Limerick Post
October 10, 2007

Finbar Wright in Concert at UCH

"I had a wonderful concert at UCH last year, always an enthusiastic audience. 
This year I'll have Colin McLean, a classical guitarist with me and celine Byrne, 
who sang with me at the National concert Hall. She won this year's Maria Callas 
Grand Prix in Greece."

Finbar Wright anticipates the Limerick night ahead of this Saturday, October 13. 
Taking place at the 1,000-seater concert hall at 8pm, he confirms the mixed 
repertoire of Spanish, Irish, Italian, and "a lot from my recordings - people 
expect that." It should be a great concert, giventhe depth and longevity of 
Wright's career as a singer. Bill and Hilary Clinton are fans, going as far as 
to send a personal birthday not on stage in the National Concert Hall to him at 
his 50th.

Now a married father of two, West of Cork, he and wife Angela have a brace of 
teenagers in Fergus (15) and Ileana (13) but this immensely successful and 
unspoiled tenor began adult life as a priest.

"I was 16 when I entered, which was young even then, and was sent off to college 
in northern Spain, where Cork and Ross sent its priests. From the start I was 
totally immersed in music, all of Spanish music and heavily involved in the 
cathedral choir."

Not a man to flash his laurels, he remembers all the family as singing at home, 
homself undistinguished by much until he entered feis ceoils and won Feis Maitiu. 
Spain, was the first formal training and years later, Dr. Veronica Dunne helped 
mould his lovely voice.

"When I went on to Maynooth I was appointed senior cantor, and was in charge of 
choirs and liturgical music."

It was a happy time, with several concert soloists of the calibre of Bill Young 
and irene Sandford as guest singers and festivals to compete in. Exposure to a 
rich variety of music was integral.

Following ordination at the historically young age of 22 (a Papal dispensation 
required), a life in teaching ultimately distanced him from the priesthood: 
"You have to be honest with yourself. I set out with some sort of vision of 
myself as a missionary with a vocation and lost that along the way. By 1987 I 
knew I wasn't cut out to be a priest."

A six record deal with Sony, brokered under the Irish music head John Sheehan 
in 1990, helped make his name, alongside his many recitals. In 1995 he was 
asked to perform with the marvelous soprano Montserrat Caballe and by year 2000,
was one of The Irish Tenors. Now comprised of Anthony Kearns, Karl Scully and 
himself, their "oh this is our seventh or eighth tour" of the U.S. extending 
from November to almost Christmas beckons. Enormously successful, they've gone 
gold and platinum with half a dozen albums and pack out huge auditoria.

Saturday 13 provides a platform on another scale to enjoy Finbar Wright's golden 
notes and direct, amiable persona.

Booking at box office advised!

ŠLimerick Post 2007