The all-female, adult contemporary ensemble, Celtic Woman, is set to perform both contemporary songs and traditional Celtic songs, such as “Danny Boy,” at 7:30 tonight in Eisenhower Auditorium.
Celtic Woman, with three vocalists and one violinist, will perform songs from the 2012 “Believe” album in addition to traditional Celtic songs.
Susan McFadden, a vocalist for Celtic Woman, said the ensemble has “mixed it up a little bit” and will perform both more traditional and more contemporary songs.
“The ‘Believe’ tour is a variation of all of the eras of Celtic Woman,” McFadden said.
McFadden, an accomplished London West End performer, said that in the group’s dynamic, the three voices need to blend to sound like a single unit.
“On a stage like London West End, you can hide behind the character,” McFadden said. “It’s something I never really had to do, go out on stage and be me.”
McFadden said she hopes the audience is responsive and will come on the journey with Celtic Woman and that the audience will take Celtic Woman on a journey.
“The U.S. has embraced the Irish culture and the Irish nation. Nobody celebrates St. Patrick’s Day like Americans,” McFadden said. “I think you celebrate it better than the Irish do.”
Margaret O’Brien (junior-mathematics), the treasurer for Penn State’s Irish Society and co-founder and organization chair for the Penn State Irish Dance Club, Rince na Leon, said the performers “really celebrate Irish heritage and incorporate dance along with music.”
Celtic Woman utilizes the unique style of music, Celtic music, and has a great balance between the forms of the music, O’Brien said. Keeping the music traditional but also contemporary can be a challenge, she added.
As an Irish dancer since age 3, O’Brien said Celtic music and Irish dancing celebrate Irish heritage and family.
“As an Irish woman, I’ve celebrated my heritage through dance and music. Sharing that with friends and family, it keeps the traditions alive,” O’Brien said.
Laura Sullivan, marketing and communications director for the Center for Performing Arts, said 1,200 tickets have been sold and tickets will be available at the door.
Tickets are $99 for the first four orchestra rows, $69 for orchestra rows EE to ZZ and grand tier rows A to K, and $39 for grand tier rows L to P and balcony seats.
Sullivan said the student discount is not available because the performance is not part of the Center for Performing Arts season so the University Park Allocation Committee funds do not apply.
