Irish Group AnÚna Brings Mystic Celtic Vocals to ParamounT

Media Contact:

Kristen Gleason
Director of Marketing
The Paramount Theater
215 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434.979.1922 ext. 103
kristen@theparamount.net

For Immediate Release

October 2, 2007

Pulsating, haunting, and unusual, the dynamic musical group Anúna explores 12 centuries of Ireland’s vocal traditions. Perhaps best-known for their appearance in the original Riverdance, the singers perform music that is emotive and mystical; a combination of folk, world, and Celtic traditions that bridges the gap between classical and popular with an extraordinary sound all its own.

Fast on the heels of their US television feature debut in Celtic Origins, seen nationwide on more than 200 PBS stations as part of August and September pledge drive efforts, Anúna makes a stop in Charlottesville at The Paramount Theater with a concert of the same name on Sunday, October 14 at 7 pm.

With over ten recordings to their credit, this classical crossover group from Dublin has seen tremendous chart-topping European success and international acclaim. Anúna has had a top 5 album on the UK classical charts, received a National Entertainment Award for classical music in Ireland in 1994, been nominated for a Classical Brit Award in 2000, and performed on the BBC Prom Series.

The group has appeared with stars such as Sting, Elvis Costello, Sinead O’Connor, and The Chieftains (including performances on two Chieftains Grammy Award-winning albums). Often credited with being the creators of the Celtic soprano genre, a number of soloists with Celtic Woman honed their talents with Anúna, prominently listing the group on their resumes.

Both the Celtic Origins TV program and concert feature 16 world-class singers (of diverse musical backgrounds including traditional, pop/rock, and classical) performing Michael McGlynn’s original compositions -- works with an ethereal quality that defies categorization. Also in the group’s repertoire are special arrangements of traditional songs such as “Greensleeves,” “Scarborough Fair,” “I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls,” and “Our Wedding Day.” The companion Celtic Origins CD has been listed as the #1 seller both at Borders stores nationwide and on the Nielsen SoundScan World Music List (the sales source for the Billboard music charts).

The name An Uaithne (Anúna) describes three ancient types of music, Suantraí (lullaby), Geantraí (happy song) & Goltraí (lament). Michael McGlynn, who founded the group in 1987, says he originally wanted “to create something that would make people aware of the beauty of choral music by introducing it to them in a way that they could understand.”

After McGlynn started singing in choirs at the age of 19, he couldn't believe that something so beautiful existed that he had never heard of before. “I think that I got the sound of Anúna into my head right back on the first day I started singing with other voices for the first time,” he adds. “I had just begun composing at that time and I found that Anúna offered me a chance to have my own original music performed. I knew then that this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Tickets for Anúna -- Celtic Origins on October 14 are $38.50, $41.50, $44.50, and $49.50. Half-price student rush tickets and group discounts are also available.

Tickets are currently on sale online and through The Paramount's Box Office at 434.979.1922.

For more information about Anúna, please visit www.anuna.ie.