For the 12th year, WGBH’s “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn with Brian O’Donovan” will be taking the popular WGBH radio program “A Celtic Sojourn” to the stage with 10 live performances in Boston as well as Worcester, New Bedford and Rockport. Performances include storytelling by host Brian O’Donovan, traditional Celtic music and dance and this year, the show will also explore the music, song and dance traditions that crossed over from Ireland and Scotland to the New World, where they transformed into what we now know as Appalachian old-time, country and bluegrass.
O’Donovan never envisioned he would be hosting the performance for its 12th year. “I thought it would be a one-time show but think its popularity is based on a series of things, including an unexpected demand for tickets,” he said. “The show was a chance for my program to expand beyond the walls of the living room. I thought it could be a live show and looked at churches and then hosted it at the Somerville Theater where it sold out. It later became a downtown show where it is now and it sells out. I think people really enjoy it because the show slows people down. This year, we are exploring how the Celtic traditions came here so there will be a crossover into Appalachian music and dancing.”
This year, the show will also host internationally recognized vocal duo Lumiere, direct from County Kerry. Known for their past solo and ensemble work, Pauline Scanlon and Éilís Kennedy have been entertaining audiences as a duo, with their superb harmonies, exquisite traditional
material and a warm stage presence that typifies the Celtic tradition. Cara Butler and Nathan Pilatzke, of The StepCrew, will highlight the traditions of Celtic dance and the young dancers from the Harney Academy of Irish Dance in Walpole will once again take the stage.
Below is a listing of performance dates and locations:
Fri., Dec. 12th at 8 p.m. Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston
Sat., Dec. 13th at 3 p.m. & 8 p.m. Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston
Sun., Dec. 14th at 1 p.m. & 5 p.m. Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston
Mon., Dec. 15th at 4:30 p.m. & 8 p.m. Shalin Liu Performance Centre, Rockport
Wed., Dec. 17th at 7:30 p.m. Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, Worcester
Thur., Dec. 18th at 7:30 p.m. Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, New Bedford
Fri., Dec. 19th at 8 p.m. Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston
Sat., Dec. 20th at 3 p.m. & 8 p.m. Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston
Sun., Dec. 21st at 1 p.m. & 5 p.m. Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston
For more information or tickets, visit www.wgbh.org/celtic.
