Anthony Kearns, Finbar Wright and John McDermott, with their blend of American anthems, spiritual hymns and Irish folk songs brought the house to its feet on more than one occasion Friday night at the Morris Performing Arts Center.

The trio, collectively known as The Irish Tenors, belted out nearly two hours of classic Irish music and Celtic Americana on their South Bend stop of "The Forever Friends" tour.

A booking that begged for the obvious comparison.

"It's a great pleasure to be with you in the home of The Fighting Irish," Wright said, referring to the University of Notre Dame mascot. "I guess this is a very appropriate place for The Irish Tenors."

Expertly backed by the South Bend Symphony Orchestra under conductor David Preston, the group with the international following wasn't afraid to stretch their vocal boundaries.

Wright, for example, sang an emotional rendition of "Morning Has Broken," during his first solo of the night. The piece, written as "Oremus Hymnal: Morning Has Broken" by Eleanor Farjean and popularized by Cat Stevens, set the tone for the rest of the evening.

While there was plenty of toe-tapping for the Irish faithful, the night had a spiritual tone early on with songs such as "Amazing Grace," and "How Great Thou Art."

But it was the wonderful harmonies and distinct voices that kept the audience engaged throughout the night with such highlights as "Deus Meus," which opened the second act, and "Red is the Rose," that led the show to an all-Irish crescendo and encore.

The tenors traded jabs and laughs during "The Minstrel Boy" and "Courting Melody," breaking into an Irish dance step or two with Kearns letting out a "yee-ha."

The encore, capped with "Danny Boy," the world's favorite Irish song, showed, once again, the group's commitment to preserving classic Irish tradition. Although there was a brief lyrical stumble by McDermott during "Amazing Grace,'' the crowd was more than forgiving.

"It's good to be back," McDermott said before singing the ballad, "How Deep Thy Father's Love."

McDermott left the tenors in 2000. Wright took his place. Earlier in the year, when Ronan Tynan bowed out in order to pursue his solo career, McDermott returned to the fold for the group's fall tour.

Regardless of the lineup's new incarnation, it is the music that made this night truly special. The Irish Tenors' magic remains intact and showed why the group continues to sell millions of albums worldwide.