A KIND OF MAGI: AS CHRISTMAS EDGES CLOSER, THE CELTIC TENORS PROVE THAT MANGER IS THEIR BUSINESS
As the say on the streets of Bethlehem, royalty recognize royalty. And the sound of one eminently regal trio meeting another is what we get on The Celtic Tenors’ “We Three Kings,” the leadoff track from the revered Irish vocal group’s 2025 holiday album, The Celtic Tenors—Christmas.
It’s appropriate to the point of feeling fated that the Tenors’ rendition of the 19th-century classic should have pride of place among the 12 tracks on the their new yuletide record: All three of the fellas had performed the number solo before getting together as a group just over a half-century ago. They even recorded a previous trio version in the early days of their career. But this latest take on the timeless tale of gold, frankincense and myrrh is an all-time high. A distinctly Middle Eastern intro gives way to an arrangement that deftly balances lush symphonics and clearly plucked guitars; there are even two clever interpolations of melodies from the similarly Nativity-themed “What Child Is This?” But nothing, of course, steals the spotlight from the immaculate voices of the Tenors themselves, which working both in tandem and individually breathe new life into one of the most cherished carols in the pantheon.
That’s the sort of experience you’ll have listening to all of The Celtic Tenors—Christmas, a collection of holiday perennials like “O Holy Night,” “The First Noel” and “Silent Night” that retains the comforting familiarity of a favorite Christmas sweater while incorporating regular twists and tweaks to prevent the fruitcake from ever going stale (as it were).
You’d expect nothing less from these three, who for decades have been lending peerless vocal skill (and a uniquely Irish charm) to everything from classical arias and a capellas to traditional Celtic numbers and contemporary pop hits. The result is over a million records sold worldwide, and a legion of fans who’ve grown to depend upon the Tenors’ innate ability to harmonize—both musically and personally.
There’s certainly a lot of talent to wrangle. Classically trained Matthew Gilsenan is a veteran of Ireland’s National Chamber Choir, while James Nelson, who holds an honors degree in music from University College Dublin, has performed more than 100 oratorios, operas and operettas on stages worldwide. As for Daryl Simpson, he’s a graduate of multiple music programs in Ireland and Scotland, and has appeared with a long list of prestigious opera companies and orchestras in the U.K. and Switzerland.
Not only are the Tenors tops in their field, they’re good-will ambassadors in a way that transcends music as well. Members of the group have lent their influence and their energy to helping out orphans in AIDS-ravaged Kenya and the residents of Northern Ireland’s Omagh community after a tragic 1998 bombing—to name just two of the worthy causes they’ve embraced.
Having marked their 25th anniversary together with a celebratory tour in early 2024, the Tenors are showcasing the Christmas album in a series of holiday-season shows both at home and abroad. Upcoming dates are as follows:
Wednesday, November 27 – Capitol Theatre, Moncton, New Brunswick, CAN
Thursday, November 28 and Sunday, December 1 – Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax, Nova Scotia, CAN
Monday, December 2 – The Playhouse, Fredericton, New Brunswick, CAN (SOLD OUT)
Wednesday, December 4 – Imperial Theatre, Saint John, New Brunswick, CAN
Friday, December 6 – The Kate, Old Saybrook, Connecticut, USA (SOLD OUT)
Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8 – Strand Theater, Zelienople, Pennsylvania, USA (BOTH SOLD OUT)
Monday, December 9 – Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Centre, West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Tuesday, December 10 – Shenkman Arts Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, CAN
Wednesday, December 11 – Rose Theatre, Brampton, Ontario, CAN
Monday, December 17 – National Opera House, Wexford, IRE
Be prepared for a direct infusion of Christmas spirit that’ll keep you in good cheer all the way to Valentine’s Day. Because it isn’t every year you get to have an audience with three honest-to-goodness kings.
