St. Patrick's Musical Celebration with the APO

With a combination of a full symphony orchestra, a celebrated Irish tenor, champion Irish dancers and a selection of heart-stirring and toe-tapping melodies, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s When Irish Eyes Are Smiling concert will be one big musical St. Patrick’s celebration on Saturday 15th March.



The concert is part of the APO’s Symphonic Pops Series and will be held at the Aotea Centre, THE EDGE at the special matinee time of 3pm to fit in with the Auckland Irish community’s other St. Patrick’s Festival activities happening in the city on the day, including the annual parade down Queen Street that this year will finish at Britomart Square.



The concert will feature orchestrated renditions of Irish favourites such as Danny Boy, Finnegan’s Wake, She Moved Thro the Fair, Galway Bay, The Water is Wide, The Harp that Once Thro Tara’s Hall, The Cliffs of Dooneen and many more. The concert will be conducted by Sean O’Boyle, who conducted last year’s popular Scotland the Brave concerts, and special guest tenor, Seán Ruane. Experienced Irish fiddler, the APO’s Miranda Adams, will perform fiddle solos.



Dancers from the Doyle Academy of Irish Dance will also perform in the concert, including the current New Zealand champion for men over 17, 18-year-old Christopher Hodgson. Christopher has won seven New Zealand titles and qualified for the World Championships nine times.



“The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is pleased to be able to join the St. Patrick’s Festival this year with this excellent musical celebration of Irish songs,” says APO Chief Executive Barbara Glaser. “We invite music-loving audiences on a journey through the Emerald Isle with a selection of songs to tug at the heart-strings and set the toes tapping.”



Tickets to When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (from $20 to $65) are available from Ticketek, Ph 09 307 5139, www.ticketek.co.nz.



ENDS

Media Contact: For more information, interview requests or photos please contact Jennifer Scott, Publicist, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Ph 09 638 6266 ext 203, Mob 027 324 8745, jennifers@apo.co.nz.





When Irish Eyes Are Smiling – Symphonic Pops, Concert 1

Programme



Instrumental: The Rakes of Mallow

Song: The Water is Wide

Song: The Minstrel Boy

Instrumental: The Irish Washerwoman

Song: The Cliffs of Dooneen

Song: Danny Boy

Dance segment

Instrumental: The Wearing of the Green

Song: The harp that once thro Tara’s Hall

Song: Finnegan’s Wake



Interval



Instrumental: Fear an Bhata

Song: I dreamt I dwelt

Song: Pretty Maid Milking her Cow

Song: Kerry Dance

Song: When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Dance segment

Instrumental: Molly

Song: She moved thro the fair

Song: Galway Bay

Song: It’s a Long Way to Tipperary

Song: Phil the Fluther’s Ball



Other concerts in the APO’s 2008 Symphonic Pops Series are:



Return of a Night at the Movies – 7.30pm, Saturday 14th June, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE



Last Night of the Proms – 7.30pm, Saturday 30th August, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE



To enquire about a series subscription phone the APO Ticket Office on 09 623 1052.



www.apo.co.nz