Loreena McKennitt
Live @ Udine - 12/07/08

THE REVIEW

In the last 10 years, I have had the opportunity to listen to the discography of this particular artist, and while recognizing her undeniable artistic value as a singer, composer, and musician, the invitation to her concert left me hesitant... refined, cultured, multi-ethnic, and relaxing music... sometimes too much! Having experienced it firsthand, I can encourage anyone to attend a McKennitt concert even if it’s not your genre, it is truly a high-level performance.

Accompanying the ethereal pianist/harpist/accordionist with a powerful and crystalline voice (never a slip nor the slightest hint of strain) was a band of 9 excellent musicians equipped with numerous instruments: drums, percussion, classical and electric guitars, sitar, tabla, bouzouki, bass, cello (played by a very beautiful blonde), fiddle (a typical Irish violin), and hurdy-gurdy.

The setting was the perfectly chosen Udine castle, overlooking the city and cooled by the evening summer breeze. The pieces touched a bit of Loreena's entire classical repertoire, flawless interpretations both vocally and musically. Reworked pieces from the Irish tradition (Loreena has extensively studied the Celtic musical tradition from which her roots derive) alternated with pieces of oriental inspiration, a testament to her numerous travels in the East and West.

The setlist (not in order) encompassed the following pearls: "Bonny Portmore", "Dante's Prayer" (the most moving), "The Bonny Swans", "Santiago", "Caravanserai", "No Journey's End", "The Lady of Shalott", "The Mummer's Dance", "Prologue", "Stolen Child", "Marco Polo", "Penelope's Song", and "The Old Ways", the most complex and engaging with many changes and an intense crescendo.

Loreena, communicative and sweet, thanked the audience for deciding to spend their money and time with her and her band... oh, madam! It was a pleasure!