Róisín ReImagined

Breathing new life into old, Róisín ReImagined takes the ancient tradition of sean nós singing, filters it through new arrangements by six Irish composers and adds the mellifluous muscle and cosseting gloss of a chamber orchestra to produce something rather special. Singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh’s long-fascination with a rich vocal heritage stretching back to the 16th century bears especially satisfying fruit in a telling collaboration with producer Dónal O’Connor and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Distinctive solo contributions from Cormac McCarthy (piano), Aisling Ennis (harp), Mick O’Brien (uilleann pipes) and Caitríona Frost (percussion) add telling traditional accents to vital contemporary-classical arrangements.

It probably ought not to work, but the luxurious eloquence of the arrangements, the persuasive conviction of the ICO’s playing and Nic Amhlaoibh’s ardent, articulate, soulfully probing conviction makes for a surprisingly satisfying experience. It’s a combination that throws up one treasure after another: the timeless ‘Róisín Dubh’ transformed into the most plaintive of arias, ‘Slán le Máigh’ afforded haunting, confessional intimacy, ‘An Chúilfhionn’ as beautiful as anything you’ll hear this year. ‘Cailín na nÚrla Donn’ is delivered with a delightfully peppy vitality, and ‘Tá mo Mhadra Medley’ dispatched with playful charm. The diverse arrangers – Cormac McCarthy, Paul Campbell, Linda Buckley, Sam Perkin, Niamh Varian-Barry and Michael Keeney – also merit recognition.