There is something about handsome men singing in suits; four voices in harmony singing opera, pop, and contemporary seems to affect people in an almost primal way. The Canadian Tenors have struck a chord that has resonated worldwide.

The four men - Fraser Walters, Clifton Murray, Victor Micalleff, and Rimigio Pereira – chatted with GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine after a recent appearance at the newly opened Holt Renfrew in downtown Calgary. The group signed autographs after a short acoustic set that included a stunning version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. The song has been covered by dozens of artists from k.d. Lang to Rufus Wainwright.

“One of us was doing it as a solo for awhile. We try to mix it up and we each do a solo that we sing. It is such a beautiful song with a lilting melody. It seemed like that would be a natural fit for a group number, so we had to take it away from someone,” explained Walters.

Micalleff admitted there was hesitation initially with doing something so well known.

“There is always hesitation doing a song like that because so many people have done it. The producer of the song came up to us with a new idea and it is slightly different than all the other versions out there. We love singing it. This version is an epic version on the album. Once we heard it, we thought it was fantastic, and made sure it went on the record.”

In Vancouver on November 8th, at a concert with David Foster, the four were joined onstage to sing the song with Sarah McLachlan. She sings with them for Wintersong on their current album The Perfect Gift.

“It was mindblowing doing it live with her on stage with David Foster playing,” said Micalleff. “She wasn’t feeling well but kept telling her, at 60% she is still an angel from heaven. We admire her so much and being onstage sharing music with her is a dream come true.”

The group is experiencing success that is taking them around the world, resulting in experiences like opening for President Bill Clinton at speaking engagements, to playing with Sting and Sheryl Crow. Newest member Clifton Murray’s face lights up when he recalls the journey so far.

“You have to strike when the iron is hot. When you are in the middle of it, and it is go-go–go, it is hard to step back and say, wow this is really taking off and people are really appreciating what we are doing. There are moments for sure when I am lying in bed and I get giddy and start laughing. I can’t believe what is happening and to be able to do it with three other guys that are focused and so talented, we really are blessed to be where we are today.”

Pereira adds, “It is unbelievable. It has skyrocketed really quickly and we are still on the way up. I remember sitting on the couch at Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones’ house in Bermuda and he is talking to me. I have no idea what he is saying because it is going in one ear and out the other, and I couldn’t believe it. We are so busy we don’t have time for these things to register. That is one moment that I think is pretty amazing.”

As of writing this article, I had not yet seen the Tenors live (they played a concert after our press deadline this month) however I have seen how the crowds reacted to groups like Il Divo. I commented on how artists like The Canadian Tenors have the ability to make adult women giddy like the teenage girls at the Backstreet Boys concert in 1998.

“Women definitely do like our music. We don’t close ourselves off to any demographic. The music is opening itself up to a wide range of people. We have young kids up to elderly people at our shows. Our music speaks to the general population, there is something for everybody – different languages, more contemporary and pop sounding songs. There really is something for everybody,” said Murray. Victor and Rimigio both said that the reaction from men often affects them.

“There is nothing more moving then when, after a concert, a grown man will come up to us in tears and say, thank you for moving me. It is awesome that we can touch people that way. We have wives who say, I have been married for twenty years and never seen him cry, and you moved him to tears.”

The Perfect Gift is in stores now, and while only their second album, Micaleff says it was an obvious choice to go for a Christmas theme.

“It was requested time and time again. Our fans have been asking, Universal has been asking. It seems like the perfect thing for a tenor group to do. We love the repertoire, we love the Christmas season and we felt it was the best thing to do - a no brainer really.”

“And we have no brains so it makes sense,” quipped Pereira.