CD Review - Legendary Irish Tenors

Legendary Irish Tenors - CD takes us back to golden age of singing.

Feb 28, 2007

Legendary Irish Tenors -CD takes us back to golden age of singing. Two Disc set features Irish ballads and standards sung by John McCormack and others.

CD: Legendary Irish Tenors

Artist: Various Artists

Original Release Date: January 11, 2000

Number of Discs: 2

Label: Compendia/Intersound

Review: With the continued popularity of the modern day "Three Irish Tenors," Legendary Irish Tenors takes us back to the golden age of singing. Most recognizable on this recording is the voice of opera star John McCormack, who in his time popularized the Irish ballad in the way the Three Tenors popularized Nesun Dorma during the 1990 World Cup. The Irish tenor has a very distinct sound, and here we find several great examples including songs from Christopher Lynch and Dennis Day. Legendary Irish Tenors is a solid mix of traditional Irish ballads and airs. This is not a modern, digital recording, but rather a skillfully transferred collection of nostalgic tunes originally recorded between 1926 and 1949.

Disc 1

1. The Kerry Dance - John McCormack

2. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling - Dennis Day

3. Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms - Christopher Lynch

4. Too-Ra-Loo-Ra That's An Irish Lullaby - Phil Regan

5. The Rose Of Tralee - John McCormack

6. The Galway Shawl - Richard Hayward

7. Macushla - James Melton

8. The Gentle Maiden - Joseph McNally

9. A Little Bit Of Heaven - Joseph White 'The Silver-Masked Tenor'

10. The Garden Where The Praties Grow - John McCormack

11. My Wild Irish Rose - Dennis Day

12. How Can You Buy Killarney - Josef Locke

Disc 2

1. The Mountains O' Mourne - Seamus O'Doherty

2. The Lark In The Clear Air - Joseph McNally

3. Kathleen Mavourneen - John McCormack

4. The Minstrel Boy - Christopher Lynch

5. I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen - Michael O'Duffy

6. She Moved Through The Fair - James Melton

7. The Low-Backed Car - Joseph McNally

8. The Harp That Once Thro' Tara's Halls - John McCormack

9. Where The River Shannon Flows - Morton Downey

10. Mother Machree - Dennis Day

11. Little Town In The Ould County Down - Phil Regan

12. Ireland, Mother Ireland - John McCormack

Please visit the article archives for more interesting articles about opera. Do you have any questions that you want answered? Feel free to contact Bryce by email

The copyright of the article CD Review - Legendary Irish Tenors in Opera Stars is owned by Bryce Westervelt. Permission to republish CD Review - Legendary Irish Tenors in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Print Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds