Solas, MacMaster Offer Celtic Energy

Two distinct forms of Celtic music showed up at the Veterans Wadsworth Theater on Saturday in the performances of Solas and Natalie MacMaster. And each was well worth hearing.

Solas, an all-star group featuring the multi-instrumental virtuosity of Seamus Egan, used its stunning skills to reinterpret a rich array of traditional music. MacMaster, a violinist from Nova Scotia, opened with the Scottish-based Cape Breton violin style, rendering it into a highly personal, intensely communicative form of entertainment.

MacMaster’s set was especially remarkable, as she gave a flat-out star-quality performance. She was a ball of fire, performing jigs and reels with unstoppable, foot-tapping energy and ballads with irresistible, keening passion. If anyone is looking for a Celtic performer with major potential to cross over into the larger pop music market, MacMaster’s the one.

She was a hard act to follow, and Solas did not try to compete. The group’s low-key ensemble playing provided perfect counterpoint to MacMaster’s solo turn. Egan was predictably impressive on flute, whistle and banjo. Equally superb were fiddler Winifred Horan, guitarist John Doyle and accordionist Mick McAuley. Singer Karan Casey added her sweet-timbred voice in a collection of poignant traditional songs.