Issue no. 12, February 2007


  Fans and Critics Alike Praise CW
  2007 tour is better than ever

Early fan reviews? Nope. Those were just the critics.

Celtic Woman is back in 2007 sounding better than ever, and even the critics are sitting up and taking notice. The considerable Celtic Woman fanbase, which has been with them since the very first PBS concert broadcast, is growing, it would seem, hourly.

After two weeks of promotional touring, the 2007 concert tour officially launched on February 14 -- a most befitting day for a group as beloved as Celtic Woman. Fans who attended the sold-out shows in Tampa were the very first to see the new stage production, and they couldn't wait to share the experience with the rest of us.

"If I had to sum it up, I would say they have become more polished, more comfortable, and they seem to be enjoying it more," wrote long-time CW forum member Maggie.

"The transition from one song to another was seamless; they sang every song on the New Journey DVD with the exception of Panis Angelicus and Hayley's Lascia Ch'io Pianga. They added Siúil A Rúin, Soft Goodbye and Nella Fantasia."

As always with CW fans, the costumes won rave reviews as well. Opening the show in new white gowns, the stunning lighting effects combined to give the girls an angelic glow. After the interval or intermission, the girls reappeared in spectacular, brilliantly-colored new gowns. "Méav was in red, Orla in purple, Chloe in dark blue, Lisa in green, with the same layered flounces as her red dress on the DVD," Maggie wrote. "Máiréad wore her usual style of loose chiffon panels in multi-colors. The chorus of 4 men and 4 women were tastefully dressed in black."

The crowd was not shy at all in showing their appreciation for every song, every smile, and every wave from the girls. "The audience did not want to let them go," Maggie continued. "Every person in the theatre leaped to their feet, begging for an encore, which we got. This happened three times. Three thunderous standing ovations!"

Another celticwomanforum.com member (forum name: SING OUT) expressed his delight in the musical arrangements and delivery: "They do not have full orchestra with them, which is how I like it. It is more like a 'séisún' at home in Ireland, when musicians and singers just turn up and play informally. The harmony in the a capella songs is stunning; you could hear a pin drop."

Meav's fans were especially appreciative of being able to attend one of her limited live performances. Long-time CW supporters Rich and Stu attended the concert in Jacksonville, the second stop on the tour. "Méav was marvelous," wrote Stu. "She was very much at ease with herself on the stage, displaying more confidence than last year. She was very expressive in her movements and her facial expressions were priceless."

Rich was equally impressed. "Méav is the quintessential soprano," he wrote in his thorough online review. "Achingly beautiful in face, form and voice, one could easily imagine her singing Mi chiamano Mimi from Puccini's La Boheme. Here, she sings what I consider to be the definitive Danny Boy, and when she hits and holds (effortlessly) that final high note, there isn't a dry eye in the house. Yet she handles fun, flirty numbers like Dulaman and the group rendition of At the Ceili with perfect humor and grace. Méav is a consummate professional, with a relaxed bearing and an easy smile that instantly draws you in and endears her to you."

It's not just the fans who are raving. After the concert in Roanoke, Virginia, one reviewer wrote gushingly of the musical quality of the production: "The music was built upon swirling atmospheric sounds, dramatic crescendos and climaxes, roiling cymbals and raving fiddle breakdowns. This was music big enough to make even Bono blush with envy."

Two weeks thus far of playing to packed concert houses means well-over 20,000 people have already been fortunate enough to catch a performance this year -- and the tour is just beginning! Most venues are sellouts or near-sellouts well in advance of the performance dates.

Rich very likely expressed the collective opinion of all 20,000 concert-goers: "The show was, in a word, perfect."