Join the DSO in an Enchanting St. Patrick’s Day celebration with Cherish the Ladies

DETROIT, (Mar. 10, 2010) – Celtic music makes an appearance at Orchestra Hall in a St. Patrick’s Day celebration as guest artists Cherish the Ladies and conductor Bruce Hangen join the DSO on Mar. 18-21. Cherish the Ladies (Joanie Madden, Mary Coogan, Mirella Murray, Kathleen Boyle, Caitlin Warbelow and Michelle Burke) deliver a unique blend of instrumental sounds with piano, fiddle, mandolin, banjo and more, along with beautiful vocals, stunning dance stepping and captivating arrangements that enchant listeners with the traditional music of Ireland. Performances take place Thu., Mar. 18 at 10:45 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Fri., Mar. 19 at 8:30 p.m.; Sat., Mar. 20 at 8:30 p.m; and Sun., Mar. 21 at 3 p.m.

Over the past twenty-two years, Cherish the Ladies have grown from a concert series to an Irish traditional music sensation, literally the most successful and sought-after Irish-American group in Celtic music. Taking their name from a traditional Irish jig, the group features a unique blend of virtuosi instrumental talents and beautiful vocals, while combining all the facets of traditional Irish culture in an immensely humorous and entertaining package. The Ladies have been named Best Musical Group of the Year by the BBC, chosen as the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s International Group of the Year Award at the Celtic Connections Festival in Scotland and voted the Top North American Celtic act by NPR Radio’s “Thistle and Shamrock.” They have shared the stage with such noted entertainers as James Taylor, Joan Baez, Emmy Lou Harris, The Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, The Chieftains and dozens of symphony orchestras. The “Celtic Album,” their collaboration with the Boston Pops, led to a 1999 Grammy nomination. The group is organized by folklorist/musician Mick Moloney and sponsored by the Ethnic Folk Arts Center and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Bruce Hangen is Director of Orchestral Activities at the Boston Conservatory. In this position he serves as the Conservatory’s principal orchestral conductor as well as director of both the orchestra and conducting programs. Recently, Bruce Hangen completed his tenure as the Principal Pops Guest Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra.  This position was created in May 2002 especially for Hangen, reflecting the strong musical relationship built between him and the Boston Pops over two decades of regular guest conducting. Hangen is the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the University of New England, and in Omaha he received the ICAN Foundation’s 1990 Browning Award for Career Excellence and Vision.

 Tickets to Cherish the Ladies-A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration range in price from $19 to $70 with a limited number of box seats available for $100 to $105.  Tickets may be purchased at the Max M. Fisher Music Center box office (3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit); by calling (313) 576-5111; or online at www.detroitsymphony.com.  Seniors (60 and over) and students with a valid student ID can purchase 50% off RUSH tickets at the box office 90 minutes prior to concerts based on availability.  For group discount information (10 people or more), please contact Chuck Dyer at (313) 576-5130 or cdyer@dso.org

 

PERFORMANCE

Cherish the Ladies-A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Orchestra Hall

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Bruce  Hangen, conductor; Cherish the Ladies, vocals and instrumentals (Joanie Madden, Mary Coogan, Mirella Murray,Kathleen Boyle, Caitlin Warbelow and Michelle Burke)

Thu., Mar. 18 at 10:45 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Fri., Mar. 19 at 8:30 p.m.; Sat., Mar. 20 at 8:30 p.m.; Sun., Mar. 21 at 3:00 p.m.

 

Percy Grainger                 Irish Tune from County Derry

Victor Herbert                   Irish Rhapsody

Gerard Fahy                      “Meagh Seola”

arr. Pat Hollenbeck

Ronan Hardiman              Music from The Lord of the Dance

arr. Larry Moore

John Williams                   Selections from Far and Away

Intermission

orch. Keith Sammut         Fir and Far Medley

Brian Keane                      The Homesteaders (From The Way West)

W.B. arr. Brian Keane and Don Wallace

Yeats                                 The Ballad of the Foxhunter

orch. Keith Sammut         Dan Stacey

Turlough O’Carolan        Loftus Jones

orch. Michael Starobin

Joanie Madden                 The Cat’s Meow

orch. Keith Sammut

arr. Cherish the Ladies    High Germany

orch. Keith Sammut

arr. Cherish the Ladies    Hornpipe

Joanie Madden                 Bonkers in Yonkers Medley

orch. Darin Kelly

arr. Cherish the Ladies    The Castle of Dromore

orch. Terry Feeley

arr. Cherish the Ladies    The Highway to Kilkenny Medley

orch. Pat Hollenbeck       Highway to Kilkenny

Boys of Portaferry

Pullet

Ashmaleen House

###

 

Tags: ,

Leave a comment