Celtic Woman, from left: Lisa Kelly, Lynn Hilary, Chloë Agnew, Máiréad Nesbitt and Alex Sharpe
Alex Sharpe knows that the music of Celtic Woman, a five-piece Irish vocal ensemble, isn't quite a historic reflection of the Emerald Isle.
"Back in Ireland, music would have been traditional, a lot of the ballads sung a cappella," Sharpe said from a tour stop in Greensboro, N.C.
"It would be very much a folk background, probably heard in a local pub or on a very small scale."
Instead, the group, which features one fiddling member (Máiréad Nesbitt) plus a six-piece backing band, puts a modern -- yet unmistakably Celtic -- twist on familiar covers (Sting's Fields of Gold) and Irish standards (Danny Boy) as well as chart-topping original material heavy with pipes, percussion and guitar.
Colorful flowing gowns, vivid lighting and dramatic backdrops make the evening part concert, part theatrical event.
"It's a beautiful amalgamation, a beautiful orchestration," Sharpe said. "It's a bigger, high-end production, with lights and costumes.
"I don't think that concept has really touched down in Ireland."
Yet the appeal of Irish culture has long been a favorite of American audiences, from the new-wave fare of Enya and the Riverdance phenomenon of the '90s to recent crossover acts such as male quintet Celtic Thunder (conceived by the same Irish management team as Sharpe's group).
In 2004, only two days after meeting one another, the women made their concert debut in Ireland, which was filmed for what would become a popular PBS special in the United States.
The self-titled debut album took the industry by storm, reaching the No. 1 spot on Billboard's world-music chart and remaining there for 81 weeks, beating the 68-week record held by Italian vocalist Andrea Bocelli.
The first record stayed on top until their second release, Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration, took that spot (until the group's third disc, Celtic Woman: A New Journey, usurped it the next year).
Sharpe -- who joined the group in 2007, after original member Lisa Kelly took a maternity leave, and later became a full-time member -- knows that overseas audiences find her heritage intriguing.
"I think the American impression of Ireland is slightly different," she said. "They've got a romantic impression."
But she isn't complaining; audiences are receptive. (The group has lately found a growing fan base in Japan and South Korea.)
"Music, universally, is a language . . . to give you a respite from a troubling day," Sharpe said. "We just hope people walk away in better spirits and feel that they got what they hoped for -- hopefully a bit more."
That shouldn't be a problem. The ladies' latest journey is titled the "Isle of Hope" tour.
Although long stretches of touring keep Sharpe from her husband and 7-year-old son, she's grateful to perform for crowds who relish the music.
One newer song -- O, America! released as a single during the summer -- puts a patriotic gesture on that sentiment.
"The American people really embraced Celtic Woman, right from the start," Sharpe said. "It's just a way to say thank you for their dedication."
By Kevin Joy
The Columbus Dispatch
Columbus, Ohio
Thursday, October 29, 2009 3:07 AM
