2017

Chamber Choir Ireland to lead off National Concert Hall Classical Livestream series

National Concert Hall Harnesses the Power of the Collective to Create New ‘Classical Music Livestream Series’ in Collaboration with Ireland’s leading Ensembles and Artists

  • Chamber Choir Ireland: ‘A Sad Song for These Distracted Times’ featuring works of Arvo Pärt, Sun. 8th November 8pm
  • Finghin Collins, piano, Gemma Ni Bhriain, mezzo-soprano, Sarah McMahon, cello, Claire Duff, violin Beethoven’s Piano Trio Op. 1, No. 3 and Variations on ‘Bei Männern‘ from The Magic Flute and Irish Folk Songs with piano trio Sat. 14th Nov 8pm
  • Irish Chamber Orchestra, Katherine Hunka, director/violin & Kevin Jansson piano, Thurs. 19th November 8pm
  • Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio, Irish National Opera & Irish Chamber Orchestra Wed. 2nd December 8pm
  • Handel’s Messiah, Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir Ireland and soloists Thurs. 3rd December 8pm
  • John O’Conor, piano, Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Sun. 13th December 8pm

Livestreamed from Dice.fm / available for 48 hours from date of performance. Tickets €10 and €15 (with 10% discount for NCH Friends) on Dice.fm

The National Concert Hall (NCH) and Ireland’s leading ensembles and soloists have joined forces to create a new collaborative ‘Classical Livestream Series’ providing a platform for musicians to perform and bringing the magic of live music to audiences, from 8th of November to 13th December at 8pm.    

Comprising six unique concerts, the new series features performances by Irish National Opera, Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, pianists John O’Conor and Finghin Collins, singers Claudia Boyle, Gemma Ni Bhriain, Johnathan Lemalu, Dean Power, Sarah Power and many more in a range of performances to include: Handel’s Messiah, Arvo Pärt’s The Deer’s Cry, Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Mozart’s Opera The Abduction from the Seraglio and more.  

T.D. Catherine Martin, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media stated:

“I wish to congratulate the NCH, the ensembles and the artists on the upcoming Classical Livestream Series that will take place during November and December. As the country has moved to Level 5 restrictions, this will be a wonderful opportunity for us all to continue to experience classical music thanks to the collaboration of everyone involved in creating this fantastic livestream series. I am delighted that our cultural institutions and artists continue to work together during these very challenging times, creating innovative programmes and ensuring that we, the audience, can continue to experience and enjoy music, art and culture which is so important for wellbeing.”

Simon Taylor, CEO of the National Concert Hall

“We are delighted to be announcing this series of classical livestream concerts which sees many of the NCH resident ensembles and other leading Irish artists and ensembles collaborate to create and present a unique and varied programme of music from Handel to Arvo Pärt. Featuring masterpieces of the orchestral, choral and chamber music canon, the series is the result of an innovative collaborative effort by all involved to bring the best of classical music to our public. It also provides a new platform for these wonderful musicians to stay connected to their audiences during these difficult times, which is central to our sharded ambition to sustain and maintain access to culture and music at a when we need it most. I would like to acknowledge the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for their ongoing support of the NCH and the many other Livestream concerts and online musical programmes taking place. I would also like to thank my NCH colleagues and the artists and ensembles taking part for making this ground-breaking series a reality”. 

Majella Hollywood, CEO of Chamber Choir Ireland said: 

“Returning to the performance platform after such an absence will be a real joy for everyone at Chamber Choir Ireland. We’ve missed performing and we’ve really missed our audiences, so presenting this programme of works by Arvo Pärt amongst a wider series of concerts by our colleagues in Irish music sector is both a real privilege for us, and we hope, a tonic for our audiences at home”.

Opening with Chamber Choir Ireland (CCI) in a programme curated by Artistic Director Paul Hillier, and directed by David Brophy, ‘A Sad Song for These Distracted Times’ acknowledges CCI’s long-standing engagement with the work of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. The programme features a tapestry of the composer’s shorter choral works to include the much admired The Deer’s Cry interspersed with Charles Villiers Stanford and a trip back to the renaissance with Robert Fayrfax. 

On Saturday 14th of November members of the Irish Baroque Orchestra, directed by Finghin Collins, explore works of Beethoven as part of the 250th anniversary year. Finghin is joined by Gemma Ní Bhriain (mezzo-soprano), Sarah McMahon (cello) and Claire Duff (violin) to perform Beethoven’s Variations on “Bei Männern” from The Magic Flute for cello and piano – full of charm and invention. Beethoven’s ‘Irish Songs’ and ‘Lieder’ receive a rare outing in this programme, brought to life by mezzo-soprano Gemma Ní Bhriain, before the evening finishes with his Piano Trio Op. 1 No. 3. 

Next, on Thursday 19th of November violinist and director Katherine Hunka will lead the Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) in Mozart’s dazzling Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major, k415 with rising star guest pianist Kevin Jansson, making his debut with the ICO. Long-time collaborator with the ICO, composer Sam Perkin’s Pause features in this programme, a reflective arrangement of The Foggy Dew, inspired by 1916. Completing the evening is a performance of the 8thQuartet or Chamber Symphony by Shostakovich, a gripping portrayal of the brutality of conflict with its jagged, dynamic rhythms in contrast with elegiac outer movements that never fail to move the listener.

The series continues Wednesday 2nd of December with Irish National Opera’s (INO) production of Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio, an exotically colourful score that includes some of Mozart’s most brilliant, extreme and virtuosic arias. Bringing this to life will be soprano Claudia Boyle (as Konstanze), tenor Dean Power (as Belmonte), Sarah Power (as Blonde), tenor Andrew Gavin (as Padrillo) and bass Jonathan Lemalu (as Osmin) with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by INO Artistic Partner Peter Whelan.

On Thursday 3rd of December Peter will also lead a performance of Handel’s Messiah given by Chamber Choir Ireland and Ireland’s flagship baroque orchestra, IBO performing on period instruments to capture the sound world of the original Dublin performance some 300 years ago now.

Rounding off the series in style, on Friday 13th of December, will be celebrated Irish pianist John O’Conor in a much-anticipated performance of Beethoven’s final three piano sonatas in a further tribute to Beethoven, in this his 250th anniversary year. 

The ‘NCH Classical Livestream Series’ is a collaborative programme initiated for Winter 2020 by the National Concert Hall, Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra and Irish National Opera. Supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.  


Tickets for the livestreams – €10 and €15 (with 10% discount for NCH Friends) – are on sale now, available exclusively via DICE.fmEach concert will be available to tickets holders for 48 hours following the performance. 

Click here for full details on each performance.