Tommy set to bring songs and stories to Cork Opera House
MUSIC lovers in Cork are in for real treat with the news that the hugely popular Irish singer Tommy Fleming is to grace the stage of the Cork Opera House for two nights on February 9 & 10.
Fleming rose to fame in the early 1990’s after being asked to tour the US with Phil Coulter, going onto establish himself as a solo artists and achieving success with his very personal blend classic and contemporary songs and traditional Irish airs.
Over the next quarter of a century he has gone onto become a global star, playing to packed venues across Europe, the US and Australia. In fact, such is his pulling power, the mere mention of a Tommy Fleming concert has seen ‘ sold out’ signs go up outside venues appearing outside venues from Dublin to Darwin.
Fleming himself is reluctant to tie himself down to any particular genre, saying it is neither opera nor rock n’roll.
“It’s just very traditional. I like a song with a good story,” he said.
While his music may be difficult to classify, fans often use words such as “deeply emotional, sincere and romantic” to describe it, with one critic aptly saying it “falls into a genre of symphonic pop that still awaits a name.”
This was no more evident than on the most recent of his 13 studio albums ‘Stories’, which was released to mark the 25th anniversary of his career as a solo performer.
The album is a collection of his favourite tracks, some newly recorded others tried and trusted songs from his live performances, but each with a colourful story behind them.
In truth, Fleming has an uncanny ability to put his unique stamp on each song that he sings, with his stunning voice touching the emotions of listeners in a way that very few other singers in the world can do.
For example he puts his own take on such well-loved traditional Irish songs as ‘Danny Boy’ ‘Hard Times’ and Isle of Inisfree’, taking them to new heights. While they are songs that have been covered by many different artists over the years, Fleming manages to bring freshness to them that only he, and only he, can.
His covers of other popular tracks such as ‘You Raise Me Up’, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’, ‘From A Distance’ and ‘Something Inside So String’ serve to underscore his versatility and the genuine warmth and spirit he brings to each of the songs he sings.
While he has sold more than three million albums, his stunning voice is probably best appreciated on the live stage with his universal appeal that spans ages and musical tastes ensuring that an evening in his company is an experience that will live long in the memory.
Tickets for Tommy Fleming’s concerts at the Cork Opera House are available from the venue on 021 427 0022 priced at €32.