The Fiery Fiddle of Eileen Ivers: Bringing Immigrant Soul to Charleston
February 23, 2011
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 19th with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra
CHARLESTON, SC – February 22, 2011 – Eileen Ivers will change the way you think about the violin. The fiddler has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today. She’s been called a sensation by Billboard magazine, “a virtuoso” by The Irish Times, the Jimi Hendrix of the violin by The New York Times and “the future of the Celtic fiddle” by The Washington Post. Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul will lead Charleston in an Irish celebration with a performance along side the Charleston Symphony Orchestra led by SC Philharmonic music director, Morihiko Nakahara, on Saturday, March 19th at the Gaillard Auditorium at 7:30 pm.
“We are thrilled to have Eileen Ivers and her band, Immigrant Soul, perform with the Charleston Symphony. This concert is a great opportunity for our community to hear a world-renowned, Grammy-winning, Celtic fiddler and for the symphony’s classically-trained musicians to let loose for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration,“ commented CSO Artistic Advisor, Yuriy Bekker, “This show is guaranteed to make you want to get up on stage and Riverdance!”
The young Ivers never expected to become a professional musician with numerous All-Ireland Fiddle Championships and Grammy™-awarded projects under her belt—she’s a mathematician by education. Yet her unintentional career has taken her from co-founding Cherish the Ladies and touring with The Chieftains, to guest starring with acclaimed symphonies, collaborating with celebrated jazz and pop artists and her most recent televised performances with Sting. Ivers expertise and artistic diversity led her to forge a new, front-and-center role for the fiddle in Celtic performance, in particular, in creating the musical star role of Riverdance.
Her own work has led her to dig deep into Irish and Celtic sounds, tracing connections between continents and scattered Celtic communities, sharing how these connections reverberate in American roots music, delving into jazz sensibilities and Grappelli-esque improvisations, and incorporating her trademark effects with her eye-catching (and ear-catching) electric violin.
Her fellow members of Immigrant Soul enrich Ivers’ open-minded, open-bordered innovation and share her passion for performance. Lead singer, percussionist, and former Blues Brother Tommy McDonnell is equally at home with the congas and the bodhrán (Irish frame drum), while bassist Leo Traversa, when not teaching at NY’s Columbia University, can be found backing Afro-Cuban and Brazilian masters. Acoustic guitarist Greg Anderson has worked with folk legend Pete Seeger, as well as classical icon Itzhak Perlman. All-Ireland accordion champ Buddy Connolly has worked with American roots music greats Tim O’Brien and Kathy Mattea.
By diving into diverse projects with multifaceted musicians, Ivers continues to blend Celtic soulfulness with a well-honed sense of showmanship. The show can bring even the most staid audience to its feet. Ivers frequently gets listeners dancing in the aisles and often leaps into the audience to join them. Regardless of the group’s embrace of the audience and their sparkle on stage, Ivers explains, “The music is always the star, but we’re performing artists. It’s a balance we’ve learned to strike. It’s a privilege to be up there on stage, and we love it.”
Event Information:
Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra
Morihiko Nakahara, Guest Conductor
Saturday, March 19, 2011
7:30 pm
Gaillard Municipal Auditorium
Tickets $25 – $50; Student tickets $10. Tickets available at www.CharlestonSymphony.com, Gaillard Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 800-982-2787.
About the Charleston Symphony Orchestra:
The Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the largest full-time performing arts organization in South Carolina, has been a partner in weaving the cultural fabric of Charleston since 1936. The Orchestra’s mission is to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of music among visitors and residents of the Charleston area, and to make music a vital part of the area’s cultural life. Its artistic excellence, youth education programs, and community outreach have made the Charleston Symphony Orchestra a central component in the rich cultural foundation of this region.
