Feast of Italian music as ICO hosts Birr concert
Birr Festival of Music is delighted to announce that the Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) will stop off in Birr next week as part of the opening of its autumn/winter Season offering snapshots from Italy at St Brendan's Church of Ireland on Oxmantown Mall on Saturday, September 23 at 7.30pm.
Image 1 of 3
Top singer Anna Devin will perform with the Irish Chamber Orchestra in Birr on Saturday, September 23 at 7.30pm.Image 2 of 3
The Irish Chamber Orchestra pictured during a previous Birr performance.Image 3 of 3
Mezzo soprano Sharon Carty pictured during a previous performance.This Italian voyage sees ICO teaming up with celebrated UK Conductor Christian Curnyn, and two of Ireland’s finest singers - Sharon Carty (ICO Artist in Association) and Anna Devin to perform Pergolesi’s emotive 'Stabat Mater'.
'Stabat Mater', a deeply personal meditation, was written by a dying Pergolesi and takes us to the heart of human passion. Enjoy an amazing variety of sounds and moods that produces some of the most stirring music imaginable. A masterwork of entrancing operatic clarity, it will captivate the listener.
Continuing our journey, Respighi was inspired by old lute works to create his Ancient Airs and Dances. In No. 3, his imaginative writing captures all the musical spirit and nuances and makes for a lush sounding Irish Chamber Orchestra. Puccini's gorgeous Chrysanthemums (Crisantemi) will mesmerize audiences with its poignant and beautiful melody. Written in response to a death of a friend, this short work is expressive, accessible, and so emotive.
Van Wassenaer’s ground-breaking Concerto Armonici No.5 was inspired by the Italian violin school and is Northern-European music infused with that Italian sparkle. So much so that it was originally thought to be from Pergolesi’s pen.
These scenic snapshots celebrate some of Italy’s most beautiful music with one of Ireland’s finest ensembles in Birr on Saturday, September 23. ICO is a dynamic group of musicians whose warm and infectious ethos shines through every performance. The group delivers rich musical experiences to broad and diverse audiences in towns and cities countrywide and beyond. The orchestra is funded by The Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and is resident at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick.
Tickets €25/€22 are on sale now. Visit https://www.birrfestivalofmusic.com/ to book your tickets for this special event.