The Kennedy Center Presents - The Irish Gala [VHS]

Irish Gala not so gala
Sorry to report my disappointment with this video. Despite the considerable talent assembled, the show is an unholy mess. It seems to have been thrown together with little rehearsal resulting in some of the worst singing i have ever heard. Everyone is flat, and the songs sound dreadful. Carlos Nunez gives a lovely instrumental performance but even he ends on a flat note. The "Riverdance" segment doesn't help, I couldn't help compare it unfavorably to the orginal company.

Thank you Donal Lunny and friends
Take one of the best songs off of Sharon Shannon's "Spellbound" cd, add two of the best songs off of her latest "Diamond Mountain Sessions", stir in a couple of incredible tunes from Donal Lunny's Coolfin, toss in an array of musical guests from Steve Earle to Elvis Costello and you have one audio visual treat. It is wonderful to see the musicians producing some of my favorite Irish music: John McSherry on pipes, Nollaig Casey on fiddle, Ray Fean on drums, Shannon on accordion, Lunny on bouzouki. Steve Earle joins them to sing "Galway Girl", a great tune from Sharon Shannon's latest cd. Ricky Skaggs, bluegrass virtuoso on fiddle, then mandolin, fits right into this group of wonderful musicians. Carlos Nunez, from Galicia, (who appears on Coolfin and Shannon cd's), is an inspired piper, whether having a blast on a fast tune with the group or slowly soloing on recorder. Their are abundant wonderful musical combinations on this video: Costello and Lunny, EmmyLou Harris and Mary Black, the ni Dhomhnaill sisters joining Coolfin, and more. Wow! The show even includes a dazzling excerpt from Riverdance with new dancers (showing they, too, can keep up with the likes of Jean Butler, Colin Dunne, and Michael Flatley.) If you like Coolfin, Sharon Shannon, musical virtuosity by musicians that know how to have a great time, Irish music by the best, and want to have the fun of seeing the people behind the instruments and voices. . .THEN BUY THIS VIDEO NOW!