Ronan Tynan: The Impossible Dream

Admirers of the Irish tenor who not only toured with two colleagues in emulation of the Pavarotti-Domingo-Carreras trio and sang at the Reagan memorial service, but also inspiringly overcame physical disability (an ankle deformity which led to the amputation of his lower legs) to achieve success (not only musical but physical--he was a gold-medal winner in the Paralympics), will hardly need encouragement to watch this handsomely-recorded film of his 2002 concert at the Royal Dublin Society. Accompanied by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra conducted by Proinsias O'Duinn (whom, in one of his engaging song introductions, Tynan describes as his discoverer), Tynan not only sings national standards such as “Danny Boy” and “My Irish Molly,” but also modern Irish songs by U2 and Brian Kennedy, as well as numbers by Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, and Joni Mitchell, along with the title piece from Man of La Mancha. It must be said that while Tynan has a strong, pleasant voice, it's not a great operatic instrument--the low register is rather weak--and while he speaks of his emotional connection with the songs, the emphasis seems more on pure vocalism than deep feeling. The concert, presented in Dolby Digital 5.0 and stereo, includes occasional interludes with the energetic London Community Gospel Choir, and the disc adds as a bonus a featurette in which the singer talks about his life in general and this show in particular. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (F. Swietek)