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| The Irish Chamber Orcestra Take up Residency in the RDS |
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The Irish Chamber Orchestra takes a giant step in relocating its Dublin concert season from the National Concert Hall to the historic RDS Concert Hall. The RDS has had a long tradition of presenting chamber music dating back from 1886 when the Society’s recitals took place in various Dublin locations including Leinster House, to the current RDS Concert Hall which opened in 1925. Since then this concert hall has provided a celebrated stage for some of the world’s greatest musicians, including Arthur Rubenstein, Paul Tortelier, Gyorgy Pauk, Kathleen Ferrier, Jacqueline du Pre, The Academy of St. Martin in The Fields and Alfred Brendel amongst others. Now acoustically modified for the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s new residency, it provides, for the first time, a perfect chamber orchestra venue in Dublin.
On behalf of the RDS, Chief Executive Michael Duffy said “We are delighted that the Irish Chamber Orchestra will play its Dublin season in the RDS Concert Hall. The rich musical tradition of the Society, its commitment to advancing the arts and the upgrading of the acoustics in the Concert Hall make the RDS a natural venue for an orchestra of the stature of the Irish Chamber Orchestra. We look forward to collaborating in an exciting venture that will bring music of the highest quality to the RDS.”
John Kelly CEO of the Irish Chamber Orchestra added \" We are excited by this new collaboration with the RDS in presenting our 09/010 concert season on a dedicated Saturday night at our new Dublin home, the new acoustically renovated RDS Concert Hall, which has such a great music history behind it.\"
\"Like everyone else I am greatly looking forward to our new home at the RDS in Dublin. This season we present two new commissions, one from the brilliant young Irish composer Andrew Hamilton, and the other from Steven Mackey, a big name in American new music circles. Steve has been composer in residence at Tanglewood and Aspen and has had commissions from the San Francisco and Chicago Symphony Orchestras and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His music is thrillingly dynamic. It\'s a joy to welcome brilliant colleagues: trumpet star Alison Balsom, conductor Jonathan Cohen who will doubtless bring fresh insights to Handel\'s Messiah, and the brilliant South African Gérard Korsten who will conduct the opening tour. And a special mention for Leon Fleischer - I heard him give a performance of a Schubert sonata shortly after his return to the concert platform and it was profoundly moving. Enjoy our 2009-10 season!\" said Artistic Director Anthony Marwood.
Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, who formally launched the Irish Chamber Orchestra\'s 09/2010 concert season reiterated that: \"The Irish Chamber Orchestra has become one of Ireland’s leading cultural ambassadors having established relationships with celebrated artists, set benchmark standards for orchestral excellence and offered key opportunities for some of Ireland’s most talented musicians and composers.\"
The rising international reputation of the Irish Chamber Orchestra continues to attract an extraordinary range of guest artists, including the UK trumpet sensation Alison Balsom, who will be fresh from her appearance at the Albert Hall’s Last Night of the Proms. Much in demand, Balsom won the coveted Best Female Artist of the Year at this year’s Classical Brit Awards. Anthony Marwood appears twice in the season performing Barber’s Adagio and symphonies by Mozart alongside his scintillating Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major. His programmes also feature two world premières - one by Dublin born composer Andrew Hamilton which has been commissioned by The Arts Council of Ireland. American composer Steven Mackey performs the other, a joint commission by the Irish Chamber Orchestra and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, on electric guitar. This is Mackey’s first appearance with Anthony Marwood and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Handel’s HMessiah is not just a favourite with Irish audiences, but also with the singers. The National Chamber Choir includes some of the country’s finest voices. We showcase the cream of Irish talent within an outstanding line-up of young Irish soloists featuring Sinead Campbell soprano, Martha Bredin mezzo, Eamon Mulhall tenor and Owen Gilhooly bass. Accordion virtuoso Dermot Dunne makes a welcome return performing a programme of popular Piazzolla and baroque classics. Finally, pianist Leon Fleisher has the most famous right hand in contemporary symphonic music because for more than 30 years it did not function. Determined not to be defeated this inspirational teacher, conductor and pianist fought and beat his disability - returning to the concert stage to great acclaim. He performs an all-Mozart programme for his upcoming concerts.
Alison Balsom opens the Irish Chamber Orchestra season in Limerick, Dublin and Cork on the 24, 26 and 27 of September performing absolute highlights of the trumpet repertoire. The Haydn and the Hummel Concerti are works that every artist wants to play and every audience loves to hear. Balsom, one of the trumpet’s most versatile and voluble interpreters, tackles the task of making them sound every inch as spontaneous and fresh as when they were first performed. Don’t miss this opening concert. See www.irishchamberorchestra.com for details. The ICO’s attractive season subscription package offers significant financial savings, as well as a range of extra benefits.
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