Show broadcast - 28th July 2006 - last of the series


Anthony opened the show singing the aria "La Donna é mobile" from Rigoletto with the orchestra. He then welcomed the viewers to the "last show of the current series" then added "I'm pretty sure we will be back again with you" this was greeted with loud applause by the audience. He then introduced Karl who in turn introduced Andrea Mahler who was to accompany him on the harp. He sang "My Lagan Love" - this piece was beautiful just voice and harp. Karl then said it was time to meet the first guest whom he said went from leading roles in The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables in the West End to recording artist in demand in concert halls around the world. He was speaking about Peter Corry. The song he sang was "Miss You Nights". Then he went to join Finbar for a chat. The first question took himself and the audience by surprise - suffice it to say it involved his superstitions re what colour underwear he uses on special occasions!! Finbar said he wouldn't tell him who had revealed his secret . This started the interview on a laugh. They went on to talk about how he got his break into the entertainment business -
(he won "Go For It" the Northern Ireland talent show which also was won another year by Ronan Tynan) and the value of these competitions for young artists today. They went on to talk about his latest album "Sound of the Soul" which was produced in Nashville by Don Williams. Peter then sang a lovely song from the new album "Gweedore" (a place in Donegal) this song was written by a friend and accompanied principally by Des Moore on guitar. This ended the first part of the show.

Part two opened with Finbar and the band - he sang one of his old favourites "The Way Old Friends Do" telling the audience after it that it was one of "the great songs from the dynamic duo in Abba". He then welcomed "back to our shores" Siobhan McCarthy one of the stars of West End theatre. Accompanied by Gavin Murphy on piano she sang the Rogers and Hammerstein song "I Have Dreamed" from the King and I. She then went to join Karl on the couch and he asked her about the roles she has played over the years in musicals. She first played the mistress in the original production of Evita in the West End 1978 returning a couple of years later to take on the part of Evita herself going on later to play in Blood Brothers, Chess, Mamma Mia etc...... after a little more chat Karl brought another guest in to join them Jacintha White another Irish musical actress/singer. She was very young when she started out in her first professional part at the age of 11 in panto in Dublin. Later that year she was chosen to play Annie in London. After the interview Jacintha sang "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret which wrapped up part two.

The final part of the final show was opened with Patrick Healy playing the intro to "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables. This was sung brilliantly by Anthony. He then said it was time for another "gorgeous slice of Broadway - from Stephen Sondheim's Follies, Karl was going to sing "Losing My Mind". Karl sang this accompanied principally by Gavin Murphy on piano and the string quartet. He sang it with great feeling and lightness of touch. As the audience broke into applause at the end, Anthony and then Finbar joined Karl on stage. Anthony thanked all the great guests they had on the show, Finbar thanked Maestro Arnie Roth and the orchestra along with the studio band and Gavin Murphy the Musical Director. They all received applause then Finbar thanked everyone for watching and until "next time" wished everyone "good night and take care". They then closed the show with a wonderful arrangement of "The Town I Loved So Well".

Show broadcast - 21st July 2006

Solo opening to tonight's show - Finbar singing "I'll take You Home Again Again Kathleen". He then welcomed the viewers and said it was a song "dear to so many peoples' hearts". He said himself , Karl and Anthony were really enjoying the opportunity to bring such a diverse range of songs and so many talented guests to us each week.

Next was Anthony with Patrick Healy at the piano. Anthony said that for many years he had included "parlor songs" in his solo repertoire and was about to sing one of those "Off To Philadelphia". At the end Patrick stood to take a bow too. Karl closed the first part of the show. He said he was thrilled when it fell to him to perform the next song. He said the "emotional power of the music and the poignancy of the lyrics seem to fit perfectly together". The song "The Water Is Wide" he then sang with orchestral backing.

Part two opened with Anthony accompanied by the band singing "If I Loved You" from the musical Carosel.
He then introduced Paul Byrom who had starred in the TV programme "Celebrity Jigs and Reels" earlier in the year and who Anthony said smiling, he showed us "he was more than a tenor". Paul sang "Without You" with double bass and piano accompaniment. Anthony did the interview with Paul. They talked about his new album "Velvet" and his liking for the old romantic songs, Mario Lanza, the fact he is in discussions to do a West End musical in London and finally his up coming Irish tour. After this he sang "She" with Gavin Murphy at the piano. Finbar then introduced his next song by saying it "tells the tragic story of murder and betrayal and just plain love gone bad"
He then closed the second part with "Miss Otis Regrets".

The second part opened with Karl singing the haunting "Send In The Clowns" from Stephen Sondheims musical A Little Night Music. He then said the next guest had been nominated for many awards including a Golden Globe for his composing work on Jim Sheirdan's film "In America". He had just starred in Nial Jordan's film "Breakfast On Pluto" and for many years was a rock star in "The Virgin Prunes". We were going to see him now as "never before - the incomparable Gavin Friday singing "Peggy Gordon" Gavin sang backed by double bass and Des Moore on banjo.

Finbar interviewed Gavin. It was a very interesting interview. They discussed Gavin's Charity work for The Hospice Association over the years notably his putting together Peter and the Wolf with Bono and his children. He talked of the Samaritans latest campaign "24/7" to bring to public attention the availability of their listening service. He said how necessary this was with the suicide rate in Ireland being the highest in Europe. He gave Finbar a set of 24/7 "dog tags" which will be on sale and then told him they'd cost him 100Euro! Finbar happily accepted the deal. Gavin then sang a song which linked into their discussion - a slow temp version of the Beatles "Help".

The three tenors then spoke individually - Anthony thanked the band, Karl the guests and Finbar Arnie Roth and the orchestra. After that Anthony said they would leave us with the most famous Irish song of all "Danny Boy"

Show broadcast - 14th July 2006

Lively opening to tonight's programme - fairly long courtin' medly sung by the three tenors with the orchestra - "Courtin' in the Kitchen", "Stone Outside Dan Murphy's Door" and "I'll Tell Me Ma". Karl then welcomed the viewers and introduced Finbar who then sang "Wonder Child" written he said by "Cork's own Jimmy McCarthy" he sang this with the band and sting quartet. This ended the first part of the show.

Part two opened with Anthony singing with the band, principally Gavin Murphy at the piano. He sang in a relaxed style with hand mike rather than stand, the Garth Brooks love song "If Tomorrow Never Comes". He then introduced Liam Lawton's beautiful "Voice of an Angel" to be sung by Eimer Quinn. When the song was finished she went to join Karl on the couch and he asked her to tell him more about the song? She told him it was written by the "amazing composer Liam Lawton" who "writes beautiful spiritual music". He had asked her to sing it on his first album "Another World". They went on then to talk about the time she represented Ireland in the Eurovision song contest. She told Karl that until that time she had been completely classical singing with Anuna. The Eurovision experience took her on a "new career path". She is now composing herself. She then went back to the stage and sang the lovely Thomas Moore song "Silent O Moyle" bringing us to the end of part two.

The last part of the show opened with Karl singing a gentle, sad song which builds up - "All By Myself" with Gavin Murphy on piano. I think the melody of this song is based on Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor.
Karl then introduced one of the "most distinctive voices in rock or pop", someone who went from "singing How Long with the band Ace to the classic The Living Years with Mike and the Mechanics" Paul Carrick.
Paul accompanied himself on the piano singing "Eyes Of Blue".

Anthony interviewed Paul. He has toured with Elton John and Ringo Starr and said the latter has fantastic anecdotes about the early years with the Beatles. Anthony asked him about a song he had written for the Eagles. Paul said he'd sing it if he had a guitar? of course there was one right there!! When he finished a brief excerpt Anthony was disappointed he did not sing more. Anthony then told the audience Paul would sing "Living Years" with Karl on backing vocals.

Finally Finbar told us about the film The Mission and the music written for it principally Gabriel's Lament for oboe. Sarah Brightman commissioned lyrics for this piece a few years ago and this is how we now have "Nella Fantasia" with which Finbar closed the show.

Show broadcast - 7th July 2006

Dramatic opening this evening with Finbar speaking the introduction to "The Heart Will Go On". The tenors then sang this beautiful song from the film Titanic. The others left Anthony who remarked that the film was the most successful ever in movie history. He said the series was an opportunity for the Irish Tenors - in their repertoire and in their choice of guests - to share their "broad musical tastes" with the viewers. He went on then to introduce Karl.

Karl, at the other end of the studio with Patrick Healy to accompany him on the piano, sang Cavaradossi's aria "Recondita armonia" from Puccini's opera Tosca. We then went back to Finbar with the band. He said he was going to sign something slightly quieter, an old favourite of his "The Old Rustic Bridge". He sang this sitting on a stool with a light backing from the piano, double bass, guitar etc.. This ended the first part of the show.

The second part opened with Anthony on the stool singing "Mary of Dunloe" with uillean pipe accompaniment.
After the song he said it gave him "enormous pleasure" to introduce the "one and only" Regina Nathan. Who then sang "I'll Be Seeing You" with Gavin Murphy on piano. Next followed the most amusing interview so far. After a couple of questions which elicited humorous answers from Regina, Finbar was laughing and saying "I can't get a serious answer!" They then chatted about the arrival of her two year old daughter , Jessie. When expecting the baby Regina had been performing in Madam Butterfly and Jessie still responds to the music from that opera. They spoke of the success of the Frank Patterson, Faith of our Fathers show and her appearance with it in Carnegie Hall. When it came for her to sing again Finbar said they were putting another tenor with her - Anthony. Rebecca reacted with mock disappointment "Ah Finbar" to which he replied that it was she was wearing her high heels and Anthony was a bit taller than him Rebecca then went to join Anthony and they sang a lovely arrangement in Italian and English of "Time To Say Goodbye". This closed the second part of the show.

Part three opened with Finbar singing Arivaderci Roma. Des Moore provided the principal accompaniment on mandolin along with the string quartet. Finbar then introduced the next guest whom he said had graduated from street busker to multi platinum artist - the "unique troubadour" Paddy Casey. He sang - his own song I think "It's Over Now" accompanying himself on guitar. It was Anthony's turn to do the interview and he chatted with Paddy about his progress in the music world. He asked him who had impressed him most in the music world adding jokingly "except myself tonight of course". One of those he mentioned was Richie Hayden. When it was time for him to sing his next song Anthony told him the Tenors would have the pleasure of joining him in the song. To which Paddy's response was "Don't mess it up! I heard y'es earlier"

Paddy Casey then sang "Anyone Can Lose It All" with Finbar, Anthony and Karl singing as his backing group! Unusual and fun. The evening ended with the Anthony introducing himself and Karl singing "one of the greatest popular classic songs from the pen of Don McClean" - "Vincent"

Show broadcast - 30th June 2006

This show opened with The Irish Tenors singing one of their old favourites - "Whiskey in the Jar" with the orchestra conducted by Arnie Roth. Finbar commented afterwards how it had become known around the world when sung by Irish rock singer Phil Lynott of the band Thin Lizzy. He then went on to welcome everyone to the show and then introduced Karl.

Karl said he had first heard the next song on the radio some years ago sung by Mary Black and had fallen in love with it. The song being "Song for Ireland" by Phil Colclough. Karl sang this with just piano accompaniment. It is a beautiful song with lovely lyrics which you can find on Mary Black's website.

The cameras then switched to Anthony sitting on a stool on the band stage. He said he was always looking for a song with strong lyrics and a message. This was the first time he had sung this particular song "For Good" from the musical Wicked now playing on Broadway. This ended the first part of the show.

Part two opened with Finbar, looking very elegant in pink shirt and pinstriped suit, backed by the band. He was singing "Have I told You Lately That I Love You" . He said afterwards it was one of his favourite love songs and it had been written by Van Morrison. He then went on to talk about the talent show on RTE - Eurostar. (It had got it's name when it was used to choose the Irish entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest). He said it seemed the entire country had auditioned for it!! He then introduced this years winner Lucia Evans.

Lucia then sang "Bruised But Not Broken" with piano accompaniment. A very strong voice and confident performance. She went over to join Karl at the couch and they chatted. Karl asked her about her musical background. She grew up in Zimbabwe and started piano lessons at 4. She came to Ireland at 17. She had entered Eurostar last year but was unsuccessful. She felt it had been a great learning experience. She then sang another song "Piece Of My Heart" with the band.

Part three of the show opened with a close up of Patrick Healy playing the piano introduction to the song from My Fair Lady "On The Street Where You Live" which was sung by Karl. Watching I remembered a comment Karl had made at the recording just before he did this number. He was wearing a colourful shirt and told the audience that when Anthony saw it first he told him he "looked like a tin of peaches" It's a really nice shirt!

Karl then introduced the new English discovery Peter Grant - only 19 - his first album went straight into the UK charts. Peter then sang at the curtained end of the studio to a backing track - "The Best Is Yet To Come" he does have an amazing voice. When he joined Finbar on the couch the first thing Finbar said was "what a voice".
During the interview Finbar mentioned that Peter's father was a tenor and Peter commented "he loves you!"
Peter had been on stage with his father at the age of 6. They discussed how he started out singing like Sinatra but is now working on his own sound, although he loves singing the Sinatra songs. He likes Jazz, Swing and the Classics.
After the interview Peter went back to the stage and sang "On Days Like These".

The show closed with Anthony saying he remembered how much he used to love watching Hollywood movies on TV on wet afternoons and the song he was going to sing was from one of those - West Side Story. He then sang "Maria" to end another lovely evening.

Show broadcast - 23rd June 2006

Show four opened with The Irish Tenors singing "Isle of Hope Isle of Tears" with the orchestra. This segment included some excellent shots of Arnie Roth conducting. As the applause subsided Anthony and Finbar stepped away leaving Karl to welcome us to another show and tell us that the opening song, written by Brendan Graham, held very special memories for Anthony and Finbar of the Irish Tenors recording on the island in March 2001. He said it is now the official anthem of that gateway to America.

Next up was Finbar who spoke of his love of Spanish music and then sang "La Paloma" with the band. The accompaniment featured Des Moore on the guitar. Anthony followed saying it was time now for a change of pace and the heartbreaking tale of "The Croppy Boy". This was a beautifully haunting version opening with the flute and then accompanied once more by Des Moore on the guitar. This ended the first part of the show.

Part two opened with Karl singing "Someone to Watch Over Me" with a gentle accompaniment from the band.
When he finished he said it was "a little song for the incurable romantic in all of us". He then introduced the first guest - new young Irish singer/songwriter Declan O'Rourke. He sang his own song "Sarah" playing the guitar as he sang and accompanied also by violin and cello. He then went over to the couch area to join Finbar. They talked about his songwriting, his time in Australia as a child when his family moved there etc... Declan then sang another of his songs - not sure of the name I think it could be "We didn't mean to go to Sea" with just his own guitar accompaniment. This ended the second part of the show.

The final part of the show opened with Finbar with the band singing the Beatle's song "Let it Be". For this one Des Moore changed to electric guitar. Finbar then welcomed Hayley Westerena "from the Southern Hemisphere". Hayley has a beautiful voice for one so young. She sang "O Mio Bambino Caro" then went to the couch to be interviewed by Anthony. He asked her how she felt when at 15 her very first album "Pure" sold 2 million - the largest selling album of all time in her home country of New Zealand. Anthony said he was "envious" of the artists she had dueted with including Jose Carreras, Andrea Bocelli and his "favourite" Bryn Terfel who he described as "stunning".
After the chat Hayley sang "She Moved Through The Fair".

It was then time for Karl to close the show. He said how joining the Irish Tenors had been a tremendous learning experience for him. It had "opened up my repetoir to the modern Irish songbook". He then sang "Lift the Wings"by Bill Whelan from Riverdance and that was the end of another most enjoyable evening with the Tenors and their Friends.

This was a very special show. It opened with the Tenors backed by the full orchestra singing "No Matter What" from the musical Whistle Down the Wind. Karl then told us that the evening would be devoted to the Andrew Lloyd Webber Songbook and the man himself would be coming on later. He then introduced Eimer Quinn who sang "Don't Cry for Me Argentina from Evita. Finbar followed this with "Memory" from Cats.

He then introduced Jacintha White an Irish singer/actess who has starred in a number of West End musicals in London. She sang "Never on a Sunday" from Song and Dance. This ended the first part of the show.

After the break the show re opened with Anthony singing "Love Changes Everything" from Aspects of Love with Gavin Murphy accompaning him on the piano. Finbar then introduced Rebecca Storm with Karl singing "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" from Evita.

It was then time for Anthony to introduce Andrew Lloyd Webber and welcome him to the show. He joined Anthony
and chatted about how controversial Jesus Christ Superstar had been when it opened first, his Open Church Trust, and Madonna being cast in the film Evita. He went on to talk about a new production in planning for the West End. his show The Beautiful Game which is set in Northern Ireland and plans for a production of The Sound of Music with a very young leading lady.

After the interview it was time for another song. Karl sang the big number from Phantom of the Opera - "Music of the Night" with the piano. This was followed by a duet from Anthony and Finbar - "Pie Jesu" - which brought us to the end of part two.

The final part of the show opened with the Tenors singing "Amigo Para Siempre" on the orchestra stage. When they finished the song they walked down to the central stage where the band are to join Andrew Lloyd Webber at the piano. They stood beside the the piano and Finbar talked to him. He asked which of all his compositions is his favourite. He chose his setting of the Latin Mass which of cojurse includes the Pie Jesu. Finbar told him Anthony and himslef had adapted it to sing as a duet around the world. Each of the tenors then sang a short snatch of their favourite ALW song. Anthony started with "Close Every Door" from Joseph which ALW greeted with "wonderful"!!. Then Karl did a piece of Jesus Christ Superstar and Finbar completed the set with "I Don't Know How to Love Him". Andrew Lloyd Webber accompanied each piece on the piano. When they finished he jokingly said "You guys should turn professional"! Anthony quipped they might learn a full song then!

Finbar said the audience had been polled before the show and asked which song they would like to sing. Andrew Lloyd Webber then accompanied the Tenors as they sang "Any Dream Will Do" and the audience sang along. The show closed on this..