WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
RIVERDANCE  

RIVERDANCE ON BROADWAY

"THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A RIVERDANCE!" - Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times

"The core of 'Riverdance' is its huge, whirling, thunderous, hard shoe numbers driven by Bill Whelan's surging reinventions of Irish dance music". - Fintan O'Toole, Daily News

"A GREAT BIG BROADWAY SHOW, WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!" - Jacques le Sourd, The Journal News

 

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WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
RIVERDANCE  

RIVERDANCE
"Largely because of the success of Riverdance, Irish music is impacting the pop music market as never before. It's hard to believe, for example, that the highly popular score for the film Titanic would have emerged as it did without the prior existence of Bill Whelan's remarkable music for Riverdance."
Don Heckman Jazz and World Music critic for The Los Angeles Times

"Riverdance composer Bill Whelan's celebration of Irish song and dance that has thrilled audiences from Dublin to Manhattan, exposes the architecture of Celtic music as well as its finery." Chicago Tribune

"Bill Whelan's music is haunting, evocative..." Daily News

"Whelan's melodic themes are strong and vibrant." St Petersburg Times

"The soul of Riverdance is the music of Bill Whelan, who has imbued the score with with a mystical quality of both ancient melodies and modern harmonies, underscored by myriad ethnically diverse rhythms." Daily Variety

"Riverdance stands on its own as a great musical work beyond its value as the soundtrack to the dance-rich theatrical piece." Billboard Magazine

"This soundtrack from Dublin's hit musical makes traditional Celtic music hip and stylish, blending instruments like the fiddle and the sax into elegant folk compositions." US News & World Report

"Riverdance not only stands up outside the theatrical fourth wall, it represents world music at its finest." Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"With the astonishing critical and commercial success of the Riverdance stage show, for which he wrote all the music and lyrics, there can be little doubt that Whelan has earned the title of High King of Irish Music." Dirty Linen Magazine

"Fabulous, stupendous, electrifying, unique." Irish Voice

"Whelan has assembled a stellar collection of the talents of Irish music and woven several different ethnic strands into a complete work. Ten out of ten." Hot Press

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WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
THE ROOTS OF RIVERDANCE  

ROOTS OF RIVERDANCE
"Thanks to his verve and spark, Whelan's interpretations never go stale" USA Today

"(Whelan's) original compositions are rooted in tradition through use of uniquely Irish instruments" Irish Echo

The Roots Of Riverdance - * * *
The Seville Suite - * * *
Detroit Press

"Bill Whelan has a fine new album chronicling the origins of that dance spectacular as well as his other music"
Denver Post

The Roots Of Riverdance - * * *
LA Times

"Whelan's melodic themes are strong and vibrant. Whelan has captured the spirit of Irish music tradition well here..." St Petersburg Times

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WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
DANCING AT LUGHNASA  

DANCING AT LUGHNASA
"Bill Whelan is responsible for the film's excellent soundtrack" The Examiner

"The musicianship, courtesy of the Irish Film Orchestra, is impeccable" Evening Herald

"Pearson is to be commended for getting Bill Whelan of Riverdance fame to compose the haunting soundtrack music. It also features Dolores Keane singing a version of The Salley Gardens that won't leave a dry eye in the cinema" Sunday World

"Bill Whelan's music is haunting" Irish Independent

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WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
SOME MOTHER'S SON  

SOME MOTHER'S SON
"Whelan's billowing musical score, including the indigenous strains of the Irish countryside, is the film's technical highlight." The Hollywood Reporter

"...is as gripping and powerfully emotional as good film music should be, but without sacrificing a very Irish sense of wistfulness... beautiful, haunting music." Premiere Magazine

"Mirren's compelling performance holds the audience through all the complexities of the piece as it builds towards a gripping climax." Screen International

"At once haunting and beautiful, this release highlights many flavours of Celtic music, in the process offering one the chance to frame a powerful reference point in Ireland's history through musical shades." Seconds Magazine

YOP


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