Centenary RTE 1

hardCopy

I must be the only one who liked the Foggy Dew, I thought it was really good.

First Up

hardCopy wrote:

I must be the only one who liked the Foggy Dew, I thought it was really good.

Me too. Different but good.

brian_t

I missed this last night but I see it's repeated tonight after Code Black.

melon_collie

Thought parts of the show were excellent but they rushed the last 50 years. Very little on the paedophilia in the church, babies being sold by the nuns, boom to bust, etc. Felt they brushed it all under the carpet with the short compilation of very brief clips.

I know they probably wanted to stick with the positives but for many people events like those will be difficult to forget.

The Talking Bread

First Up wrote: »

Which choir part was pre-recorded?

Iarla's piece was on film - as was the entire sequence from Kilmainham. Iarla's piece was filmed in the Garden of Remembrance but that was a studio sound.

The whole audience were a choir by looks of it. Or else they were the most in synch drugged up bunch I've ever seen !!

Expunge

Glee meets Les Miserables meets trad night at Johnny Fox's pub.

Really well executed (pardon the pun) by those responsible from RTE.

It caps off a period of time where RTE has got it's knickers in a twist over delivering everything it can - good or bad - on the 1916 Rising.

Some of it has been of a high standard and some has been absolutely fooked together.
Not sure why RTE feels obliged to organize the likes of street ceili and the like.

It's curious when, not too long ago, managers and programme makers in RTE felt this sort of thing was only for Provos and Padraig Pearse was nothing more than a deranged paedo.

How times have changed at Montrose! I'm sure we can expect the paw out looking for a nice, hefty licence fee increase to justify them actually doing a decent job (in general) for once. This is what this is really all about, in my view.

First Up

The Talking Bread wrote:

The whole audience were a choir by looks of it. Or else they were the most in synch drugged up bunch I've ever seen !!

The choir members numbered about 450, spread around the theatre.

First Up

Expunge wrote: »

Really well executed (pardon the pun) by those responsible from RTE.

It caps off a period of time where RTE has got it's knickers in a twist over delivering everything it can - good or bad - on the 1916 Rising.

Not sure why RTE feels obliged to organize the likes of street ceili and the like.

I think it's because they were asked to organise a day of commemoration with the emphasis on the cultural and artistic, which I think was a brilliant call. They are the state broadcaster and I can't think of who else would have better expertise and resources to do it.

From what I saw of Dublin city centre yesterday it was phenomenally well supported. Hats off to RTE - a huge effort (and yes, probably drained the budget for the next while.)

doniem

Does anyone know is there a full recording of that rendition of grace available to listen to anywhere?

First Up

doniem wrote: »

Does anyone know is there a full recording of that rendition of grace available to listen to anywhere?

I'd say there will be a DVD of it all pretty soon but in the meantime your best bet is to record it off tonight's re-broadcast. I think the programme should be on the RTE Player pretty soon as well.

Skid X

brian_t wrote: »

I missed this last night but I see it's repeated tonight after Code Black.

I see they have moved the repeat to an earlier timeslot now (10.15pm, swapped with Code Black)

https://twitter.com/RTEOne/status/714878759212617730

Hopefully viewers (and their recording devices) don't miss the repeat because of this switch.

Welsh Megaman

Say what you want about the events, but you can't deny RTE have done a great job in covering them both on TV and radio.

dealornodeal23

funnights74 wrote: »

Bit mixed. Imelda may was great but Colm Wilkinson voice went years ago. The audience are on drugs they're whooping and hollering for every act.

That's true about the audience

Welsh Megaman

Anyone listening to Radio 1?

Kevin Rowland on fine form

First Up

dealornodeal23 wrote:

That's true about the audience

You would have preferred respectful silence I suppose.

letsseehere14

Who sang the version of wrap the green flag? It was very good. Shame about Mo Ghile Mear. He is an exceptional singer and has a very good version of the Parting Glass on YouTube. From UCD.

The Talking Bread

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Say what you want about the events, but you can't deny RTE have done a great job in covering them both on TV and radio.

As they should in fairness. It would have been a travesty if it wasnt top notch.TG4 is so much better for national historical programming though all year round. Some excellent documentaries and it doesn't need a 100 year commemoration for them to put the effort in.

The Talking Bread

dealornodeal23 wrote: »

That's true about the audience

Audience were Ireland's version of gospel choirs. I'd imagine they have been part of the rehearsals for the last couple of months. (And yes there would have been months of planning gone into this) There was even an audience researcher as part of the production team!

It was better than looking at a load of politicians going through the motions but also it got intensely cringe worth watching them at certain stages!!

JP Liz V1

Will RTE release a cd of this?

Kerrydude1981

letsseehere14 wrote: »

Who sang the version of wrap the green flag? It was very good. Shame about Mo Ghile Mear. He is an exceptional singer and has a very good version of the Parting Glass on YouTube. From UCD.

Sean Keane

Strazdas

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Say what you want about the events, but you can't deny RTE have done a great job in covering them both on TV and radio.

A stunning job I would say. They set the tone for all the events we saw this weekend, especially the parade on Sunday : I don't think these things would have been as successful without RTE's input for the last few weeks. I think they did a good job too of putting men like Pearse and Connolly front and centre again and did it by presenting both sides of the argument about their role in the Rising.

First Up

The Talking Bread wrote:

Audience were Ireland's version of gospel choirs. I'd imagine they have been part of the rehearsals for the last couple of months. (And yes there would have been months of planning gone into this) There was even an audience researcher as part of the production team!

Ten months in preparation.

The "audience" choirs got their material about two months ago. They had two (long) rehearsals over the past few weeks.

Those involved in all the various sections will have been doing their own preps but the first time everyone got together was Sunday afternoon.

Strazdas

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Will RTE release a cd of this?

Some of the songs from it are on iTunes and even charting at the moment : Mise Eire and the Seo Linn one (and there's three different versions of 'Grace' on the chart).

Glued to it again tonight:). It's just as superb the second time around. Well done to all involved.

shadowman.ie

letsseehere14 wrote: »

Who sang the version of wrap the green flag? It was very good. Shame about Mo Ghile Mear. He is an exceptional singer and has a very good version of the Parting Glass on YouTube. From UCD.

The Mo Ghile Mear song was performed by the UCD Choral Scholars. Fronted by Mark Waters. (Full disclosure he is my younger brother...... extremely proud! )

I know people have been saying the audio wasn't great for that number so I am going to put the link to a youtube video the choir released recently.

I must say I found the whole event extremely well produced and it hit the mark on all fronts. It is something I'm sure that we will see again and hopefully RTE can continue to make productions with this quality in the future.

And another where they performed it on the late late show

the14thwarrior

i know someone that was in the audience for the last number. first time they got together was Saturday. some of them were very young as well. they rehearsed twice on sunday, and all day Monday. long days and they did get a bit of beef curry after being there the whole day. perhaps they could have done a bit more with the food! but everyone in the audience gave it their all, and they did it for the art of it all. so I know what she put into it, heart and soul. that's what our country is all about, and the last number - the young ones enjoyed it, and would know this group from the Gaeltacht etc. and they thought it was great. it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me it made a pleasant change. something for everyone. I loved the Grace rendition. my young one said it made her very emotional during rehearsals.

tayto lover

Who is that lad singing One?

shadowman.ie

tayto lover wrote: »

Who is that lad singing One?

Colm Wilkinson

JP Liz V1

tayto lover wrote: »

Who is that lad singing One?

Colm Wilkinson

shadowman.ie

shadowman.ie wrote: »

The Mo Ghile Mear song was performed by the UCD Choral Scholars. Fronted by Mark Waters. (Full disclosure he is my younger brother...... extremely proud! )

I know people have been saying the audio wasn't great for that number so I am going to put the link to a youtube video the choir released recently.

I must say I found the whole event extremely well produced and it hit the mark on all fronts. It is something I'm sure that we will see again and hopefully RTE can continue to make productions with this quality in the future.

And another where they performed it on the late late show

You have every right to be proud Shadowman! I thought Mo Ghile Mear was lovely. It must have been a fabulous experience for Mark and the choir to be part of such a great event.

mansize

It was brilliant

Inbox

I set my TV to record it only to see RTE moved it's time that's a shame

ballsymchugh

Inbox wrote: »

I set my TV to record it only to see RTE moved it's time that's a shame

a lot of it is on youtube now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERCVSDileo0

ProudDUB

melon_collie wrote: »

Thought parts of the show were excellent but they rushed the last 50 years. Very little on the paedophilia in the church, babies being sold by the nuns, boom to bust, etc. Felt they brushed it all under the carpet with the short compilation of very brief clips.

I know they probably wanted to stick with the positives but for many people events like those will be difficult to forget.

But the concert wasn't supposed to be a depiction of our entire history over the past 100 years. It was a commemoration of very specific and unique events, over a very specific time frame. Yes, the legacy of all that resulted in some really shameful episodes in our history, that will be difficult to get over. But you can hardly expect a 90 minute concert to cover in great detail, every single important thing that has happened on our island, over the past 100 years.

The Reeling in the Years type snippets were an acknowledgment that all would not be perfect in Pearse and Connolly's shiny new Republic. Anything more would have taken the show in whole new direction altogether, that I don't think was appropriate for the day that was in it, or the events it was remembering.

brian_t

tayto lover wrote: »

Who is that lad singing One?

RTE have an online programme guide - https://1916.rte.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Centenary-English6-1.pdf

Prinks

quader wrote: »

what did people think of cu chulainn

I thought *WTF?*. And the U2 song got up my nose too.

ProudDUB

Didn't mind One being a song of choice on the night. But I don't think CP's voice was up to it. I'm a fan of his, but he is 72 now & there are some notes that he just can't reach any more. Heard it on the wireless yesterday & when you take away the visuals, it didn't sound good.

Also hated, hated, hated You Raise Me Up. Godawful, middle of the road, cheesy, Celine Dion type schmaltz.

First Up

ProudDUB wrote:

Didn't mind One being a song of choice on the night. But I don't think CP's voice was up to it. I'm a fan of his, but he is 72 now & there are some notes that he just can't reach any more. Heard it on the wireless yesterday & when you take away the visuals, it didn't sound good.

What note did he not reach? He absolutely nailed it!

scout353

Thought it was an excellent production overall but was marred by the speech at the end, You Raise me Up and One. As others have said CW's voice is gone (why wasn't Bono there??) I though the rebellion scenes and executions were superb.

A rising climactic finale should have finished it off.

Could be the new Riverdance on tour in the future.

Overall, Kudos to RTE - now why can't they do comedy as well as that.

tayto lover

Sometimes I slate RTE over sub-standard programmes but this time their Centenary show has been excellent. Fair play to all concerned. I wonder if it's available on DVD?

First Up

scout353 wrote: »

Thought it was an excellent production overall but was marred by the speech at the end, You Raise me Up and One. As others have said CW's voice is gone (why wasn't Bono there??) I though the rebellion scenes and executions were superb.

A rising climactic finale should have finished it off.

Could be the new Riverdance on tour in the future.

Overall, Kudos to RTE - now why can't they do comedy as well as that.

I was at the Centenary concert and I can assure you that Colm Wilkinson's voice is by no means "gone" - he was superb. I see that he has a six date tour coming up later this year so presumably enough people think he's still worth hearing.

What was the problem with "Your Raise me Up"? Has Celine Byrne's voice "gone" too?

I though Michael D's speech was a bit pompous and precious but that's his style.

ProudDUB

You Raise Me Up, is a horrible, schmaltzy, middle of the road piece of pure cheese, that belongs more in a Celine Dion tribute show, than it does in a concert like Centenary. If people disagree, fine, but people are entitled to their opinions. I thought it was horribly out of place. Celine Byrne has an incredible voice and the song choice sold her talents very short. A piece of actual opera, would have been far more appropriate, both for the event and, for the type of singer that she is.

I was at CW's last concert series at the Bord Gais theatre. I think it was about 2 years ago. His voice is no where near as powerful as it used to be. He is over 70 now. How on earth could it be? That doesn't mean he doesn't still have something to offer on a show like Centenary, or that people won't still pay to see him perform.

First Up

ProudDUB wrote:

You Raise Me Up, is a horrible, schmaltzy, middle of the road piece of pure cheese that belongs more in a Celine Dion tribute concert, than it does in a concert like Centenary. If people disagree, fine, but people are entitled to their opinions. I thought it was horribly out of place. Celine Byrne has an incredible voice and the song choice sold her talents very short. A piece of actual opera, would have been far more appropriate, both for the event and for the type of singer she is.

It wouldn't be my favourite piece either but I thought it fitted well enough with the mood - and it is written by an Irish songwriter. I can't see how a piece of opera would have been more appropriate.

First Up

ProudDUB wrote:

I was at CW's last concert series at the Bord Gais theatre. I think it was about 2 years ago. His voice is no where near as powerful as it used to be. He is over 70 now. How on earth could it be? That doesn't mean he doesn't still have something to offer on a show like Centenary, or that people won't still pay to see him perform.

I've no doubt CW has lost some power but he has plenty left and he electrified the place with his performance.

trashcan

ProudDUB wrote: »

You Raise Me Up, is a horrible, schmaltzy, middle of the road piece of pure cheese, that belongs more in a Celine Dion tribute show, than it does in a concert like Centenary..

All this, plus it's basically a re-write of Danny Boy.

First Up

trashcan wrote:

All this, plus it's basically a re-write of Danny Boy.

Which is a lift of the Londonderry Air.

ProudDUB

Danny Boy would have been far more appropriate. I tend to cringe whenever it gets trotted out. But like it or not, it has been a part of our culture (both here and overseas) for a very long time. You Raise Me Up is about as much a part of our culture & our past, as a BeeGee's song.

First Up

ProudDUB wrote:

Danny Boy would have been far more appropriate. I tend to cringe whenever it gets trotted out. But like it or not, it has been a part of our culture (both here and overseas) for a very long time. You Raise Me Up is about as much a part of our culture & our past, as a BeeGee's song.

A song that has been covered well over a hundred times, had several million airplays and performed worldwide at everything from church ceremonies to the opening of major sporting events is entitled to some status in our "culture".

It may not be to your taste (or mine especially) but in the context of the event, it fitted right in.

ProudDUB

First Up wrote: »

A song that has been covered well over a hundred times, had several million airplays and performed worldwide at everything from church ceremonies to the opening of major sporting events is entitled to some status in our "culture".

It may not be to your taste (or mine especially) but in the context of the event, it fitted right in.

You can say that (the contents of your first paragraph) about pretty much every popular song on the planet, from Queen's 'We Will Rock You', to Boyzone's ballads, to Frank Sinatra's 'My Way'. Doesn't mean they have a shred of relevance to Ireland, the 1916 period, or a concert commemorating the Easter Rising, never mind being a half decent song.

First Up

ProudDUB wrote:

You can say that (the contents of your first paragraph) about pretty much every popular song on the planet, from Queen's 'We Will Rock You', to Boyzone's ballads, to Frank Sinatra's 'My Way'. Doesn't mean they have a shred of relevance to Ireland, the 1916 period, or a concert commemorating the Easter Rising, never mind being a half decent song.

The number of songs recorded by over 100 artists is quite short actually, and the number written by someone Irish is shorter still.

You obviously have some problem with it but its inclusion in the Centenary concert was perfectly understandable and fitted well into the event.

I note you have made no criticism of the Seo Linn number that finished the show. Do I take it you thought that a better fit?