LIVE REVIEWS
A Warm Meeting with the Celtic Music Heritage
Anúna at Anneldalskyrka, Gothenburg, Gothenburg Post, Feb 22nd. 1997.
Intimate is not exactly the word, but the Irish choir Anúna succeeded in making their concert in the large Annedalskyrka into a warm meeting between a wind - blown Gothenberg public and this current Keltic Music in the image of the 90s. Musically the performance was stunning. Anúna certainly have a collection of remarkably strong voices. To this vocal powerhouse is added a healthy disrespect which permeates the presentation between the songs, certainly an Irish characteristic.
With a lot of boldness Anúna and musical director Michael McGlynn mix religious and secular music in an effort to enrich the Celtic musical heritage. They mix Gregorian chant with old Irish songs about betrayed love, happiness and life. The song Hinbarra, about fishing life on Ireland's West Coast is quickly followed by a Kyrie [Lord have mercy]. Just after that Heia Viri, written by the Irish monk St. Columbanus in the 6th century with music by Michael McGlynn.
The vast church helps certainly in a space where the light (and the lighting was exciting) and voices can work to full effect. It was particularly effective when the female half of Anúna while slowly pacing in the aisles singing a medieval English song in a form of canon, where the delay between the voices creates an illusion of echo.
One of the evening's highlights was Deep Dead Blue, with a melancholic text by Elvis Costello and music by the guitarist Bill Frisell. Very evocative and very beautiful.