By kind permission of Mr Brendan Kilty, SC, I will premiere, in 15 Ushers Island, Noel O' Grady presents The Voice of Joyce; an Exile Sings for 5 nights during Bloomsweek 2012.
25 years after John Huston lovingly recreated in film, James Joyce's masterful short story, i will perform in the very same house, 15 Ushers Island, for Bloomsweek. From Tuesday 12th until Saturday,16th June, Bloomsday itself. At 8.pm nightly. I will paint a slice of tenor James Joyce's life in song and story. Joyce has over 3,000 musical allusions in his works, had a wonderful light lyrical tenor voice, and shared a voice tutor with his friend and later world-renowned tenor, John McCormack. Joyce "sang with artistic emotionalism", wrote one critic after a concert.
I will include such songs as The Lass of Aughrim on which the turning point of The Dead pivoted. Bid Adieu, the only composition for which Joyce wrote both words and music. Also The Last Rose of Summer, Thomas Moore's beautiful poem/song which features in Ulysses. Úna Bhán, a 400 year old song which our first president, Douglas Hyde said was one of the great love songs to come from the mouth of the Irish people. Joyce's friend, John McCormack sang it, and William Butler Yeats had it as the basis for his Secret Rose, published in 1897. So it is most probable that Joyce, who occasionally sang in Irish, knew the song. Oft in the Stilly Night from Portrait, and many more central to his life and works. And now, being able to freely quote from his writing will greatly help to contextualise the music so close to his heart.
He was also an accomplished pianist with a vast knowledge of every genre of music.
So come along, in this year when Dubliners is the inspired selection for Dublin, One City One Book 2012, on the 25th anniversary of John Huston's great film version of The Dead, in the year when, for evermore, all can recite The Master's words openly, and while away a wonderful evening in the very house where Joyce and family dined and danced, wined and worked, sang and storied. Sorry, no goose, but wine and cheese will be served. Tickets at 15 Euros from The Joyce Centre. In association with The James Joyce Centre.