Forum for Music in Ireland - Fóram don Cheol in Éirinn
A voice for music in Ireland

Tuesday 5th June 2007

Colm Wilkinson at the National Concert Hall Summer Proms

In July the National Concert Hall presents ‘Summer Proms in the Iveagh Gardens’, its biggest fully seated outdoor event to date. On Saturday 21 July at 7.30pm leading operatic singers Cara O’Sullivan and Anthony Kearns perform together in ‘Opera in the Gardens’, the first of two concerts in what will be a summer proms weekend. Accompanied by the Orchestra of the National Concert Hall, both singers will treat audiences to opera favourites from Puccini to Verdi. Celebrity Irish gardener, Diarmuid Gavin, will present the concert.

On Sunday 22 July 2007, 7.30pm internationally renowned singing sensation Colm Wilkinson celebrates all that is Broadway in a showcase of popular hits to include excerpts from Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story and much more. Accompanied by the Orchestra of the National Concert Hall Colm will also be joined by guest soloist Rebecca Storm and musical director Steve Hunter for a popular night of music. Rosita Wolfe, Head of Marketing, at the National Concert Hall commented “We have already been in-undated with bookings for these two concerts, particularly from overseas tourists. The idyllic setting of the Iveagh Gardens lends itself perfectly to a Summer Proms. Internationally renowned artists such as Colm Wilkinson, Anthony Kearns and Cara O’Sullivan have a huge global following and combined with our own orchestra, will make for 2 very exciting outdoor summer concerts”.

To lovers of musical theatre around the world, Colm Wilkinson needs no introduction. On stages in London, New York, Toronto and beyond, he has firmly established himself as one of theatres greatest performers. His definitive portrayal of such leading characters as Jean Valjean in ‘Lés Miserables’ and the Phantom in ‘Phantom of the Opera’ have brought the Irish born singer huge critical acclaim, a trophy case crammed with awards and the adoration of millions of theatregoers. Between musicals, solo albums, compilations and singles, Wilkinson has appeared on over 60 titles, his solo album Stage Heroes (BMG) was recorded at the historic Abbey Road studios with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He also recorded the hit album Highlights from Jekyll and Hyde (BMG) at Air Studios, London.

Well-known Irish soprano Cara O’Sullivan has become an artist with an impeccable operatic pedigree and has risen to prominence as one of Ireland’s leading sopranos. Cara is an instinctive performer with a remarkably full voice, exciting and dramatic, yet always performs with great sensitivity. The Irish Times quotes “Ms. O’Sullivan is undoubtedly the Irish superstar of her generation”. As one of ‘The Irish Tenors’, Anthony Kearns has performed in the most prestigious concert halls in the country and also Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Boston’s Flee Pavilion and the Hollywood Bowl. Anthony has explored his passion for opera by performing with Opera Ireland singing various roles. He has sung with Dublin’s Lyric Opera in ‘La Traviata’ and ‘MacBeth’. He was guest soloist for the Boston Pops and also sang during Good Morning America’s funeral coverage for the late President Reagan.