Tenor Finbar Wright to perform at the Watergate in Kilkenny

Finbar Wright, one of Ireland’s most celebrated tenors, is coming to the Watergate Theatre.

With a beautiful powerful voice and a unique ability to cross music genres from gentle romantic ballads all the way to the famous Italian, Spanish and French Opera arias. Finbar will perform in Kilkenny for one night only on Saturday, February 4.

The legendary tenor has performed and recorded with such famous names as Montserrat Caballé, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis. One of the more unusual undertakings in his career include recording an official anthem for the Arsenal soccer club in 1998, together with player Ian Wright.
Talent

A protege and great friend of the legendary singing teacher, Veronica Dunne, his talent was initially nurtured by his mother whose decision to buy her eight children a piano at a time when she really could not afford it, changed his life.

Memories of Kilkenny - click for gallery!

Even though the Covid pandemic affected live performing, it allowed Finbar to embrace his love of nature and caring for the future of the planet. Over the last few years he has planted hundreds of trees which are now maturing, including many native trees such as Horse Chestnut, three types of Alder (common, grey, and Italian, English Oak, a copse of now gargantuan Eucalyptus and countless other varieties including plum trees which he uses for plum gin!

His home in Cork overlooks the River Lee. He believes strongly in environmental sustainability and has developed his vegetable garden (full of courgettes, peppers, runner beans, carrots, potatoes, and onions) which supplies his family with fresh produce right through winter. He also grows grapes and several varieties of tomatoes along with making his own delicious jams.

Finbar welcomed his first grandchild in June 2022. His daughter Ileana, who regularly appears as a backing vocalist on stage with Finbar, gave birth to Arlo Nathaniel Ross.

Over the last two years Finbar has recorded three Christmas singles with his son Fergus. He composed and recorded a song for the Ukraine appeal in 2022. He has released two previously unreleased live recordings of duets with the iconic Montserrat Caballé on YouTube.

Autobiography

The popular tenor is currently working on his autobiography which covers many of the colourful characters he has met during his career. And he has written a collection of poems which he is currently collating for his website.
At Cork Person of the Year Awards 30th anniversary, he is being honoured with a special award as Cork’s Nu,er One performer over those 30 years. He has performed before world leaders including Bill Clinton and Pope John Paul ll, performed live for ‘Good Morning America’ during its coverage of President Reagan’s funeral on Capitol Hill, Washington in 2004. He has performed in all the major concert halls around the globe from the Royal Albert Hall in London to Sydney Opera House; from the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles to Carnegie Hall, New York and Radio City Music Hall. Andrew Lloyd Webber is a fan. Finbar left the priesthood to pursue his music career. He is married with two children.

Finbar presented a hugely successful television series with actress Angeline Ball on RTE in the 1990’s: ‘Music of the Night’. He has also recorded numerous television specials, including one for UTV ‘Live from the Belfast Opera House’, which has been regularly broadcast in the USA and Canada.

He has also recorded 10 albums with the world famous group The Irish Tenors, who have enjoyed phenomenal success all around the world, dominating the American Charts for the past 10 years. and has released eight solo albums.

For more see watergatetheatre.ie