POP MUSIC REVIEW : Altan Excels in Fiery Donegal Tradition

It took half the program for the Irish traditional group Altan to get its act together at the Wadsworth Theater on Saturday. But it was worth the wait.

Altan, whose recent albums have consistently risen to the tops of various world music charts, played an opening set dominated by the sprightly reels and jigs of the Donegal tradition, which is the basis of its musical style. And violinist-singer Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh offered a few melancholy ballads in her warm and haunting voice.

But the set--for all its musical excellence--never quite came to life.

The second half of the performance was an entirely different matter. Its revived energies were triggered in the first tune by violinist Ciaran Tourish, who ripped off a solo so overflowing with spunk and vigor that the capacity audience was soon clapping along spontaneously.

Altan was immediately invigorated. More reels and jigs followed, now buoyed by the enthusiastic rhythms of guitarist Daithi Sproule and bouzouki player Ciaran Curran and the fiery drive of the two-violin front line.

Accordionist Dermot Byrne added harmonic colorations, occasionally contributing wistful solos of his own. And Ni Mhaonaigh sang more ballads about such subjects as the first day of spring, St. Brigid, and the unfortunate passions of lovesick swains. “All my songs are sad,” she noted, adding with a touch of Donegal whimsy, “The men are left brokenhearted and the women go off to play bingo.”

As the program rolled to a close, Altan’s connection with the audience finally became solidly linked when the aisles were filled with dancing listeners--indisputable evidence of Irish music’s remarkable ability to transcend barriers of language and culture.

* Altan performs on Tuesday at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 8 p.m. $15-25. (714) 854-4646.