Celtic Woman ‘Home for Christmas’ in South Bend
Celtic Woman “Home for Christmas, The Symphony Tour” is coming to the Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend, Ind., at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 22.
The unique Irish musical ensemble Celtic Woman continues to enchant audiences on multiple continents, maintaining a busy schedule of touring activities while leading up to the group’s tenth anniversary in 2015.
Presenting a one of a kind concert experience showcasing four gifted Irish women- three stunning vocalists and a brilliant Celtic violinist, Celtic Woman will return to North America for its fourth annual holiday tour, performing their timeless Christmas songs accompanied by the stirring instruments of a full symphony orchestra. The “Home for Christmas, the Symphony Tour” features music from the all-female music ensemble’s holiday releases; the platinum-selling A Christmas Celebration and recent Home For Christmas CD and live concert DVD, Home for Christmas: Live from Dublin. Fans can expect to hear vibrant live renditions of such favorites as “Silent Night,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Joy To The World.” The festive holiday tradition will kick off in the Pacific Northwest Dec. 2 and travel to eleven U.S. cities.
Named Celtic Woman in order to represent the essence of a Celtic female performer, the Home for Christmas, the Symphony Tourfeatures the celestial vocals of Lisa Lambe, Susan McFadden, and Mairéad Carlin along with Celtic violinist Máiréad Nesbitt. The lineup of performers has evolved in the years since the group’s inception, but the signature sound of Celtic Woman has remained consistent, under the direction of Emmy-nominated music producer David Downes, former music director for Irish stage showRiverdance.
Prior to the Symphony dates, Celtic Woman will travel to Europe in October and November to showcase songs from its most recent CD/DVD, Emerald Musical Gems, for a series of debut performances in the U.K. and a return visit to Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. Last month, the tour made its debut in South America with five wildly successful concerts in Brazil.
Celtic Woman will then welcome 2015 with an extensive concert tour celebrating the group’s tenth anniversary together. The 85-city North American journey kicks off in Syracuse, New York on March 6 and continues through the end of June.
In addition to its busy touring schedule, Celtic Woman remains active on the recording front. The group’s Emerald: Musical Gems(Manhattan Records Feb. 2014) debuted at #1 on Billboard’s World Music album chart and held the top position for seven consecutive weeks. The companion DVD, “Emerald: Musical Gems – Live in Concert,” was seen across the country during spring PBS pledge drives. Filming for the DVD took place during the live show at the Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend, Indiana, on April 9, 2013. Dramatic lighting was used in the historic theater which showcased the beautiful architectural highlights of the venue and the audience was treated to encore performances of some of the songs for the filming.
It was a decade ago that Celtic Woman first traveled from Ireland to America to introduce millions of new fans to the group’s fresh fusion of Irish musical tradition, contemporary songcraft and state-of-the-art stage production. The group made its debut on television in 2005 with a concert performance which was filmed in Dublin and broadcast in the United States on PBS. Although initially intended as a one-time-only event, the concert was so warmly received by the public that the group continued to perform and record. Since then, Celtic Woman’s uplifting music has touched the hearts of a devoted audience that’s embraced the group’s massively popular public television specials, CDs and DVDs.
Since 2005, Celtic Woman has sold more than eight million copies of its nine CDs and eight DVDs, making it the only all-female act to achieve multi-platinum success in the classical crossover and world music genres during the past decade. In the U.S., each of Celtic Woman’s nine CDs has debuted at #1 on Billboard’s World Album chart, where the group has occupied the top slot for a record-breaking 112 consecutive weeks. Celtic Woman has also scored two Top 10 debuts on Billboard’s influential album chart and five Top Five DVDs on Billboard’s Top Video chart, as well as achieving platinum-level sales in nine countries.
Celtic Woman has also emerged as an international touring powerhouse, selling out concert halls around the world and performing for nearly three million fans. Celtic Woman has performed for three U.S. Presidents and made high-profile appearances on American television shows Dancing with the Stars and the daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful.
Singing songs of love, loss, hope and inspiration, Celtic Woman has transcended national and cultural boundaries to celebrate the timeless emotion of Ireland’s centuries-old heritage, extending those vibrant traditions into the present day. The result is a breathtaking musical and theatrical experience to be enjoyed by multiple generations of concertgoers.
Tickets are $42, $62 and $102 and are on sale Tuesday, September 30, at 10:00 a.m. at the Morris Box Office, by phone at (574) 235-9190 or (800) 537-6415, or online at www.MorrisCenter.org. The Morris Box Office is open regular business hours Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 211 North Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana. Tickets can also be purchased with credit card at Morris Ticket Outlets: Hammes Bookstore & Café located in Eddy Street Commons, South Bend; O’Brien Recreation Center, 321 East Walter Street, South Bend; and TG Music, 123 South Main Street, Goshen, Ind.