Cathedral walls to resound with tones of Irish tenor

"Performing is wonderful. You never know who is going to be in your audience. I look down at the faces, and people are always smiling. They're there to have a good time, and I am there to see that they do. My attitude is simply, 'Let's have fun, let's enjoy ourselves, let's get on with it.'"

Those are the thoughts of singer Anthony Kearns, who will present a solo concert at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, Nov. 17, 7 p.m.

He is one of the founding members of The Irish Tenors, who have performed around the world to great acclaim for the past nine years.

Early years

In a recent telephone interview from Florida, Mr. Kearns told The Evangelist that he hails from Kiltealy, Ireland, a small village in County Wexford.

He attended a Catholic school operated by an order of nuns that "taught us well." It was as a student that he learned how to sing at liturgies.

"I sang solos at some of the Masses held in my school for years," he said. "I come from a musical family. We all sing."

Growing career

Mr. Kearns continued to perform in high school. His amateur performances included local singing competitions, school Masses and shows.

He became locally known as "the singing bartender" because he was known to break into song at the request of his customers while working as a bartender in a Kiltealy pub.

By the time he was in his early twenties, he was performing professionally.

Tenor of times

While studying music in Wales in the late 1990s, Mr. Kearns was contacted by producers to help start a group of tenors who would sing throughout the country. Soon, their popularity grew to an international level.

As a solo performer, Mr. Kearns' repertoire is not limited to Irish ballads. He loves opera, too, and has been accepting offers for performances since 2002. In April, he performed the lead in Gounod's "Faust." He has also appeared in "Falstaff," "La Traviata" and "Macbeth."

Two styles

Asked if it is more difficult to perform in an opera than a solo concert, Mr. Kearns responded that "the two [styles] are very different. When you sing a solo concert, you perform approximately 26 songs over the course of a couple of hours. You must be able to become completely engaged in each song. If it's a ballad, you must know how to maximize your delivery to those in the audience. If it is a light, airy song, you must also be able to deliver it in that manner.

"An opera is a bit different. You study the character you are performing and, in effect, become that person. Once you adapt that persona, you continue to follow through with the characterization. Actually, [opera] is easier than a solo performance."

Getting set

The tenor noted that, as he prepares for a stage performance, he experiences a certain degree of anticipation, but never nervousness.

"Performing is an attitude, a state of mind," he explained. "I am always very concerned about giving the best performance I can each time I perform. People have come to see me, and I want to give them the best of what I am able to give.

"My faith is always with me. I'm always aware of God's presence in my life. I say prayers before each performance and usually after each one, too, in thankfulness. I never forget that my ability to sing is a gift from God, who laid out this path for me. I am so glad I followed it."

(General admission is $50. After the concert, there will be a black-tie gala on the Terrace Gallery of the New York State Museum, adjacent to the Cathedral. Tickets for both the performance and gala are $150/person. To reserve seats, call 641-6808. See more information in the ad on page 7. Proceeds benefit the Cathedral's ongoing renovation.)

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