IRISH SOPRANO MARGARET KEY’S ‘THE GIFT OF MUSIC’ CD
To coincide with the release today (22 June) of her new album ‘The Gift of Music’ Irish soprano Margaret Keys will perform on 26 June Live at Zedel, London. (She can also be seen on 15 August taking part in ‘An Audience with Michael Crawford’ at Guildhall, Cambridge.)
Margaret has performed extensively throughout the world and has performed with some of the world’s leading orchestras and performers. She sang to an audience of 35,000 in a special International Lakeside Proms concert in New Zealand and was one of the chosen artists from throughout the World, which also included Andrea Bocelli and Aretha Franklin, to perform for Pope Francis in a special concert for his first State visit to the USA. The concert was broadcast worldwide to an audience of 1.5million. She has also performed on several TV broadcasts including BBC Songs of Praise, The BBC Proms and on PBS American TV specials.
In the UK she featured on prime-time Saturday night viewing on BBC1 when she took part in ‘How Do You Solve A Problem like Maria’, where she caught the attention of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Subsequently she was awarded the BBC Fame Academy award together with the New York Artists Award and from this amazing feat she flew to the states and took up residency in New York and trained with Opera New York and Broadway Coaches and Stars.
Margaret has since performed with West End star Alfie Boe, Russell Watson, Paul Potts and was special guest to the multi- platinum selling The Fron Male Voice Choir in their recent tour to New York City and in their UK tour. She recently made her debut in the Royal Albert Hall in ‘Christmas with stars’ which was produced by BBC Radio 2 and the TV Times. Following this performance, she was subsequently invited back to perform again in the Royal Albert Hall’s Christmas Concert Special. Most recently she appeared with Russell Watson on his sell-out UK tour.
Margaret is also making quite an impression on the American audiences. Since performing for Pope Francis in his recent visit to the USA she was invited to perform in the world-famous Carnegie Hall, New York in the ‘Holiday for Peace Concert’. She returned to America to perform as special guest performer at the International Convention Centre, Atlanta with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra. The concert was attended by over 44,000 people and other special guests included Bill Gates and Ashton Kutcher. Her performance was met with great acclaim.
That same month Margaret was invited to make her debut at the iconic London Palladium where she performed alongside a stellar line up of artistes in ‘Sunday Night at the London Palladium’. She was highly honoured to perform for HRH Prince of Wales Foundation Concert for Children and Arts, which was aired to an audience of 5million on Classic FM and Sky Arts. Margaret is the consummate professional and not only captivates with her clean, crisp vocals but entertains and creates a lasting bond with her audiences.
‘The Gift of Music’ has been eagerly anticipated by the dedicated worldwide fan base. which was recorded at Smecky Studios in Prague with the multi-award winning and best-selling City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Paul Bateman, Music Director for the likes of Sarah Brightman, Bryn Terfel, Joseph Calleja and José Carreras among others, and produced by industry veteran James Fitzpatrick who produced albums by Lesley Garrett and Paul Potts. Margaret’s new album is released on the recently formed Tadlow Classics which achieved instant Classical Chart Success with their first release by Christina Johnston.
The album which Keys describes as ‘a cocktail of all her musical experiences and training’ also contains personal connections. The song ‘The old man’ reflecting her relationship with her late father Bill to the wonderful music of Jerome Kern ‘All the Things You Are’, Edith Paif’s ‘La Vie En Rose’ and Ennio Morricone’s ‘Se’ from Cinema Paradiso were all introduced to her as a young girl by her Grandfather. Within the album Margaret showcases her great versatility as a performer with popular songs, such as her haunting rendition of Billy Joel’s ‘Lullaby’, Songs from the musicals including the upbeat ‘A lovely Night’ from Cinderella and the Stephen Schwartz hugely popular ‘When you Believe’. Highlighting her Irish roots and culture she chose to record several Irish favourites ‘Carrickfergus’, The Irish Blessing and of course ‘The Londonderry Air’ otherwise known as ‘Danny Boy’. Her soaring classical soprano vocals are also evident with Handel’s ‘Where’ere you Walk’, Caccini’s ‘Ave Maria’, ‘So Deep is the night’ based upon the melody from Chopin’s Tristesse and the spiritual favourite ‘Bless this House.’
To add that little something special she also included a specially arranged medley of Old Time Favourites as they have always proved popular in her live concerts.
You can buy the album here click here.
For more about Margaret Keys click here.