All is bright with Larissa’s Silent Night

Larissa Tormey releases dual-language version of Silent Night as Christmas single

Singer songwriter Larissa Tormey has announced the release details of her Christmas single this year. The Russian-born, Kilbeggan-based entertainer has recorded a special version of one of her favourite seasonal numbers, Silent Night.

The record has already gone to radio, meaning that it’s available for request nationwide, and is available to fans via all digital platforms from today, Friday November 26.

Larissa said that for her, it only really feels like Christmas when she finally gets a chance to sing Silent Night: “I think for most people, hearing or singing Silent Night is as much a part of it being Christmas as putting up a tree, or building snowmen, or writing letters to Santa.

“It’s a song that feels like it’s been around forever, and feels like it belongs to the entire world. I remember as a child, how enchanting and peaceful it always was to hear this song. So I’ve always wanted to record it some day, and share my version of it with fans and anyone else who might come to hear it and hopefully like it.”

Written as a Christmas carol by Franz Gruber in 1818, to lyrics by Joseph Mohr, in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg in Austria, the most famous rendition of the Silent Night, and perhaps the definitive one, belongs to Bing Crosby. His 1935 version has amassed some 10 million sales as a single.

While Crosby’s achievement seems sure to stand the test of time, Larissa has added her personal stamp of originality to her take on a song that was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in 2011.

One of the most popular songs in Larissa’s set-list is her beguiling dual-language offering of Danny Boy, in English and her native Russian, and that’s a treatment that she’s now applied to Silent Night.

Larissa said: “People have always loved hearing Danny Boy performed in English and Russian, I think it adds another dimension to the song, and to its beauty. Even when you might not understand the words, you can still really feel what the song is about through the music.

“And it seemed to me that Silent Night shares that sense of magic. It will find its way to your heart all by itself, all you have to do is listen. More music, and more listening, that’s what we all need a little more of!”

Produced by Glen Flynn, Larissa’s version of Silent Night was sparked by Hot Country TV founder and host, Hugh O’Brien. The Corkman suggested it to Larissa for last year’s Hot Country Christmas Concert, which will be repeated this year (see the Hot Country TV Facebook page for details).

Having heard and seen people’s reactions to Larissa’s version of Danny Boy, O’Brien encouraged her to follow the same path with Silent Night, something for which Larissa remains grateful.

“Hugh has always been a great supporter of my music since I came to Ireland, and he’s a great man for ideas, and ways to put a little twist on things.”

For fans who would like to hear Larissa sing her version of Silent Night, there’s a chance on Saturday December 18 when she’ll be performing a special online Christmas Concert at 4pm via her official Facebook and YouTube accounts.

All donations from the event will go to charity, and Larissa will reveal the details about that soon on her social media and website, www.larissatormey.com.