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CELTIC TIGER

   On June 17, 2005 I went to see Michael Flatley’s Celtic Tiger and it was definitely a night I will remember forever. I got two tickets from Michael so I took my mum with me and we set out for Birmingham, UK from the Czech Republic where I live.

   Celtic Tiger is something I have never seen before. Michael promised us a show like nothing before and he delivered it! It´s spectacular and breathtaking masterpiece using the most favourite pieces of LOTD, FOF and Riverdance and mixing it with brand new choreography, music, costuming. The first half tells the history of Irish people in Ireland. The second half tells the modern Irish/American history in classical Hollywood movie style.

   Seeing Michael performing live for the first time in my life was like a dream and it´s certainly true when he says that he feels better than ever. In Celtic Tiger he not only dances but also plays a wonderful flute solo accompanied with a ballet performance that took my breath away. His tap dance solo á la Feet of Flames in gangster style was simply unbelievable!

   The troupe consists of the best dancers I´ve ever seen. They are amazing and it´s obvious that they enjoy working with Michael very much. One of the best pieces was in the second half where they can prove their versatile talent – we gradually see latin-ballroom dancing, American tap dance, hip-hop, flamenco and ballet and it ends up with all the dancers dancing ID together.

   Ronan Hardiman´s music is just fantastic. I dare to say nothing like LOTD. He had to use several different styles so the soundtrack is very diverse!

   The costumes must have cost a fortune becuase they are all very beautiful and even though it all might seem a little bit cheesy believe me that when you´re watching the show all these colorful costumes seem to be exactly to the fore.

   The best thing about the show is the never ending surprise. With every scene comes a shock that keeps you very excited in anticipation of the next scene. When the show is over you realize that you want to see it again and again. There are so many hidden meanings and also it gives you so much positive energy. The encores are of course highlight of the evening!

   I strongly recommend you seeing this show not only becuase it may be your the last chance to see Michael but also because I don´t think you will ever get a chance to see something like Celtic Tiger again. I believe it´s unrepeatable unless Michael created one more show bigger than this in the future. ;-)

Michaela Fülöp, 07/01/2005   

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CELTIC TIGER SOUNDTRACK

     Track Listings

   1. St. Patrick (Angelus)

   2. The Vikings

   3. The Garden of Eden

   4. The Redcoats

   5. The Famine

   6. The Banshee/A Nation Once Again

   7. Freedom

   8. A New World

   9. The Last Rose

   10. Celtic Kittens

   11. Capone

   12. The Celtic Tiger

      ---------------------------------  

   Running Time : 54 minutes

   -> Listen to 30 second samples

   Ronan Hardiman on making-off the Celtic Tiger score

This score posed an enormous creative challenge" says composer Ronan Hardiman." Having had the privilege to be involved in two world entertainment phenomenon with Michael Flatley (Lord Of The Dance and 'Feet Of Flames') how on earth was I going to able to do something new for a third, were my initial thoughts" "As usual,when Michael and I began a series of creative meetings to discuss this project, he fired up my imagination with his vision for the production. Where Lord Of The Dance had more in common with an Arena type Rock production than a Theatrical presentation, 'Celtic Tiger' was going to look and feel more like a Blockbuster movie was intrigued. I suddenly began thinking about the possibility of an enormous Orchestral and Choral approach to the score. Celtic Tiger tells the story of the oppression of the Irish people down through the ages, and the Tiger symbolizes the awakening of their spirit and their struggle for freedom-so there was plenty of tremendous dramatic content to deal with musically."

"That was the most exciting part of this project-the variety of themes that were going to be dealt with dramatically. The first half of the show re-enacts various landmark Irish historical events such as 'The Famine' sequence and ‘The Vikings' sequence.The second half is more contemporary thematically, and is a celebration of the emigrant Irish population in America-the diverse cultural influences to which they were exposed,and the influence they themselves had. 'A New World' is a good example-it's a six minute sequence which changes style every 40 or so. The music had to seamlessly switch from Latino, to Jazz to Hip Hop to Flamenco-even Ballet is included! I remember quite a few very late nights and early mornings working on that particular sequence."

"I am very proud of this score-I believe it contains some of the best music I have ever composed.It has been a privilege to work once again with Michael Flatley on what I am sure is going to be the biggest phenomenon yet!"

(taken from http://www.ronanhardiman.com )