Celtic Woman

Fueled by healthy public appetite for traditional melodies and quasi-ethnic roots, the crossover genre continues to flourish with this debut release from Ireland's Celtic Woman ensemble. The brainchild of Sharon Browne, Dave Kavanaugh (founders of Ireland's successful Celtic Collections label) and young Riverdance touring company musical director David Downes, CW's five young women musicians and vocalists offer up an ever pleasant, Eire-savvy fusion of folk, pop and classical influences. Avoiding the intrusive, club-beat/sex kitten window dressing of Bond, the ensemble tackles material that ranges from the expected (spare, lovely covers of "Danny Boy" and "Ave Maria") to more adventurous fare like "Nella Fantasia" (Ennio Morricone's vocal adaptation of his rapturous theme from The Mission) and Enya's "Orinoco Flow." Elsewhere, "The Butterfly" offers up fiddle-fueled take on their Riverdance parallels (which also get a workout on the live bonus tracks), if renditions of Downes' originals like "One World" and "Send Me a Song" and "Someday" from Disney's animated Hunchback of Notre Dame hew slavishly to the middle of the road -- which largely seems the album's easy-listening intention. --Jerry McCulley

Price: $10.99

User Reviews about Celtic Woman

This was a wonderful musical journey at Slane Castle in Ireland. The song selections were awesome and heart warming. There was an energy in the air that touched our emotions. Even though it was on DVD, it was as if you were there in person. It was a wonderful performance. One of the best we've seen coming from Ireland. -- A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle

A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle This is great DVD and everyone who has seen it with us is very impressed. There is only one fault that I can find with the DVD. There are no subtitles with the music. This was very depressing for some one who is hard-of-hearing as I am. There are subtitles on the extras but none with the music. When I saw this on Public TV there were subtitles so I presumed they would be present on the DVD. I have tried to enter my comments on the Celtic Women website but there is no place to do so. If the subtitles had been present I would have rated this DVD 5 Stars. -- Celtic Women New Journey

Having seen the Celtic Woman in concert, this CD serves as a testimony to their brilliance. I find that listening to this album is (almost) like being at the concert. I listen to it all the time. Pretty soon I'll have to reorder a copy because this one is well-worn! -- Love 'em!

We played the DVD's many times. The more you play it, the better it gets. The group is astounding & their voices are heavenly!! You will thoroughly enjoy these DVD's, I guarantee it. I didn't know people could sing like these do. -- ABSOLUTE COLD CHILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!