This is a subscriber-only article
The National Concert Hall will be alive with the sounds of country music on Friday 23 August, for what promises to a magical night for country aficionados. The show is billed as “The RTÉ Concert Orchestra Goes to Nashville” and that is exactly what patrons can look forward to as they enjoy an entire repertoire of some of the legendary songs from the last five decades.
It is marvelous to see the RTÉ Concert Orchestra lend such welcome support to country music and the members are having a whale of a time as they enjoy performing some of the most beautifully crafted songs and music of the last 50 years.
These songs have touched the hearts of millions across the continents and reflect a whole new appreciation of a genre of music that attracts some of the finest lyric writers in music over many decades.
The Concert Orchestra got a brilliant response when they performed at the Classical Country Roads Show at The Marquee in Cork at the end of June.
The place was hopping as they were joined by a host of the big names on the Irish circuit for a wonderful night down Leeside.
Such is the interest in The RTÉ Concert Orchestra Goes to Nashville show next week that it is already sold out. Stephen Bell will conduct the Orchestra on the night and the guest vocalists are Capital Voices.
The show will feature classics from many of the legends including Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, The Eagles, right up to Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum.
Throw in for good measure material from the Charlie Daniels Band (The Devil Went Down To Georgia), Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton (The Last Thing on My Mind), Billie Jo Spears (Blanket on the Ground), Olivia Newton John (Country Roads), Tammy Wynette (Stand By Your Man), Kenny Rogers (The Gambler), Shania Twain (Man! I Feel Like a Woman!) and Lonestar (Amazed) and you realise why tickets for this show flew out the door.
The haunting beauty of the Glen Campbetll medley promises to be a special highlight of what should be an amazing night in the Concert Hall. Three of the songs, Wichita Lineman, Galveston and By the Time I Get To Phoenix were penned by Jimmy Webb, while Larry Weiss wrote Rhinestone Cowboy.
This medley lends itself in a special way to an orchestral arrangement and this is a sure-fire treat for country followers.
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra Goes to Nashville show takes place in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, on Friday 23 August at 8pm. It may well be the first of an annual series of Nashville-themed shows by the Concert Orchestra.
SHARING OPTIONS: