Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul bring their exhilarating “An Nollaig-An Irish Christmas” concert to the George Mason University Center for the Arts for an evening of soulful Irish carols and incomparable fiddling.
The winner of nine all-Ireland fiddle championships — one on tenor banjo — and over 30 championship medals, Ivers exploded on the music scene with “Riverdance.” After three years with the show, she established her band, Immigrant Soul, and launched a solo career as frequent guest artist with symphony orchestras and collaborator with classical and jazz artists. Even as she expands her repertoire to encompass world music, this daughter of Irish immigrants to the Bronx loves sharing the traditional Christmas music with others.
“This is my favorite time of year because the beautiful Irish carols, some going back to the 12th century, touch everyone,” she says. “The music has such honesty, a true measure of the people and their heart and soul. There are slow melodies and upbeat dance tunes. It’s such a blessing and a pleasure to perform this music because it’s a rich part of Irish culture. We’re eager to pass it along, engage the crowd and experience the reaction of the audience. After every concert, we like to come to the lobby to talk with them. We hear amazing stories of people who came out despite illness or other problems and were uplifted by our music. It means so much to me to be hugged and hear them say, ‘Thank you.’ ”
In addition to Ivers, Immigrant Soul consists of Greg Anderson on acoustic guitar and keyboard, Tommy McDonnell on percussion and harmonica, Leo Traversa on upright bass, and Isaac Alderson on uilleann pipes, flutes and whistles.
“Isaac is from Chicago, so he blew everyone away when he went to Ireland and won medals for his expertise on traditional Irish instruments,” she says. “Tommy and Leo contribute world rhythms to add variety to our many concerts, but we keep this show very traditional. I did a lot of research to choose music that goes back in time and is typical of the people. Although one of the pieces we do, Bach’s ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,’ isn’t Irish, it’s written in 6/8 time, which is exactly like an Irish jig, so it fits in perfectly.”
Eileen Ivers
Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul present “An Nollaig-An Irish Christmas” at 8 p.m. tonight , Friday, December 15 at 8 p.m. (free pre-performance discussion 45 minutes prior to curtain)
Venue: George Mason University’s Center for the Arts, Braddock Road and Route 123, Fairfax, Va.
Tickets: $21 to $42
More info: 888-945-2468 or www.tickets.com
