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MARY O'HARA SOUVENIR BROCHURE
JO LUSTIG presents
MARY O'HARA Singing and playing the Celtic Harp
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Accompanied by DAVE GOLD Musical Director/Piano JOHN FRANCHI Woodwinds MIKEBARKER Guitar JOHN RICHARDS Double Bass Tour presented with kind co-operation of AERLINGUS
10th 13th 15th 17th 19th 21st 24th 26th 28th 30th 1st
SPRING TOUR 1979 MAY DERBY Assembly Rooms NORWICH Theatre Royal SLOUGH Fulcrum ASHINGTON Leisure Centre SOUTHPORT New Theatre BARROW Civic Hall HATFIELD Forum EXMOUTH Festival Centre LONDON Royal Festival Hall SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion JUNE WARRINGTON Parr Hall
the new album from \9
SIDE ONE Plaisir D'amour, Rainy Day People, The Clown, The Sun Is Burning, Too Much Magic
SIDE TWO Pussy Willows Cat Tails, Sliabh NaMban, A Friend Of Mine, The Wee Cooper O'Fife, Mon Pays, Spinning Wheel
CHR1194
CUR 1159
SIDE ONE Morning Has Broken, Tapestry, A Hebridean Milking Song, Among Silence, Bring me a Shawl from Galway, Bridge over Troubled Water. SIDE TWO Forty-Five Years, Una Bhan (Fair Una), Scarlet Ribbons (Kuban Rouges), Song for a Winters Night, When I Need You, Lord of the Dance.
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SIDE ONE Music Speaks Louder than Words, Annie's Song, Cucuin a Chuaichin (Cuckoo, Little Cuckoo), Oceans Away, Dust in the Wind, The Snail SIDE TWO I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song, Home in the Meadow, Scorn Not His Simplicity, Ceol a Phiobaire (Music of the Piper), Never My Love, Roisin Dubh (Dark Rosaleen).
When Mary went to Beaulieu last October she thought she was going to film an interview for Southern Television. The last person she was expecting to see was Eamonn Andrews with his little red book 'Hello Mary. I know you weren't expecting this car to drive into the scene, but I've arranged it all with Southern Television so that tonight I can say - international singing star Mary O'Hara this is your life'. But what could be a more fitting tribute to the lady who has so quickly won many hearts the world over, beginning with that memorable interview on the Russell Harty Show on 14th October 1977. Writing in The Observer, Russell said . . . 'she came quietly to her chair and stormed her way into the heads and hearts of everyone.' On 5th November 1977 Mary gave her "comeback" concert at London's Royal Festival Hall and demonstrated to the capacity crowd that she had successfully renewed her career. She sang for the first time with a five-piece backing group and her repertoire included contemporary songs as well as some of her own compositions. It was an extraordinary personal triumph and at the end the audience of 3,000 people stood up and willed her back for encore after encore.
From then on Mary's success has been like an avalanche. The Royal Festival Hall concert was recorded and the LP rush-released in December. That album, her first new recording for many years, earned her a silver disc. The following February, Mary undertook a nation-wide tour and filled London's Royal Albert Hall as well as two nights at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, her home town. During March she had her own specials on BBC and ITV. The first one, shown on BBC on St. Patrick's Day, was recorded during her concert at the Grosvenor Hall in Belfast. A week later the ITV show featured Mary on location and in the studio with guests. In April Mary went to America and Canada and duplicated her concert successes. After her Carnegie Hall concert the New York Times Critic wrote: 'Singing traditional Celtic material and ballads, accompanying herself with adept and delicate filigree on the Irish harp, MsO'Harais mesmerising.' In July Mary took part in the Golden Gala at the London Palladium to celebrate 50-years of votes for women. This was attended by Princess Margaret and the Prime Minister. Then in November, before starring in her own season at the London Palladium, she was invited to perform for the Queen Mother in the Royal Variety Show. Both these events were seen on television.
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and the silver disc she was awarded for Mary O'Hara at The Royal Festival Hall.
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During the autumn of 1978 the Music Speaks Louder Than Words LP was released and Mary also undertook another British tour as well as appearing on numerous television shows. She was a frequent guest throughout the year on Stars on Sunday, appeared twice on Val Doonican 's Music Show and at Christmas did James Galway's World Of Music. After the Christmas holidays, Mary was back in the studio to record In Harmony which has just been released. Just before leaving for her second tour of Ireland at the end of February, Mary helped Jimmy Saville "Fix It" for 10-year old Helen Cooke from Newquay who wanted to learn to play the harp and for Arthur Bayfield from Kings Lynn whose ambition was to sing a song with her. While in Ireland Mary played a concert in Sligo, the town where she was born, and attended a reception given in her honour by the Mayor. She also received an award on Gay Byrne's Late Late Show for being chosen Irish Person Of The Year by Irish Post readers living in Britain. Twenty years ago, after hearing Mary give an impromptu performance, the late Sir Compton Mackenzie said, This voice has got to be recorded so everyone can hear how beautiful it is.' Mary has made many records since that evening and now fills concert halls all over the world with her clear soprano voice with its haunting natural quality. It is hard to believe that for twelve years she put away her harp and did not sing. The story of those twelve years, of how Mary gave up a successful career to become a member of the enclosed Order of Benedictines after the death of her young husband, has been well documented and has proved to be an inspiration to many who have also suffered the loss of a loved one.
On This Is Your Life Joyce Grenfell said 'Mary's God-given gift was her voice and what is surely meant for her is to sing to as many people as possible.'
25 Opportunities to
FOCUS ON
the enchanting voice of
MARY O'HARA FOCUSON
DECCP
25 Titles including THE WEAVING SONG • SHE MOVED THRO' THE FAIR • MY LAGAN LOVE • THE NEXT MARKET DAY THE STUTTERING LOVERS • THE MINSTREL BOY GAELIC HYMN IN PRAISE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
FOS 49/50 Also available on cassette KFOC2 8089
DECCR The Decca Record Company Limited Decca House Albert Embankment London SE1 7SW
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The Toronto Sun. Wednesday April 19, 1978
Turning folkmusic into artsong There is a special grace required to sing, say, "Nikkity, nokkity, nu nunu" so that your audience will end up smiling with you rather than at. Mary O'Hara demonstrated that grace in concert at Massey Hall Monday night. Alone with her Irish harp or accompanied by five very casual acquaintances in what must be some of the gentlest arrangements in all of pop music, she remained a mature artist who has never put away childish things. And so refined. Her soprano has an eerie thinness, the purity of a Joan Baez without the tension. It sings from serenity and shares the sweetness of someone who has tasted salt and : our and chooses them no more. It turns folkmusic into artsong, a hit into a hymn. The melodies she has contributed to her show suit her chosen lyrics beautifully. Her Godsong about the snail was a joy. The artful introduction of dissonances into her accompaniment in Among Silence touched the heartstrings of her late husband's farewell poem. Other songs are classics, ancient or modern. Mostly she invested them with her personal warmth, making them seem new and important and somehow r a d i a n t (just as she did to the same songs on her recent Royal Festival Hall album).
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tew Treat for listeners Music Speaks Louder Than Words: Songs by Mary O'Hara (Chrysalis)
This, as t one would expect from Mary O'Hara, is a truly b e a u t i f u l r e c o r d . Her performance is at one polished and sincere, and the well-chosen selection of songs covers a wide range of moods and styles — modern and traditional, sentiment and passion.
THElrJShPOST THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN
IRISH PERSON OF THE YEAR 1978 It was probably inevitable from the outset. Mary O'Hara is 'Irish Person of the Year in Britain*. With a total of 2,216, she h&s polled well in excess of any previous winner. In all, 103 men and women were nominated and the poll attracted 9,302 votes — approximately the same as last year when Terry Wogan was the w i n n e r , edging Mary O'Hara by 21 votes in the closest contest ever. But this time Mary wasn't really challenged. The voting was as follows: 1. Mary O'Hara 2,216 2. Liam Brady 672 3. Jonjo O'Neill 406 4. Terry Wo«n 361 5. Val Doonlcan 326 6. David O'Leary 298 7. Tom Walsh 128 8. Fr. Bill Cagney 112 9. BH1 Hmlky 110 10. Jack Doyle 106 Actually, James Galway would have been third except that he lives in Switzerland and isn't eligible. He polled 469. Eamonn Andrews would also have been in the Top Ten except that he too, of course, isn't eligible because in latter years he and his family are based in Dublin. As always, our columnist Frank Dplan polled well but he remains ineligible. Footballer David O'Leary, on the other hand, is also a columnist but there is a clear distinction between him and Dolan. O'Leary attracted his votes for his feats Mary O'Harm:met on the football Held. Dolan's endorsement relates entirely to his column in this newspaper. Since her marriage last year, Dana lives in Ireland and is no longer eligible. As always she received a considerable number of votes — as did horseman Ediiic M a c k e n . But he too lives in Ireland. That much said, however, it certainly was Mary O'Hara's year — crowning success after success, including a season at the London Palladium and a Royal Command Performance at which she sang in Irish. This time last year, and after she had been pipped by Terry Wogan, we wrote: "all indications are that 1978 will be an even greater triumph for Mary and no doubt we will be seeing her on this list again." That has proven to be something of an understatement.
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O'Hara's year
MARVELLOUS MARY THE last week's m o s t pleasing show for me was London Weekend's presentation of Mary O'Hara (right) aithough ft was on far too late on Good Friday. Her voice is pure silver and a sublime lesson to the plethora of raucous singers infesting the TV screens. Paul Smith's direction was unostentatious and gentle ann contributed to a satisfying and relaxing 45 minutes of superb singing. More, please.
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Dublincr Liam Brady, despite trailing behind Mary O'Hara, polled exceptionally highly. He b now, of course, a rah figure in football and acknowledged as a classical performer with few equals anywhere in world football. He is also an outstanding Irishman — something he demonstrated without hesitation on a number of occasions in 1978. Iliose then are the Irish in Britain who most impressed their own during 1978. On an appropriate occasion later this year we will be presenting Mary O'Hara with her 'Irish Person of the Year in Britain1 award.
THE GRAMOPHONE Mary O'Hara has a voice of sweet, crystalclear purity, the unusual ability of accompanying herself expertly on the Celtic harp, and that special Irish brand of photogenic beauty, and there seems no doubt that 1978 will consolidate and expand the international success of her return from a closed-order convent after 12 years. "Mary O'Hara At The Royal Festival Hall" (Chrysalis CHR1159) was recorded in concert at that venue on November 5th last year with a small orchestra in support and a scintillating selection of songs, including Morning has broken, Tapestry, Bring me a shawl from Galway, Carole Bayer Sager's When I need you and Mary O'Hara's own setting of her late husband Richard Sclig's poem Among silence. Her diffidently charming introductions set the seal on a first-class, folk-oriented LP which culminates with Sydney Carter's Lord of the dance,
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THE SONGS
The programme will be chosen from the following:
A Ballynure Ballad A Friend Of Mine Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes Eros It's A Me O Lord Killing Me Softly With His Song Lord Of The Dance Mon Pays My Lagan Love
Tant Conje Vivrai The Clown The Frog & The Mouse The Minstrel Boy The Snail The Sun Is Burning The Twa Corbies The Weaving Song Too Much Magic
Plaisir D'Amour Pussy Willows, Cat Tails Rainy Day People Sean 's A Bhriste Leathair Sliabh Na mBan Song For A Winter's Night Spinning Wheel Streets Of London Sweet Child Of Glory
Gay Byrne, host of Irish Television's The Late Late Show, presents Mary with her 'Irish Person Of The Year' Award
This Souvenir Brochure is published by DAVID FELLERMAN for TOP-BILLING PUBLICATIONS LTD. 01-439 7048/9
MAILORDER If you would like further copies of this souvenir brochure please forward a cheque/postal order for £1.20 plus a large stamped addressed envelope to: DeptMO'H, 11 Oxford Circus Avenue, 231 Oxford Street, London Wl ©Top-Billing Publications April 79 Please refrain from smoking in the auditorium
THIS IS THE OFFICIAL TOUR BROCHURE In accordance with the requirements of the Greater London Council and the Watch Committees of the various towns and cities of the tour, the following conditions must be observed: — 1. The public may leave at the end of the performance by all exit and entrance doors and such doors must at that time be open. 2. All gangways, corridors, staircases and external passageways intended for exit shall be kept entirely free from obstruction whether permanent or temporary. 3. Persons shall not be permitted to stand or sit in any of the gangways intersecting the seating, or to sit in any of the other gangways or any unseated space in the Auditorium, unless standing in such space has been specially allowed by the GLC or the Watch Committee, as applicable. If standing is permitted in the gangways at the sides and the rear of the seating it shall be limited to the numbers indicated in the notices exhibited in those positions. 4. The safety curtain must be lowered and raised once immediately before the commencement of each performance so as to ensure it being in proper working order. The Management reserve the right to change the programme without notice and are not held responsible for the non-appearance of any artist. The Management reserve the right to refuse admittance.
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