The management of the Waterfront Hall celebrated St Patrick's Day with two concerts back to back: Shaun Davey's popular orchestral works Granuaile (1984) and The Brendan Voyage (1980), followed by a late night session with Scottish pop-tradies Capercaillie.
In terms of events, the Davey concert was the one - or, at least, it should have been. Not performed since 1992, the Granuaile song cycle opened proceedings. The piece is based on the life and times of the 16th century Irish buccaneer Grace O'Malley, and was written as a vehicle for the sublime and too infrequently heard voice of Rita Connolly. For those who adore the recording and never experienced the live presentation it was a thrill.
But in spite of Connolly's commanding presence, Davey himself on piano and backing vocals and no obvious hiccups from the Ulster Orchestra under Gearoid Grant, the overall effect was somewhat underwhelming. Partly this was down to the smallness of the sound in this notoriously dry, atmosphere-free auditorium, but there was also a tangible nervousness emanating to varying degrees from featured piper Michael McGoldrick, fiddler Nollaig Casey and guitarist John Scott.
Tackling The Brendan Voyage for the first time, and without sheet music, erstwhile Bothy Band piper Peter Browne fared much better. Moreover, the sound, given a swelling in the orchestra's numbers, seemed to at least approach the level necessary for a sense of occasion. In short, a laudable idea carried off professionally, but an inadequate setting for these deeply atmospheric works to truly flourish.
