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It is followed by Máiréad with her fiddle and Méav, who sings "Silent Night". All the girls stay together for "O Holy Night", that they sing as soloists at the beginning before joining their harmonious and beautiful voices with Máiréad soon stepping in. "White Christmas" is song number three, interpreted by Chloë, Lisa and Méav as soloists before joining their beautiful voices at the end, and David Downes at the piano. I wrote in my review of their "New Journey" (Amazon, February 4, 2007) that if Paradise exists, I picture it full of angels like Máiréad Nesbitt playing harp or violin. We also see interesting evolutions of the choir as they sing. However, the performance of his band and, most specially, of his three usual sopranos (Carmen, Carla and Suzan) is always outstanding. Máiréad soon arrives with her fiddle.
"Panis Angelicus" is interpreted by Chloë with a string ensemble. Beautiful segments with the cello and the guitar. Although entirely devoted to Christmas, the message of peace and love that these Christian songs convey should make them accessible to all human beings, no matter what religion they profess. Méav starts the following number: "The Wexford Carol" with the choir jumping in later on.
Méav and Chloë sing as soloists before forming a duo for this languorous melody. As in their previous shows, and unlike André Rieu's endless (and sometimes exasperating) talking between numbers, there is no wasted time here. These words pronounced every morning by Don McNeil symbolize for me the perfect spirit of religious tolerance. But it's true that it's reasonably priced at under $15 for a DVD, which is the price of a simple CD. We miss her voice and her smile. The title role scrolls while the band plays and the choir sings "Christmas" under a well deserved standing ovation. Máiréad is still there with her magic fiddle.
Since I used to scratch a guitar when I was fifteen (many, many moons ago). Violin lovers will appreciate her mastery of this instrument. "Away in a Manger" ("little Lord Jesus"), song number four, is another traditional composition arranged by David Downes and sung by Órla. A second, bigger choir is seen in the background at the end. When I was a student in Paris in the 1960s, I often listened to Don McNeil's "Breakfast Club" that was broadcasted by the American Forces Network in France. The Celtic Woman group is back to the original five girls: four vocalists (Chloë Agnew, Órla Fallon, Lisa Kelly and Méav Ní Mhaolchatha) and a wonderful creature, fallen from heaven for our outmost felicity.
The choir soon arrives and the song goes crescendo to culminate with the arrival of the second choir. Not as spinning as in the two previous shows, Máiréad plays her violin with a graver posture, in accordance with the subject of this show, which is entirely staged indoors, just like the first one. All five girls join their talents for the fifth number: "Ding Dong Merrily on High" and Máiréad can't help some discrete jumping here. Another great moment in this concert. In fact, I am writing a review for his wonderful concert in New York that I expect to finish very soon. All five girls come together again with the choir for this beautiful song, richly orchestrated, with plenty of bells and the usual percussionists: Ray Fean and Nicky Bailey. I remember that every morning he interrupted his show at some point and said these words that I will never forget:.
This reminds me of a funny story called "Les Trois Messes Basses" written by Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897) in "Lettres de mon Moulin": a gluttonous priest is in such a hurry to eat that he expedites his Christmas mass. Nice passages enhancing Des Moore's guitar again. All the girls return on stage for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" that Chloë starts alone, soon joined by the others in an "a cappella" interpretation of this traditional song most of the time, with the exception of sporadic moments when Máiréad plays a few notes on her violin. The public is still applauding that the next number is already rolling. "Now a moment of silent prayer, each in his own words, each in his own way; for a free world united in peace, let us bow our heads and pray".
A great moment, full of emotion. This is nevertheless a very good show focused entirely on the Christmas spirit. But it's a fact that he exasperates me with his endless talks in a language that I don't understand. But Hayley Westenra has disappeared. "The First Noel", song number nine, follows immediately while Máiréad is still playing, which impedes any applauding. The seventh number is interpreted by Lisa alone, with David at his piano: "The Christmas Song" that Nat King Cole used to sing so well. With Rieu's DVDs you pay cheaper for the minute, since they are always longer. "Green the Whole Year Round", song number 14, is a soft melody with David at the piano and Lisa as a soloist most of the time with a discrete choir in the background from time to time.
"EACH IN HIS OWN WORDS, EACH IN HIS OWN WAY". This is followed by "In the Bleak Midwinter", a languorous musical interpreted by Máiréad. After a well deserved standing ovation when David Downes joins the five girls, they will close the show with a last song: "Let It Snow", enhanced by a dozen of trumpets and wind instruments while artificial snow falls down. This Christmas show opens like the previous ones with the presentation of the five girls and David Downes, the director; then Máiréad steps in playing her violin, soon joined by the four other girls in a beautiful interpretation of the "Carol of the Bells", a traditional song arranged by David Downes. and make some noise with it, I appreciated several passages enhancing Des Moore's guitar.
"Christmas Pipes" is the eleventh number. As usual, all girls evolve on stage as same as the choir. Now, don't get me wrong: I love André Rieu's concerts and I have already purchased eight of his DVDs from Amazon, even those taking place in Holland like "The Homecoming", "The Flying Dutchman" and "Rieu in Wonderland" (a real wonder this last one). Maybe these folks were in a hurry for the Christmas supper. This is a real concert and not a family party with Uncle Archibald and his musical group. All four girls succeed to one another as soloists before they join their voices to the choir in a crescendo movement, then the song ends softly, as it started.
This is followed by "Don Oíche Úd I Mbeithil" with Orla playing harp, David at the piano and Máiréad with her fiddle. The Acontas Choral Ensemble starts the following song: "The Little Drummer Boy" in a Gregorian Chant style, followed by Órla and later by Chloë, with Nicky Baily, one of the usual percussionists, playing the drum. Those who, like me, watch their second concert several times a year, will think that this third DVD is not quite as great as "A New Journey". The whole concert is thus a mere one hour and five minutes.
All five girls come together for the traditional "O Come All Ye Faithful". A usfelul booklet containing the text of these songs is joined to this beautiful DVD but there are no additional goodies like in their masterpiece concert, "A New Journey", which contained some nice views of Ireland. But how better can you get after you have reached perfection. The choir is still there.
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