of the same name is No. 1 on world music charts, and Thursday night, the Syracuse stop in the tour of America earned a well-deserved standing ovation.
For the solo songs, an angelic New Age style is the trademark for all four singers. All of their voices are distinctive and lovely. Agnew was the most operatic, while Kelly seemed to spur the most passionate drum work from the pair of percussionists that joined the group on stage. Every solo song was just as good as the one that came before it.
When they all came together, all heck broke loose.
They startedthe night with the dramatic "The Sky, the Dawn and the Sun," a composition by Downes. Lighting set the mood, and the circular video screen behind the stage flashed images of the sea crashing against the shore. But most important, their right-on vocal harmonies let everybody know the ensemble pieces indeed were something special.
The passion spilled out in the energetic "Orinoco Flow," a playful and energetic song made popular by Enya.
Wearing matching dresses, Fallon, Kelly and Ni Mhaolchatha danced Irish party style and sang their hearts out on "At the Ceili." All four clicked wonderfully on the peppy "Sing Out," which led right into the equally optimistic and sensitive Josh Groban hit "You Raise Me Up."
Sprinkled throughoutwere wondrous fiddle instrumentals by Nesbitt, a sprightly sort who somehow can dance her way around the whole stage while making musical magic. "Grainuale's Dance" gave her a huge star turn.
Sprinkled throughoutwere wondrous fiddle instrumentals by Nesbitt, a sprightly sort who somehow can dance her way around the whole stage while making musical magic. "Grainuale's Dance" gave her a huge star turn.
The big production was put together well, from the timely lighting to the steps of the six backup singers to the choreography of the stars.
Unfortunately, the pacing never allowed for the invisible wall between performers and audience to come down.
The only personal moments came when Nesbitt kicked off her shoes for one fiddle song, Nesbitt let out a giggle at the end of one of her solos and Kelly walked over to the pianist and led him to center stage by hand to share a bow after their touching voice-piano duet on "Send Me a Song."
It would havebeen nice if all or some were allowed a moment to talk to the crowd. We know they're enchanting performers, but it would have been nice to see their personality come out between production numbers, too.
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