Their beautiful voices will blend, weave, and soar Sunday afternoon in the Valentine Theatre.

The Irish Sopranos have crafted their show to be happily entertaining, with two hours of songs from a variety of genres. Since combining their talents almost three years ago, the young women have paid close attention to the "clap-ometer," first in Ireland and then in the United States, says Deirdre Masterson, one of the trio.

"Our aim is to please," she says. The playbill includes Irish, light opera, inspirational, musical theater, and pop. "It's music that people will automatically recognize," she says. "We tend to go for what we think has a good melody and what is pleasing to ourselves."

The women, in their 20s, build audience rapport with bright conversation and a few sing-alongs. "We make a really friendly atmosphere," says Masterson.

Each voice brings a different flavor to the mix.

"We can get a great blend going because we don't sound the same." She describes her own contribution as "a round, chocolaty color."

Kay Lynch handles the highest end of the range with lyric coloratura, and Wendy Dwyer brings a full-bodied midrange.

"We're very democratic," Masterson says.

Originally from small towns, they all live in Dublin and do much of their own promotional and management work. And, they arrange most of their own music, often while singing around the piano. "We all get the buzz factor about what works," she says.

The idea for a trio of singers who share a vocal range sprang from performances and recordings by tenors Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and Jose Carreras. They collaborated in Rome at the 1990 World Cup of soccer to celebrate Carreras' return to music after a devastating bout of leukemia. And to rave reviews, the three men continued performing as The 3 Tenors.

In their wake came groups such as the Irish Tenors and the Three Irish Tenors who had successful U.S. tours. Lynch, Dwyer, and Masterson figured if the men could do it, so could they.

In addition to the current six-week tour, the Irish Sopranos will cross the pond this summer to sing at Irish festivals, again in the fall, and before Christmas for holiday performances.

Accompanying them Sunday will be a pianist who will play medleys and ballads during their costume changes. They'll also be backed by fully-tracked orchestration.

The Irish Sopranos perform Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Valentine Theatre, 400 North Superior St. in downtown Toledo. Doors open at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20, $36, and $40 plus $1 handling charge. Information: 419-242-2787.

Contact Tahree Lane at:

tlane@theblade.com

or 419-724-6075.

First Published February 25, 2005, 10:59 a.m.