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Irish Tenor lauds US role in preserving Irish music heritage



Finbar Wright says Americans get credit for great reception!

By Daniel Hines

Publisher 



When The Irish Tenors take the stage at The Fabulous Fox in St. Louis, March 2, 2004 we will be among 
the large audience anxiously awaiting an opportunity to see the trio that has become the purveyors of 
the Irish singing heritage to a growing number of fans.



Finbar Wright, one of the Tenors, says that this is a reflection of the role that Americans have played 
in the preservation of the Irish musical heritage.



We caught up with Finbar, via telephone, at his home in County Cork. As might be expected, when an authentic 
Irishman such as Finbar and someone with an Irish heritage (County Gallway) such as myself start talking, it 
comes quicky and easily.



"When the immigrants left Ireland, often their only possessions were their language, their traditions and 
their music," explains Finabar. "Today, with more than 40 million people such as yourself having a claim to 
Irish heritage, there is a vast audience for Irish music. Also, Americans have done a great deal to preserve 
the Irish heritage, and, I maintain that the treasure of Irish music is better preserved in the US than perhaps 
even in Ireland."



Finbar admits that the group, consisting of himself, Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan, have been ‘surprised’ by 
the tremendous reception they have received. They have topped 1.5 million in total album sales and spent more 
than two years at the top of the Billboard Music Charts.



"The idea came from the ‘Italian’ tenors (Pavarotti, Dominigo and Harris), " Finbar says. (He is quick to add 
that he does know that the famed trio is not truly ‘Italian’ with Harris being Spanish)



At the time, only Finbar had an established career, having spent a decade as a solo artist. Ronan is a doctor 
and Anthony was just starting his professional career.



But, realizing that they were the beneficiaries of one of the richest musical heritages around, ‘the boys’, as 
their pubicist refers to them, decided to give it a try. The rest was musical history, as the genuine friendship 
and affection that the three share for each other translated into some of the best performances ever heard of 
Irish music.



One of the reasons is the staging. This is not the Irish Pub-like singing that so many associate with music from 
Ireland. The Tenors are backed by a full, 60 piece orchestra.



"The result is that the orchestra presented a new dimension to the richness of the melodies and the lyrics,’ Finbar 
says. "It enriches and provides a ‘whack’ to the tunes."



Finbar notes that the Irish Celtic language is rich. Also, the Irish have a tradition of being wonderful story tellers.



"These two heritages have been carried over into the music we perform," he says. "It is two great traditions coming 
together, and we have the luxury and privilege of singing it for our audiences."



Commenting further on the richness of the Irish tradition, Finbar reflects how Ireland has provided the literary world 
with a host of great writers.



Now, while his modesty may prevent him from saying so, it is obvious that a new chapter in this tradition is being 
written by The Irish Tenors and their unforgettable presentations and interpretations of wonderful Irish music.