Chamber Choir Ireland - season brochure

Season Brochure December 2013 – May 2014

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Welcome to the all new Chamber Choir Ireland season brochure for December 2013 – May 2014.

Formerly the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, the Company has undergone some changes in image, branding and website to truly reflect the breathtakingly beautiful performances for which the Choir is known. We ring out 2013 with two distinctly different programmes of Christmas music from Baroque, to well known carols and some unfamiliar gems from the season. Into the recording studio in January before a packed March – May with programmes ranging from the wonderfully sublime Tudor Church Music, a very fitting tribute to two of the world’s leading composers whom we lost in 2013, and regular and new festival outings in Cork, Limerick and Wales. We’ve two world premieres, one by American composer, David Lang and the second by Irish native David Fennessy as part of the Cork International Choral Festival and an expansion of our learning and participation work in Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Letterkenny.

Chamber Choir Ireland is generously supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Dublin City Council, is resident at the National Concert Hall and Associate Artists to Dublin City University. We also extend thanks to ESB for their generous support in this, our first season launch.

So I invite you to explore our programmes, join our musical journey throughout the country, and share the beautiful choral experience that is Chamber Choir Ireland.

Majella Hollywood chief executive 3

Dec emb er 2 0 1 3

AXIS: SING For the sixth year running, singers from Chamber Choir Ireland will run workshops for eight weeks leading up to a very special performance in Axis with the SING choir and the full Chamber Choir Ireland. Sing is funded by Dublin City Council Arts Office and is presented in association with Axis.

Axis Centre, Ballymun Thursday 12 December 2013, 8pm Further details www.axis-ballymun.ie

A Baroque Christmas

in collaboration with the national concert hall Celebrate a Baroque Christmas with Chamber Choir Ireland and the Irish Baroque Orchestra conducted by Paul Hillier including a performance of the wonderful A Christmas Story

by Heinrich Schütz.

National Concert Hall (Main Auditorium) Sunday 15 December 2013, 8pm

€20/€15 available from www.nch.ie (no booking fees) or (01) 417 0000

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Dec emb er 2 0 1 3

Carols from the Old and New Worlds Join Chamber Choir Ireland for a traditional Christmas based on the O Antiphons from late Advent. From some familiar Christmas favourites from throughout the world, to more recent contemporary Irish carols by Gerald Barry, Eric Sweeney and Fiontán Ó Cearbhaill.

Conductor: Paul Hillier Organist: Fergal Caulfield (Dublin)

St Thomas’ Parish Church, Belfast

in collaboration with moving on music

Monday 16 December 2013, 8pm

£12/£10 available from www.movingonmusic.co.uk

University Church, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin Tuesday 17 December 2013, 6.30pm

€15/€12/€5 or Family ticket at €30 (2 adults + 2 children) available from NCH www.nch.ie (no booking fees) or (01) 417 0000

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March / Ap r i l 2 0 1 4

Tudor Church Music A portrait in sound of the golden age of English music, featuring two masterpieces of the period: William Byrd’s Mass for four voices and the Lamentations of Jeremiah by Thomas Tallis.

Conductor: Paul Hillier

The Large Room, City Hall, Waterford in collaboration with music in waterford

Thursday 6 March 2014, 8pm

€18/€5 – www.waterford-music.org

Regional Culture Centre, Letterkenny

in collaboration with the regional cultural centre

Saturday 8 March 2014, 7pm Tickets tbc

Black Linear format

Black Stacked format

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March / Ap r i l 2 0 1 4

National Concert Hall (Main Auditorium) Good Friday. 18 April 2014, 1.30pm On Good Friday afternoon, Chamber Choir Ireland, in collaboration with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, presents their Tudor Church Music programme in advance of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra’s all-Bach concert in which the acclaimed period music director, Roy Goodman conducts a programme including the Easter and Ascension Oratorios with the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and soloists. €5 or FREE if attending the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra’s 3.30pm performance.

Please note: separate ticket required for both performances.

Enquire when booking. Seating is unreserved.

Booking (no fees): 01 417 0000 | www.nch.ie | www.rte.ie/nso

RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra: Easter Glory National Concert Hall: Main Auditorium Friday 18 April 2014, 3.30pm RTÉ Philharmonic Choir (chorus master Mark Hindley) Sarah Power soprano, Paula Murrihy mezzo soprano Joshua Ellicott tenor, Michael George bass, Roy Goodman conductor J.S. Bach Easter Oratorio [38’] J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G [10’] J.S. Bach Cantata No. 11: Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, ‘Ascension Oratorio’ [28’] €10, €20, €30, €35 (Concession €9, €18, €27, €31.50) Note: 3.30pm ticket allows FREE entry to Chamber Choir Ireland’s 1.30pm performance.

Please note: separate ticket required for entry for both performances.

Enquire when booking.

Booking (no fees): 01 417 0000 | www.nch.ie | www.rte.ie/nso

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Ap r i l 2 0 1 4

When we were children In 2013, the world lost two leading lights in composition: Steve Martland in May and Sir John Tavener in November. As we approach the first anniversary of Martland’s death, we pay tribute throughout April and May to both Martland and Tavener in programming some of their best known choral works. The programme will also feature the World Premiere of David Lang’s When we were children Conductor: Paul Hillier

University Church, Stephen’s Green, Dublin Friday 11 April 2014, 8pm

€15/€12/€5 available from NCH www.nch.ie (no booking fees) or (01) 417 0000 (booking opening in January 2014)

St Thomas’ Parish Church, Belfast

in collaboration with moving on music

Saturday 12 April 2014, 8pm

£13/£10 available from www.movingonmusic.co.uk This performance is funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Fund

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M AY 2 0 1 4

Cork International Choral Festival Chamber Choir Ireland returns to Cork for its annual residency at the Cork International Choral Festival including a gala performance, the 46th Seminar on New Choral Music, and a workshop for composers. The Gala Concert features the world premiere of a new commission by Irish composer David Fennessy and of the winning entry in the Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition.

Conductor: Paul Hillier

Seminar on New Choral Music Stack Theatre at CIT School of Music Friday 2 May 2014, 2pm Free event – unticketed

Gala Concert – When we were children St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork Friday 2 May 2014, 7.30pm

Tickets available from Cork International Choral Festival at www.corkchoral.ie

Workshop for composers Stack Theatre at CIT School of Music Saturday 3 May 2014, 10.30am Free event – unticketed

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M AY 2 0 1 4

Association of Irish Choirs Conference 2014 As part of Limerick Sings Festival 2014

generously sponsored by limerick city of culture 2014

Chamber Choir Ireland joins their colleagues at the Association of Irish Choirs to present a gala performance and workshops for choirs during their annual choral conference as part of the Limerick Sings Festival 2014 (Programme tbc).

Conductor: Paul Hillier

Gala Performance St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick Friday 30 May 2014, 8pm

Booking tbc or for further information in January 2014 visit www.aoic.ie or www.chamberchoirireland.com

Choral singing workshop with members of Chamber Choir Ireland University Concert Hall, Limerick Saturday 31 May 2014, 10am

Booking tbc or for further information in January 2014 visit www.aoic.ie or www.chamberchoirireland.com

International: Vale of Glamorgan Festival Chamber Choir Ireland will travel to perform in the Vale of Glamorgan Festival, Wales. Two distinctly different, yet both contemporary programmes including Tarik O’Regan’s Acallam na Senórach (British Premiere) featuring guitarist Stewart French and a fitting tribute to the late choral icon, John Tavener.

Conductor: Paul Hillier

15th/16th May 2014

Further details www.valeofglamorganfestival.org.uk

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Chamber Choir Ireland is the country’s flagship choral ensemble.

Under internationally renowned Artistic Director, Paul Hillier, the group is known for its unique approach to programming and has gained a reputation for the high artistic quality of its performances.

Formerly the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, the company rebranded as Chamber Choir Ireland in December 2013.

Further details on all our performances can be found at www.chamberchoirireland.com Chamber Choir Ireland National Concert Hall Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 telephone +353 (0)1 554 5210 email admin@chamberchoirireland.com artistic director Paul Hillier chief executive Majella Hollywood concerts’ manager David Darcy administrative assistant Eve O’Donnell

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