Irish tenor Michael Londra, who starred in the blockbuster "Riverdance" on Broadway, will commemorate the holiday season with the release of a new Christmas album called BEYOND THE STAR in support of his A Celtic Yuletide with Michael Londra concert tour. Like the Irish tenor himself, BEYOND THE STAR is a mix of the contemporary and traditional. Full of warmth and joy and surprises, it's a collection that both captures the spirit of the season and is seasonless. It's also a CD with a history, including origins in A Celtic Yuletide, an evening of music, dance and story that has become a holiday tradition and will find Londra backed by An Dóchas and the Haran Irish Dancers celebrating the season on tour throughout the U.S.
Set for release on November 3, BEYOND THE STAR, will be available at iTunes, amazon and CDBaby as well as Irish retailers and specialty stores. Londra has performed in concert halls throughout Europe, his native Ireland and in the Far East and as a solo and guest performer in cities across the U.S. His lead role in "Riverdance" brought him immediate notice, first in the U.S. touring company and later in the Broadway production of the now legendary show. These days his fans, diverse and devoted, span the globe. Close to two million people have sought out his performance of the classic "Danny Boy" on YouTube.
BEYOND THE STAR is a seamless collection of 11 songs and carols (and a surprise bonus track) impeccably arranged and produced by Steve Skinner, who worked with the late Arif Martin for many years and has arranger/producer credits for artists including Celine Dion, Taylor Dane, Lionel Hampton, Jewel and The Bee Gees. "For BEYOND THE STAR, I found songs that make me feel warm inside," Londra explains. "Warm" is but one of the many words describing this picture-perfect collection. It's also the right word for the "The Donkey Song," the CD's bonus track featuring a 10-year-old Londra singing with the Wexford Male Voice Choir.
Michael Londra is from Wexford, a small town in the South East of Ireland. Before County Wexford became famous for its annual opera festival, it was-and still is-known for caroling. "The Wexford Carol" (also known as "The Enniscorthy Carol"), included on the CD, is probably the most well-known song from that tradition which continues today in Kilmore Village near Londra's hometown.
Unlike many of his peers, Londra has also ventured into songwriting: the album's title track shines as an example of his many faceted talent. "I wrote 'Beyond the Star' years ago, but didn't see its potential until Steve Skinner helped me flesh out the song. He's brilliant at taking a bare few lines and making them into something beautiful. I get lots of requests from choirs around the U.S. to sing it at Christmas. I never thought I'd see the day when people would listen to and like something I wrote." Skinner also co-wrote the CD's memorable "With Strings of Lights." Another song familiar to fans of Londra's A Celtic Yuletide concerts is "Winter, Fire and Snow," written by Brendan Graham, who wrote Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up." "I love his writing and have sung this Christmas song for a few years in concert," Michael explains.
"In The Bleak Mid Winter" first appeared in "The English Hymnal" in 1906. Set to music by Holst, the lyrics were written as a poem by Christina Rosetti and published after her death. On this carol, Londra is backed by uilleann pipes, and the result is a hauntingly beautiful rendition. "Uilleann pipes are my favorite instrument-if they are played properly," he says. "Magnificent, plaintive and guaranteed to make me homesick. Chicago-based Pat Broaders plays the pipes here. He is annoyingly talented and fun to work with and a friend."
The glory of voice and the beauty of language are expressed in his Irish-English renditions of "Don Oíche Úd i mBeithil" and "Silent Night." Completing the collection are "Magia Sarà," a contemporary classic from Matteo Saggese and Mino Vergnaghi, "Come, O Come Emanuel" and "Ave Maria," songs that showcase the breadth, depth and range of Londra's shimmering vocals.
When he's not touring the world, visiting Ireland or recording (his THE ROAD NOT TAKEN CD of new material will be released in 2010), the now Chicago-based Londra keeps busy with his work as a spokesman for Concern Worldwide, a humanitarian organization with the mission of eliminating poverty in developing counties. Londra's own experiences with the organization's work in Haiti are the subject of a DVD companion to BEYOND THE STAR, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the package is earmarked for Concern. The DVD piece can be viewed at: http://tinyurl.com/ye9qhaj
"Concern's work and dedication gives me focus, and it's something that's vital for me to share when I tour and perform," he states.
Londra is also slated for his annual holiday tour, A Celtic Yuletide with Michael Londra, a show that features An Dóchas, a dynamic, young group from Washington state that infuses traditional music with new life, and the very popular Haran Irish Dancers. "A Celtic Yuletide is something that has developed over the years," he explains. "In addition to An Dóchas, I bring along a pianist to complement the sound, and we have the best dancers in the States come along as well. Funnily enough, I talk a lot in my shows, and I like to tell stories about Christmas at home, which really is still so different from the holidays here in the U.S. Honestly, this is my favorite tour. Warmth oozes from the audience. Eggnog is a wonderful thing! More seriously, though, I think we Celts and our music connect on an emotional level with many different types of people. We are very proud of our culture, and I think that rings true whether we're singing, dancing or telling a story. Where else can you sob out your heart and do a jig on the same night?" Where, indeed?
A Celtic Yuletide with Michael Londra dates are as follows:
December 2--Del E Webb Center, Wickenburg, AZ; 3--Performing Arts Center, Wenatchee, WA; 5--Sturges Center, San Bernardino, CA; 10--Poncan Theater, Ponca City, OK; 12--Berrie Center, Mahwah, NJ (2 shows); 15--Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA; 16--Majestic Theater, Gettysburg, PA; 17--The Savannah Center, Lady Lake, FL (2 shows); and 20--Bing Crosby Theater, Spokane, WA.
