CONCERT WILL RECEIVE NATIONAL U.S. BROADCAST IN MARCH
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - In a surprise
evelopment, original Irish Tenor John McDermott joined
fellow tenors Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan, and new
trio member Finbar Wright onstage this evening at
Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and producers
TV Matters and Radius Television, invited John to
perform as a special guest, even though it was
announced earlier this week that Mr. McDermott would
have
to be replaced as an Irish Tenor by Finbar Wright.
The producers announced the original change on Sunday,
January 30, citing John's inability to meet the
production rehearsal schedule due to the recent
death of his mother, Hope.
A million-selling solo artist in his own right, John
McDermott is also known as one-third of the original
Tenors lineup from the 1998 Dublin performance which
spawned an album, video, and North American arena
tour. Tonight's performance, titled The Irish Tenors
Live From Belfast is slated for broadcast beginning on
PBS in March of this year.
Though unable to participate in rehearsals, John
decided to travel to Northern Ireland on Thursday
February 3rd, not only to support the Tenors, but also
to appear as a special guest of PBS, and visit his
mother's family. John traveled to his mother's
ancestral home in Ballymena, northwest of Belfast on
Friday, February 4th.
Before the intermission, McDermott was called to the
stage by fellow Tenor Anthony Kearns. The orchestra
fell silent as conductor Frank McNamara accompanied
McDermott on piano to "The Last Rose of Summer," a
song he dedicated to his mother and father, Peter, who
passed away in 1995. Said McDermott, "Hope and Peter
McDermott, my mother and father, were married for 55
years, this song was truly their song." McDermott
was then joined onstage by Kearns and Tynan, as the
trio performed "Red Is The Rose" to rapturous
applause.
After the performance, McDermott stated, "It was a
magical moment. From Glasgow to Donegal, Dublin to
Ballymena, my Scottish and Irish roots are a constant
source of pride for me. Like everyone else, I was
thrilled by the performances of the new edition of The
Irish Tenors - Anthony, Ronan, and Finbar. I was
honored to join them and to have the opportunity to
dedicate two of the most beautiful songs ever written
to my parents. I'd like to thank PBS, the Belfast
audience, and the American audiences for their
overwhelming support throughout this difficult time in
my life."