Ireland’s internationally acclaimed vocal trio The Celtic Tenors — founding member Matthew Gilsenan, Daryl Simpson BEM, and dynamic new tenor George Hutton — have released their highly anticipated live album, The Celtic Tenors: Live at The Empire Theatre, out now through Slammin’ Media and Believe Distribution. Captured in a single electrifying evening at The Empire Theatre in Belleville, Ontario, the 16-track record documents a trio at the very peak of their powers, delivering a breathtaking blend of Irish folk, opera, classical, and pop in their signature, harmony-rich style.
The album arrives on the heels of an extraordinary period of momentum for the trio. Their PBS television special — showcasing Matthew Gilsenan, George Hutton, and Daryl Simpson performing opera, classical, Irish traditional, and pop music in their signature harmony-rich style — is available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App across multiple platforms. The special has significantly expanded their American audience, airing on stations from WNET in New York to KVCR in Los Angeles.
Critical reception to the album’s lead singles has been enthusiastic. Reviewing the trio’s bilingual rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect Symphony,” ATV Today called it “less a cover than a re-framing: a contemporary pop ballad recast as something intimate, almost devotional,” adding that the performance “carries the faint electricity of a room holding its breath.” The review concluded that the recording demonstrates not commercial endurance but artistic patience — proof that crossover need not mean compromise, but simply means conversation between genres, languages, and past and present.
The Celtic Tenors: Live at The Empire Theatre is a dynamic crossover concert that redefines the traditional Irish music experience, featuring a diverse repertoire blending iconic Irish folk songs with operatic and melodic reinterpretations of global hits by Guns N’ Roses, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran. The full 16-track album spans the heartfelt intimacy of “Grace” and the rousing energy of “Galway Girl” to stunning interpretations of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Viva La Vida,” alongside timeless Irish staples “Danny Boy,” “Whiskey In The Jar,” and “The Impossible Dream.”
Supporting the trio throughout are music director Colm O’Regan at grand piano, Darren Bell on guitars and mandolin, John O’Brien on pipes, whistles, and bouzouki, and Cecilia Leahy on violin. Together they create what ATV Today described as a performance where the supporting ensemble resists flourish in favour of texture — leaving space for breath, for phrasing, and for the kind of dynamic shading that studio polish often smooths away.
Matthew Gilsenan, the Kells, County Meath native whose emotive tenor has captivated audiences from New York to Shanghai, brings his characteristic storytelling warmth throughout. Daryl Simpson BEM — whose British Empire Medal recognises his dedication to peace and reconciliation through music — adds operatically trained power and nuanced artistry. George Hutton, the Derry-born tenor whose collaborations have ranged from Hozier to legendary Irish composer Phil Coulter, infuses the trio with fresh energy and contemporary sensibility. Together, they have earned their place among Ireland’s most successful classical-crossover acts while maintaining a rare balance of skill and personality — and over two decades and more than one million albums sold worldwide, their appeal, as the critics confirm, remains gloriously undimmed. A tour of Ireland is planned for later this fall, with the trio returning to North America for their celebrated Celtic Christmas 2026 tour.
The Celtic Tenors: Live at The Empire Theatre is out now on all major streaming platforms and available for purchase through Slammin’ Media and Believe Distribution.
2026 TOUR DATES:
June 26, 2026 — Ceili at the Castle, Hillsborough, UK