The music of tenor John McCormack
BRAY tenor Ross Scanlon and pianist David O’Shea bring their acclaimed recital ‘ The John McCormack Songbook’ to the Whale Theatre in Greystones on Sunday, July 5, at 4 p.m.
The performance will transport the audience back in time with classics such as ‘I hear you calling me’, ‘Macushla’, ‘ Roses of Picardy’ and many more.
Ross grew up listening to John McCormack, his first singing teacher having encouraged him to listen to the 19th century artist.
McCormack was an Irish tenor celebrated for his performances of the operatic and popular song repertoires, and renowned for his diction and breath control.
It was O’Shea who suggested creating the show a few years ago, and the duo has performed the afternoon show in the National Concert Hall, Mermaid Arts Centre and venues around Ireland.
Ross has been singing the McCormack songs for as long as he can remember. ‘I love them,’ he said. ‘It really is music for everyone.’
He described the effect the songs had on a member of the audience at a performance in the National Concert Hall.
‘A local nursing home brought eight patients. A nurse came up to me at the end and said that they had a woman with them in the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease. They hadn’t gotten any communication from her in the last eight months but that day she spoke to them and sang along to some of the songs.
‘I’m hoping that we have people of all ages and all backgrounds. ‘ There’ll be lots of interaction with the audience. I’ll tell stories, and link it to James Joyce and ‘Ulysses’.’
Hailing from Athlone, John McCormack lived in Booterstown towards the end of his life. He also had apartments in London and New York and was made a Papal Count.
John McCormack had a really specific sound and tone to his voice.
‘Some people loved him, and some didn’t,’ said Ross. ‘I’m not reproducing the sound, but giving the best interpretation of what he would have done.’
Admission is €15 and tickets are available at whaletheatre.ie.