|
Mum’s death drove tenor to succeed
 By
Trevor O’Sullivan
When Josef Locke the world famous Irish tenor died in 1999 many felt
Ireland would never produce his like again.
But lately a plethora of Irish tenors have emerged on the scene to tremendous
acclaim.
Second-generation Irishman Seán Ruane is the latest to follow in
the footsteps of other popular Irish tenors like Finnbar Wright and Martin
Toal.
But it was the tragic death of his mother from breast cancer when he was
just four years old that proved the catalyst for the music career he has
carved out today.
Having won a coveted place at the Royal Northern College of Music, the
Peter Moores Foundation later gave Ruane the backing to continue his studies
on the continent with singing teacher Fernanda Piccini in Italy and with
style and voice coach Enrique Ricci in Spain.
He said: “I often think that I might not have achieved as much as
I have if my mother had still been alive.
“I was driven because the music provided such comfort for me. I
often think she must have been so proud looking down on me.
“She only travelled between Mayo and England and whereas with my
job I have travelled the whole world and continue to do so.”
Last month the 40-year-old signed a five-album record deal with Warner
Music Entertainment, which also includes two DVD releases.
He is regarded as one of the leading tenors of his generation and has
sang and performed all over the world.
Ruane may have grown up in the industrial town of Bacup near Burnley in
east Lancashire but the Mayo influence was a constant influence throughout
his childhood.
His father Peter came from Foxford and his mother Mary from Straide.
The area was a haven for Mayo emigrants and Ruane, along with his seven
brothers and sisters, grew-up listening to the Irish music which their
parents infused the house with.
He said: “When we were kids we all spent our summers in Mayo and
like everyone else we would help save the hay and clean out the cow sheds.
“We would always be outside with our extended family and cousins
and playing in the fields. “We stayed in our granddad’s old
house which was only a two bedroom cottage but we loved going there. We
were surrounded by Irish people and its traditions.
“I have still got family who live in Mayo so I still visit the country
regularly. I also perform regularly there.”
Ruane has become renowned for his performances at a number of sporting
events and it is something he garners immense gratification from.
He said: “The experience is out of this world.
“When everyone joins in singing with you it makes the hair on the
back of my next stand out. With music and sport there tends to be no boundaries
or divisions.
“It doesn’t matter what language you speak and it’s
accepted.” |
