Press Release: June 12, 2010
Subject: Iowa Celtic Summer Series
Dates
July 15 Donna Reed Theater, Denison, IA
July 16 Sami Bedell Center, Spirit Lake, IA
July 18 Stephen Sondheim Center, Fairfield, IA
To say that Irish Tenor, Michael Londra has a good voice and that he uses it well is an understatement. Anyone who has heard him sing in concert, listened to his version of “Danny Boy” on YouTube along with 2.5 million others, knows the truth behind those words. Whether he’s singing lead in “Riverdancec on Broadway”, appearing in concerts like his upcoming“ Celtic Summer” series in Iowa or his recent string of dates in China and Europe with the touring production “Celtic Legends,” magnificent singing comes naturally to this Irish tenor, and the surprising fact is that having a singing career nearly eluded him.
Michael Londra was born and raised in Wexford, a small town in the South East of Ireland. “It’s the greatest little town in the world,” he declares. “It’s famous for its opera festival, and I was raised to love classical singing, light opera and musicals. When I was growing up, I was in choirs and sang as a boy soprano in many operas. But the truth is I preferred to listen to Irish folk music in pubs, and that was always getting me into trouble with my singing teachers. If I’d focused more, I’d be an opera singer now. Back then, too, there were no opportunities in Ireland to study singing full time, so I went off to be a behavior therapist for people with learning disabilities. I worked at that for 10 years, but I always sang at parties. Little by little, I began taking it more seriously, and, at 31, I took the jump with my first professional gig.”
Londra had, in fact, been doing amateur musical theater in Dublin when the opportunity arose to audition for New York director/choreographer Larry Fuller, who was casting “JFK: A Musical Drama “ for its pre-Broadway run. “I had never auditioned for anything before and, frankly, I no idea what I was doing,” recalls Londra , who auditioned in his native Wexford accent. “Fuller offered me a lead part playing Bobby Kennedy in one of Dublin’s biggest theaters. Bill Whelan, the composer of ‘Riverdance,’ heard me singing in the production and offered me the role of lead singer in the U.S. touring company of his show. It changed my life!” Londra performed with the company for 18 months and then joined a new Broadway version of the show as a chorus member. On that production’s second night, Brian Kennedy, the lead singer (and the man for whom the part had been written) fell ill. An hour before curtain rose, Londra was asked to step into Kennedy’s part. “I managed to pull it off,” he now laughs. “I had no preparation. It was like something from the movies. Eventually, I took over the role from Brian and was the lead voice in the show until the end of run 18 months later. I’m still amazed that I sang lead in a Broadway show.”
Since “Riverdance,” Londra has continued to prove himself a man of many talents, a gifted performer with unerringly true Celtic connections. He recorded a solo album, Celt, released in 2005, and contributed to the 2009 release Arias, a compilation CD that also features Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman and Luciano Pavorotti. He is also at work on a new solo recording called A Road Not Taken. A recent six-week tour of China with “Celtic Legends” earned him the moniker “Man Enya.” “They love the ethereal Celtic sound in China,” he relates. “I think Celtic people are welcomed around the globe. We connect on an emotional level with many cultures. ‘Riverdance’ gave us a new, contemporary calling card. Where else can you sob your heart out and do a jig on the same night? Good music, no matter how sad, should bring a smile to your heart. Irish music, Celtic music, does that.”
When he’s not touring the world, visiting Ireland or recording in New York, Michael Londra lives in Chicago. He fell in love with that city’s skyline and spirit during his “Riverdance“ days, and now makes his home in the historic Printers Row district in a building that once housed Elliot Ness’ headquarters.
Then there’s his work with Concern Worldwide, the humanitarian organization with a mission of eliminating poverty in developing countries. “I grew up with Concern in Ireland. I’ve always know who they were, but I got to see what they did for the first time, first hand, about five years ago when I went to Haiti,” he explains. “Once I saw the way people lived only 90 minutes from Miami, I realized I had to do whatever I could. I knew I had an audience, and it was my responsibility to step up as an artist and share what I had experienced.”
“I talk about my experiences at every concert. Without making an audience miserable it is easy to ask them to check out the website (www.concernusa.org) or to look at my film online. People are genuinely interested and it just enourages people to take a more active interest in poverty issues. I’ve gotten some sizable donations but more importantly people are learning about the great work of Concern Worldwide.”
As for his “Celtic Summer” series, audiences can expect not only gorgeous renditions of their favourite Irish ballads but thrilling jigs and reels from some of the top Irish dancers in North America and Celtic sounds from his amazing traditional band of Fiddles, Irish flutes, pipes and drum.
Being able to bring the real Irish sound to Iowa is a thrill for Michael. “I am always amazed at the audience reaction in the US”. Londra adds ”People are genuinely moved by the haunting Celtic sounds. Let’s face where else can you go where you can cry your eyes out and dance a jig on the same night”.
Quotes:
“One of the greatest Irish voices of our time” CapitalCeltic.com
“One of the best recordings of ‘Danny Boy’ in history” The Irish Emigrant
