Thriller Live

The stars were out in style this week for the US recording industry’s most prestigious awards – the Grammys.  It was a clean sweep of the board for Adele who won all five of the awards she was nominated for – but it was her incredibly moving tribute to the late George Michael that totally stole the show.

But we’re celebrating the music of a different Michael tonight.  In his lifetime, this Michael won 13 Grammy awards from a total of 36 nominations, as well as winning both the Legend and the Lifetime Achievement awards.  They don’t call him the “undisputed king of pop” for nothing!  He was of course, the late, great, Michael Jackson.  Gone – but not forgotten...

Michael Jackson had his first taste of success in 1969 at the tender age of 11   – along with his brothers in The Jackson 5.  By the age of 13, he had launched a solo career in addition to his work with the family band - and he had his first chart success with Got To Be There in 1971.  That was swiftly followed the next year with his first number one solo hit, and an unlikely song about a rat:

By the early 1980s, Michael Jackson was a dominant figure in the world of pop, and his music videos are credited with breaking racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form - videos like Beat It, Billie Jean and Thriller!

Thriller Live is a concert created to celebrate the career of Michael Jackson.  It’s now in its eighth year in London’s West End and next month, for one week only, the show comes to Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre.  Derek recently spoke to the show’s creator, and Michael Jackson mega-fan, Adrian Grant...

Thriller Live runs at The Gaiety Theatre from Monday, March 6th to Saturday, March 11th.  For more information on the production, visit www.thrillerlive.com.  And to book tickets, visit www.gaietytheatre.ie/index.php/whats-on-buy-tickets/calendar/thriller-live/643.

Mooney's Saturday Quiz

Time now for our general knowledge quiz, in which three listeners try to correctly answer as many questions as they can within a minute, to win a fabulous hotel break.  And to coincide with their ‘Say Hello to More’ spring campaign (www.sayhellotomore.com), we’ve teamed up with Tourism Northern Ireland to offer one lucky listener the chance to win a fabulous two-night break!  It includes breakfast for two people and dinner on one evening at Newforge House, a 5 star country guest house in Armagh (www.newforgehouse.com).

Newforge House

This fantastic prize also includes a tour of Hillsborough Castle & Gardens, located nearby.  It’s just a 30-minute-drive from Belfast, and with the shores of Lough Neagh only a few minutes away, Newforge is the perfect base for exploring Northern Ireland!

Celine Byrne & Carmen

Next month, Irish soprano Celine Byrne will be performing at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in the Moscow State Opera’s production of Carmen - when she will be playing the role of faithful sweetheart, Michaëla.

We're delighted that Celine joins us in studio this evening to tell us about Carmen, Celine's life as an opera singer, and about her friendship with Jose Carreras!

Moscow State Opera’s production of Carmen, featuring Celine Byrne, is at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin from Wednesday, March 1st to Sunday, March 5th.  The Orchestra of The Moscow State Opera will accompany the soloists, a magnificent chorus, and the children’s choir provided by The Junior Musicals Theatre School of Bray.  For further information about the production, visit www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie/index.php/artist/carmen.  And to find out more about Celine, visit www.celinebyrne.com.