Reviews of Last Year's Concert

"The Pilgrim fascinated 3700 spectators and pinned them to their seats. They in turn demanded two encores and gave the musicians a standing ovation. Shaun Davey can be proud of the updating of his work, it was simply superb.
Created in 1987 at the request of FIL, The Pilgrim has become a well known musical myth among followers of that genre. This year Shaun Davey reworked it for the 30th year of the Festival and all in all it was the concert not be missed. The Pilgrim is the story of St.Colomban who travelled throughout the Celtic nations where he encountered not only suffering and cruelty but also hope and beauty. There is no doubt but that the music brought the 3700 listeners on a superb voyage of the imagination marked with wonderful Celtic imagery and carried by Gilles Servat's narration.
Rita Connolly seduced with her gentle voice, like Liam O'Maonlai. And what can be said of the other soloists, talents such as Liam O'Flynn on uilleann pipes, Andre Le Meut and Josik Allot on bombardes, and Helen Davies on Celtic Harp, not to mention the 180-strong choir and the FIL orchestra accompanied by Bagad from Lorient.
Ouest France 14/8/00

"A standing ovation for at least five minutes from 3000 spectators. Rarely in 30 years has a festival show evoked such enthusiasm. On Saturday evening in the big Kergroise marquee, The Pilgrim made hearts reel. How can one not be lyrical about an evening whose lyricism swept away all reticence? It's true that the first moments of the concert were almost close to being becalmed, but very quickly the first squalls flurried and the skiff of Kergroise suddenly so fragile is carried along on a delicious musical peregrination. One couldn't be prevented from applauding between each movement though it's not the norm because it (the music) was too strong, too moving, because it was too beautiful.
Certainly, for many, it was more than the shock of discovery; the fusion of orchestra, choir and traditional instruments dated back 20 years to The Brendan Voyage. But on Saturday evening it was far better than The Pilgrim of 1087, more accessible and more intense. From the banks of the Emerald Isle to the Iberian coast, crossing over the diabolical sea of Albion and the smiling Armorican, the listener / pilgrim , in his currach rode on the sea plains for two hours, often buffeted by the winds of Celtica and sometimes caressed by the gentle sun of Ponant. At any moment one could meet the body of King Arthur en route for fascinating Avalon. Yes, one was there, at the heart of these myths which bathe the coasts of the Atlantic be it by the grace of collective consciousness or by a simple flight of uilleann pipes.
The classical instruments soften where the bagpipes, bombardes or gaitas grate and the traditional instruments bring the former the savagery they lack. Fusion, one would say, total fusion gave the whole thing a completely new colour and brilliance without equal. This without mentioning the voice, certainly that of Rita Connolly and Liam O'Maonlai, that of Gilles Servat narrating and the 200-strong choir - without them The Pilgrim would not have that human depth, this gift which moves us so profoundly. It's necessary also to salute the performance of Guy Berrier, the conductor, who made that music with the strange lineage his own with startling mastery. The whole crew of this musical voyage were themselves the climax of the event.
WHAT INSPIRATION! WHAT ENERGY!"
Le Telegramme 14/8/00

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