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An Ceoláras Náisiúnta

National Concert Hall

Séasúr Clasaiceach Classical Season

2026/2027

Joyce DiDonato

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Fáilte Welcome

Is mór an pléisiúr dom fáilte a chur romhaibh chuig Séasúr Clasaiceach 2026/2027 an Cheolárais Náisiúnta, séasúr a léiríonn fairsinge ár n-uaillmhéine ealaíne agus an ról ríthábhachtach atá ag an gceol chun daoine a thabhairt le chéile.

Ina chroílár tá Ceolfhoireann Shiansach

Náisiúnta Éireann, a leanann dá léirithe ag sainmhíniú shaol ealaíne an Cheolárais

Náisiúnta agus ag sroicheadh lucht éisteachta ar fud na tíre. Faoi stiúir inspioráideach an Phríomhstiúrthóra Alexander Shelley, leagann an chéad séasúr iomlán den cheolfhoireann le chéile meon láidir do na míonna amach romhainn. In éineacht le Cór Siansach Náisiúnta Éireann, scrúdóidh siad

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the National Concert Hall’s Classical Season 2026/2027, a season that reflects the breadth of our artistic ambition and the vital role music plays in bringing people together.

At its heart is National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, whose performances continue to define the artistic life at the National Concert Hall and reach audiences across the country. Under the inspiring leadership of Principal Conductor Alexander Shelley in his first season as Principal Conductor and Artistic Partner Peter Whelan in his second, the orchestra’s programming sets a compelling tone for the months ahead. Alongside National Symphony

cuid de na saothair is doimhne sa stór siansach agus córúil, lena n-áirítear St Matthew Passion le Bach, Siansa Uimh. 2 “Resurrection” le Mahler, agus War Requiem le Britten.

Comhoibreoidh an cheolfhoireann freisin le scoth na n-aonréadaithe agus na n-ealaíontóirí idirnáisiúnta i rith an tséasúir, ag cur i láthair saothair chlasaiceacha mór le rá agus seoda athaimsithe. I measc bhuaicphointí tá léirithe le Daniel Müller-Schott i gCoinséartó Dordveidhil Elgar, an giotáraí Thibaut Garcia i Concierto de Aranjuez le Rodrigo, na veidhleadóirí Bomsori agus Karen Gomyo i gcoinséartónna le Korngold agus Bruch, agus na pianódóirí

Nobuyuki Tsujii agus Sunwook Kim i saothair le Chopin agus Beethoven. I láthair an tséasúir seo, beidh beirt ealaíontóirí mór le rá, Renée Fleming agus

Thomas Hampson, ag roinnt an stáitse i radhairc ó Nixon in China le John Adams.

Leanann ár sraith Ceolfhoirne agus

Ceadal Idirnáisiúnta ag tabhairt ensembles agus ealaíontóirí den scoth ó gach cearn den domhan go Baile Átha Cliath, rud a léiríonn próifíl idirnáisiúnta mhéadaitheach an Cheolárais Náisiúnta. Sa séasúr seo cuirfimid fáilte roimh Cheolfhoireann Saoirse na hÚcráine faoi stiúir Keri-Lynn Wilson chun ár gclár cultúrtha a oscailt ag comóradh Uachtaránacht na hÉireann ar Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh in 2026. Tá áthas orainn freisin Ceolfhoireann Shiansach San Diego a chur i láthair faoi Rafael Payare ina gcéad léiriú sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach

Chorus Ireland, the orchestra will explore some of the most profound works in the symphonic and choral repertoire, including Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” and Britten’s War Requiem.

The orchestra will also collaborate with an exceptional roster of international soloists and artists across the season, presenting beloved masterpieces and rediscovered gems. Highlights include performances by Daniel Müller-Schott in Elgar’s Cello Concerto, guitarist Thibaut Garcia in Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, violinists Bomsori and Karen Gomyo in concertos by Korngold and Bruch, and pianists Nobuyuki Tsujii and Sunwook Kim in works by Chopin and Beethoven. A particularly special moment this season will see two legendary artists, Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson, share the stage in three scenes from John Adams’ Nixon in China

Our International Orchestras and Recitals series continues to bring outstanding ensembles and artists from around the world to Dublin, reflecting the National Concert Hall’s growing international profile. This season we welcome the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson to open our cultural programme marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026. We are also delighted to present San Diego Symphony under Rafael Payare in their National Concert Hall debut, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra with Pekka Kuusisto, Bach Collegium Japan performing all six

Gothenburg le Pekka Kuusisto, Bach Collegium na Seapáine ag seinm gach ceann de na sé Choinséartó Brandenburg le Bach, agus ealaíontóirí atá ag filleadh ar nós Gidon Kremer le Kremerata Baltica agus an veidhleadóir clúiteach Midori.

Tá léirithe eisceachtúla gutha agus córúla mar chuid den séasúr freisin ó ealaíontóirí ar nós Joyce DiDonato, Matthias Goerne ag léiriú Winterreise le Schubert leis an gCeolfhoireann Camerata Royal Concertgebouw, agus ensembles ceannródaíocha ón Eastóin ar nós Cór

Aireagail Fiolarmónach na hEastóine agus Vox Clamantis.

Buaicphointe speisialta is ea ECM 2026, sraith roghnaithe a cheiliúrann óstáil na hÉireann ar Uachtaránacht Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh. Ag ceiliúradh lipéad físiúil ECM agus a thionchar ar cheol comhaimseartha, tugann an tsraith ealaíontóirí agus tionscadail shuntasacha chuig stáitse an Cheolárais Náisiúnta. Ina measc tá Sir András Schiff ag seinm The Art of Fugue le Bach, Cór Aireagail Fiolarmónach na hEastóine i gceolchoirmeacha dírithe ar cheol Arvo Pärt, agus Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann agus Crash Ensemble i Songs of Wars I Have Seen le Heiner Goebbels. Le chéile, ceiliúrann na léirithe seo ceol mar theanga Eorpach chomhroinnte a sháraíonn teorainneacha agus cultúir.

Marcálann an séasúr comóradh Beethoven 200 freisin, ag cuimhniú ar an dá chéad bliain ó bhás an chumadóra. I rith na bliana beidh deis ag lucht éisteachta taithí a fháil ar go leor de shaothair is buaine

of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, and returning artists including Gidon Kremer with Kremerata Baltica and the renowned violinist Midori.

The season also features exceptional vocal and choral performances from artists including Joyce DiDonato, Matthias Goerne performing Schubert’s Winterreise with Camerata of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and leading Estonian ensembles such as the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Vox Clamantis.

A special highlight is ECM 2026, a curated series marking Ireland’s hosting of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Celebrating the visionary ECM label and its influence across contemporary music, the series brings remarkable artists and projects to the National Concert Hall stage. Among them are Sir András Schiff performing Bach’s The Art of Fugue, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in concerts devoted to the music of Arvo Pärt, and Irish Baroque Orchestra and Crash Ensemble in Heiner Goebbels’ powerful Songs of Wars I Have Seen. Together, these performances celebrate music as a shared European language that transcends borders and cultures.

The season also marks the Beethoven 200 anniversary, commemorating two centuries since the composer’s death. Throughout the season audiences will have the opportunity to experience many of Beethoven’s most enduring works, from the dramatic Fifth Symphony and the Emperor Piano Concerto to the Fidelio, and Egmont Overtures, as well as the extraordinary Grosse Fuge. We

Beethoven, ón Siansa Uimh. 5 drámatúil agus an Coinséartó Phianó Emperor, go réamhcheol Fidelio, Egmont agus Coriolan, chomh maith leis an Grosse Fuge iontach. Taobh leis na sárshaothair seo agus go leor eile, tá saothair nua le cumadóirí comhaimseartha spreagtha ag gné oidhreachta Beethoven i rith an ama, ag tabhairt cuireadh dúinn a spiorad réabhlóideach a chloisteáil as an nua.

Fanann tacaíocht do cheol nua i gcroílár mhisean an Cheolárais Náisiúnta. Sa séasúr seo táim thar a bheith sásta go mbeidh céadléirithe domhanda agus Éireannacha ó réimse leathan cumadóirí, lena n-áirítear Judith Ring, Elaine Agnew, Anna Clyne, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Dobrinka Tabakova, Leonard Slatkin, Ed Bennett, Amelia Clarkson, Kati Agócs agus Camille Pépin, cuid acu le feiceáil ag féile bhliantúil New Music Dublin, ag cinntiú go leanfaidh guthanna cruthaitheacha an lae inniu ag múnlú thodhchaí an cheoil chlasaicigh.

Mar Institiúid Chultúrtha Náisiúnta na hÉireann don Cheol, táimid tiomanta do cheol a dhéanamh inrochtana agus do lucht éisteachta a bhaint amach ar fud na tíre. Trínár léirithe iomadúla le Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann i nGaillimh, i bPort Láirge, i Luimneach agus i gCorcaigh, agus trínár gcomhpháirtíocht fhadtéarmach le RTÉ lyric fm, táimid bródúil as ceol beo ceolfhoirne a roinnt le héisteoirí ar fud na hÉireann agus go hidirnáisiúnta.

Leanann ár gclár Discover ag cur fáilte roimh lucht éisteachta nua de gach aois

are also delighted that leading exponent of Beethoven’s music, Irish pianist John O’Conor will perform in a concert that also marks John’s 80th birthday. Alongside these masterpieces and more, new works by contemporary composers inspired by Beethoven’s legacy also feature, inviting us to hear his revolutionary spirit anew.

Supporting new music remains central to the mission of the National Concert Hall. This season I am delighted to see world and Irish premieres from a wide range of composers including Judith Ring, Elaine Agnew, Anna Clyne, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Tõnu Kõrvits, Dobrinka Tabakova, Leonard Slatkin, Ed Bennett, Amelia Clarkson, Kati Agócs and Camille Pépin, some of whom will feature in the annual New Music Dublin festival. This ensures that today’s creative voices continue to shape the future of classical music.

As Ireland’s National Cultural Institution for Music, we are committed to making music accessible and reaching audiences around the country. Through the many performances by National Symphony Orchestra Ireland in Galway, Waterford, Limerick and Cork, and our long-standing partnership with RTÉ lyric fm, we are proud to share live orchestral music with listeners across Ireland and internationally.

Our Discover programme continues to welcome audiences of all ages. Presented by musician storyteller Jessie Grimes (NCH Discover Artist-inResidence), Symphony Shorts, Music in the Classroom and National Symphony

le himeachtaí tarraingteacha ar nós Music in the Classroom, Symphony Shorts leis an stiúrthóir Jessie Grimes, taispeántais teaghlaigh de The Gruffalo agus The Gruffalo’s Child le ceolfhoireann bheo, agus go leor deiseanna eile chun blaiseadh a fháil den ríméad a bhaineann le ceol a dhéanamh. Áirítear sa séasúr seo freisin an chéad léiriú domhanda de The Magical Harp of the Dagda, saothar nua do lucht féachana óg bunaithe ar mhiotaseolaíocht na hÉireann, le ceol le hAoife Ní Bhríain agus Cormac McCarthy agus téacs le Laureate na nÓg

Patricia Forde.

Tá inrochtaineacht fós lárnach i ngach rud a dhéanaimid. Tosaíonn ticéid do gach ceolchoirm phríomhstáitse sa séasúr ag €15 seachas New Music Dublin, le lamháltais fhlaithiúla ar fáil do mhic léinn, do theaghlaigh, do ghrúpaí agus do Chairde an Cheolárais Náisiúnta, ag cinntiú gur féidir leis an oiread daoine agus is féidir blaiseadh a fháil de cheol beo i mbaile ceoil na hÉireann.

Ag féachaint don todhchaí, táimid ag leanúint ar aghaidh ag obair le hOifig na nOibreacha Poiblí agus leis an Aire Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt Patrick O’Donovan TD ar phleananna don athfhorbairt ar an gCeoláras Náisiúnta. Athróidh an tionscadal uaillmhianach seo foirgneamh stairiúil Ardán Phort an Iarla ag tógáil isteach i gcampas cultúrtha bríomhar a thacóidh le healaíontóirí agus le lucht féachana ar feadh na nglúnta atá le teacht.

Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas ó chroí a ghabháil leis an

Orchestra Ireland family concerts bring the world of orchestral music to life in a fun and accessible way, while big screen showings of The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, Zog and Stick Man offer a new way to experience much-loved classics. This season we are excited to present the world premiere of The Magical Harp of the Dagda for school children, a new work based on Irish myth. With music by Aoife Ní Bhríain and Cormac McCarthy and text by Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde, this forms part of the National Concert Hall’s Cultural Programme of Ireland’s 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union. With ISL interpretation and Autism Friendly performances, all Discover concerts are relaxed and offer a warm and inclusive welcome to the National Concert Hall.

Accessibility remains central to everything we do. Tickets for all main stage concerts in the season begin at €15 with the exception of New Music Dublin, with generous concessions available for students, families, groups and Friends of the National Concert Hall, ensuring as many people as possible can experience live music in Ireland’s music home.

Looking to the future, we are continuing to work with the Office of Public Works and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport on plans for the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall. This ambitious project will transform the historic Earlsfort Terrace building into a vibrant cultural campus that will support artists and audiences for generations to come.

iliomad daoine a dhéanann an séasúr seo indéanta, lenár n-ealaíontóirí, le foireann an Cheolárais Náisiúnta, lenár gcomhpháirtithe, lenár gCairde, lenár síntiúsóirí agus lenár lucht tacaíochta. Táimid buíoch go háirithe don Roinn

Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt, don Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha, Culture Ireland agus dár gcomhpháirtithe maoinithe go léir agus dár ndeontóirí as a dtiomantas leanúnach don cheol agus don chultúr.

Tugaim cuireadh ó chroí daoibh a bheith linn le haghaidh séasúir lán le heispéiris cheoil dhodhearmadta.

Finally, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the many people who make this season possible, our artists, the National Concert Hall team, our partners, patrons, Friends, subscribers and supporters including Philip Lee LLP, Travel Department, IPUT Real Estate Dublin, RTÉ Lyric FM and RTÉ Supporting the Arts. We are especially grateful to Minister Patrick O’Donovan TD and his Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Culture Ireland and all our funding partners and donors for their continued commitment to music and culture.

I warmly invite you to join us for a season filled with unforgettable musical experiences.

Nigel Flegg

Chief Executive | National Concert Hall, Dublin Príomhfheidhmeannach | An Ceoláras Náisiúnta, Baile Átha Cliath

NCH Board Members

Peter McKenna Chairperson

Edel Creely

Clíona Doris

Paul Horan

Hilary Hough

Harry Martin

Peter McKenna

Niamh Murray

Michelle O’Sullivan

Don Thornhill

Fáilte Welcome

Nach mór an t-áthas é fáilte a chur romhaibh chuig ár séasúr nua, mo chéad cheann mar Phríomhstiúrthóir ar Cheolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann (NSOI).

Le breis agus deich mbliana anuas bhí sé de phléisiúr agam a bheith ag obair mar aoi leis an ensemble iontach seo, agus is le braistint mhór pribhléide agus cuspóra a chuirim tús leis an gcaibidil úr seo.

Chuir an tír seo, áit ar fhás mo mháthair aníos, agus an chathair seo, áit a ndeachaigh sí ar scoil agus ina ndearna sí staidéar ar an gceol, fáilte mhór romham le flaithiúlacht urghnách. Tagaim agus mé ag iompar aon bhliain déag d’eispéiris as cuimse mar Stiúrthóir Ceoil ar Cheolfhoireann Ionad Náisiúnta na nEalaíon Cheanada, blianta a caitheadh ní hamháin ag stiúradh ceolchoirmeacha,

What a joy to welcome you to our new season, my first as Principal Conductor of National Symphony Orchestra Ireland (NSOI).

For more than a decade I have had the pleasure of working as a guest with this magnificent ensemble, and it is with a great sense of privilege and purpose that I begin this fresh chapter.

This country, where my mother grew up, and this city, where she went to school and studied music, has welcomed me with extraordinary generosity. I arrive carrying eleven years of profound experiences as Music Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, years spent not simply conducting concerts, but working to establish symphonic music as an essential, irreplaceable thread in the fabric of national life.

ach ag obair chun ceol siansach a bhunú mar shnáithe riachtanach, do-athraithe i gcreatlach an tsaoil náisiúnta.

Táim bródúil as an méid a chiallaíonn Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann don náisiún seo agus lán d’uaillmhian maidir lena bhfuil fós le baint amach aici. Ní hamháin ensemble den scoth ar féidir le Baile Átha Cliath a bheith bródúil as, ach láithreacht bheo a mhothaítear i gCorcaigh agus i nGaillimh, i bPort Láirge agus i Luimneach, i hallaí scoile agus i hallaí ceolchoirme araon. Is í mo mhian is doimhne go leathnóidh an cheolfhoireann seo a tionchar níos faide fós, ag freastal ar mhuintir uile na hÉireann, agus go ndéanfaidh sí amhlaidh ar chaighdeán a thabharfaidh clú idirnáisiúnta di mar sholas d’fheabhas Éireannach, ensemble a dtaistealaíonn daoine ó gach cearn den domhan chun éisteacht léi.

An séasúr seo, feictear saothair nua-choimisiúnaithe Éireannacha ar fud an chláir, ó Judith Ring, Elaine Agnew, Amelia Clarkson, Ed Bennett, Aoife Ní Bhriain agus eile. Is dearbhú muiníne iad na coimisiúin seo i nglórtha beo chumadóireacht na hÉireann, agus meabhrúchán gur féidir linn ár gceangal le ceol ó thréimhsí agus ó áiteanna eile a dhoimhniú freisin trí dhul i ngleic le ceol ár linne féin agus ár gcultúir.

Tá an séasúr seo soilsithe ag réaltbhuíon ealaíontóirí ag buaic a gcumais. Renée Fleming agus Thomas Hampson le Chéile, beirt fhinscéal ar an stáitse. Joyce DiDonato gan sárú, ag tabhairt

I am proud of what National Symphony Orchestra Ireland means to this nation and full of ambition for what it can still become. Not simply a world-class ensemble that Dublin can be proud of, but a living presence felt in Cork and Galway, Waterford and Limerick, in school halls and concert halls alike. My deepest ambition is that this orchestra should further expand its reach, serving all Irish people, and that it should do so at a level that earns it a reputation as an international beacon of Irish excellence, an ensemble the world travels to hear.

This season, newly commissioned Irish works appear throughout the programme, from Judith Ring, Elaine Agnew, Amelia Clarkson, Ed Bennett, Aoife Ní Bhriain with Cormac McCarthy and others. These commissions are a declaration of faith in the living voices of Irish composition, and a reminder that by engaging with the music of our time and culture we can also deepen our connection to music of other eras and other places.

This season is illuminated by a constellation of artists at the very height of their powers. Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson together - two legends on stage. The incomparable Joyce DiDonato, conjuring Christmas magic. Sir András Schiff performing Bach’s Art of Fugue with the depth that a lifetime of devotion produces. Violin stars Leonidas Kavakos, Clara Jumi-Kang, Bomsori and Randall Goosby. Piano greats Benjamin Grosvenor, Nobuyuki Tsujii, Jonathan Biss. Cellists Daniel Müller-Schott and Anastasia Kobekina. The charismatic Jess Gillam with us for Culture Night. The San Diego Symphony making

draíocht na Nollag chun beatha. Sir András Schiff i mbun Art of Fugue Bach leis an doimhneacht a thagann ó shaolré tiomnaithe. Réaltaí an veidhlín Leonidas Kavakos, Clara Jumi-Kang, Bomsori agus Randall Goosby. Máistrí an phianó Benjamin Grosvenor, Nobuyuki Tsujii, Jonathan Biss. Na ceoltóirí dordveidhil Daniel Müller-Schott agus Anastasia Kobekina. Jess Gillam lán fuinnimh linn d’Oíche Chultúir. Ceolfhoireann Shiansach San Diego ag déanamh a gcéad léirithe sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta faoi stiúir Rafael Payare. Bach Collegium Japan ag seinm gach ceann de na sé Choinséartó Brandenburg in aon tráthnóna amháin neamhghnách. Ní ainmneacha ar leathanach amháin iad seo, is ceoltóirí d’indibhidiúlacht neamhchoitianta iad, agus is é an ceoláras an t-aon áit ar domhan inar féidir leat a bheith sa seomra leo.

Luíonn an luach saothair is mó atá agam mar cheoltóir sna nóiméid sin a chruthaímid le chéile i halla ceolchoirme, lucht féachana agus ceolfhoirne ag roinnt spáis, fuaime, ciúnais, ag éirí, go hachomair agus go hálainn, mar chuid de rud níos mó ná muid féin.

Nuair a nochtar Dara Siansa Mahler timpeall orainn i mí Mheán Fómhair, ag tosú le brón agus fearg agus ag teacht ar fhís ghléineach dóchais, ní hamháin go bhfuil siamsaíocht á tabhairt dúinn. Taispeántar cé muid féin. Ár mianta féin, ár gcaillteanais féin, ár gcumas inspioráideach don dóchas, curtha in iúl trí fhuaim le cruinneas nach féidir leis an teanga a bhaint amach. Cuireann

their National Concert Hall debut under Rafael Payare. Bach Collegium Japan performing all six Brandenburg Concertos in a single, extraordinary evening. These are not merely names on a page, they are musicians of rare individuality, and the concert hall is the only place in the world where you can be in the room with them.

My greatest reward as a musician lies in those moments we create together in a concert hall, audience and orchestra sharing space, sound, silence, becoming, briefly and beautifully, part of something larger than ourselves.

When Mahler’s Second Symphony unfolds around us in September, beginning in grief and anger and arriving at a radiant vision of hope, we are not being merely entertained. We are being shown ourselves. Our own longings, our own losses, our own inspiring capacity for hope, articulated through sound with a precision that language cannot achieve. Britten’s War Requiem asks, with shattering directness, what we owe to one another, and offers an answer that is not comfortable, but true.

Behavioural researchers tell us that memories formed in shared live experience are among the most durable we possess, that the stranger beside you, moved by the same music at the same moment, becomes part of something you will carry for years.

I believe passionately in this ability of music not just to entertain but to connect us, to change us and to nourish us. Over

War Requiem Britten an cheist orainn, le díreachas croíbhristeach, cad atá dlite againn dá chéile, agus tugann sé freagra nach bhfuil compordach, ach atá fíor.

Deir taighdeoirí iompraíochta linn go bhfuil na cuimhní a chruthaítear trí eispéiris bheo chomhroinnte ar chuid de na cinn is buaine atá againn, agus go n-éiríonn an strainséir in aice leat, a bhogann an ceol céanna ag an nóiméad céanna é, mar chuid de rud a iompróidh tú leat ar feadh blianta.

Creidim go paiseanta i gcumas seo an cheoil, ní hamháin chun siamsaíocht a dhéanamh ach chun muid a nascadh, chun muid a athrú agus chun sinn a chothú. I rith ceolchoirm amháin, is féidir le ceolfhoireann shiansach den scoth tú a thabhairt go deora áthais agus bróin, tú a iompar go saolta aislinge iontacha, dul i ngleic lenár n-instinní is dorcha agus créachtaí mothúchánacha a leigheas. I rith séasúir, is féidir leis foinse gan deireadh saibhrithe agus fionnachtana a chur ar fáil.

Tá súil agam go gcruthóidh sé seo a leithéid de shéasúr daoibh agus táim ag tnúth go mór lena roinnt libh.

the course of just a single concert, a great symphony orchestra can bring you to tears of joy and melancholy, transport you to wondrous dreamworlds, grapple with our darkest instincts and heal emotional wounds. Over the course of a season, it can provide a source of endless enrichment and discovery.

I hope that this will prove such a season for you and I look forward tremendously to sharing it with you.

Alexander Shelley Principal Conductor | National Symphony Orchestra Ireland Phríomhstiúrthóir | Cheolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Ways to Save

Prices & Discounts

NCH Friends

— Save 25% when purchasing tickets for 20-29 concerts

— Save 30% when purchasing 30+ concerts

— Save 30% when purchasing tickets to the NCH Friends Gala Concert, 6th November 2026.

General Pricing

Tickets to all main stage concerts across the season from €15 (with the exception of New Music Dublin)

— Student tickets: €10. (Limited availability)

— Family-Friendly price options for family concerts.

— Concession discounts

Persons with Disability and Carer: 50% discount.

Please note. Wheelchair spaces must be reserved at time of ticket purchase. Subject to availability. Early booking advised.

Senior Citizens and Unwaged: 5% discount.

(Please note, one discount applies at any one time)

Multi-buy Packages

— Buy more and save more with multi-buy concert packages across the Season. Book 4+ concerts at any time and unlock great discounts. NCH Friends receive more! Discounts of up to 25% on Multi-buy Packages.

Group discounts: 10% discount when purchasing 10-39 tickets. 20% discount when purchasing 40+ tickets.

Multi-buy Options

Package Discounts not applicable on Schools & Family Concerts listed on pages 46, 62, 79 and 88-93 or Savina Yannatou with Arcanum (3 Nov) & Vijay Iyer (7 Nov) listed as part of ECM 2026 on page 86-87.

Booking

How to Book

Online

www.nch.ie

Phone

NCH Box Office:

+353 (0)1 417 0000

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday, 10am – 2pm

In Person

NCH Box Office

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am – 6pm and 2 hours prior to Main Stage evening concerts on weekends and bank holidays.

NCH Friends Dedicated

Booking Line

+353 (0)1 408 6777

NCH Friends Membership Office

+353 (0)1 417 0067

Email: friends@nch.ie

When to Book

NCH Patrons and NCH Season Friends

Wednesday 3 June 2026—1.30pm

NCH Friends Thursday 4 June 2026—10am

General Bookers & Groups Friday 5 June 2026—10am

Ticket Exchange

The NCH understands that plans regarding concert attendance can change. We are happy to offer all package buyers the opportunity to exchange their ticket(s) to another event in the NCH Classical Season 2026/2027.

See nch.ie for terms and conditions.

Classical Season 2026/2027

At a glance

NSOI – National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

International Orchestras & Recitals

Date Concert Time

AUGUST

22.08.26 Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra 8pm 22

SEPTEMBER

11.09.26 NSOI Season Opening: Alexander Shelley conducts Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ 7.30pm 24

18.09.26 NSOI Culture Night: Alexander Shelley, conductor & Jess Gillam, saxophone 6.30pm & 8.30pm 26

OCTOBER

02.10.26

03.10.26

09.10.26

NSOI: Emanuil Ivanov plays Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 7.30pm 27

NSOI Waterford: Emanuil Ivanov plays Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 SETU, Waterford 7.30pm 27

NSOI: Jonathan Biss plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 7.30pm 28

10.10.26 Bach Collegium Japan plays Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos 8pm 30

11.10.26 ECM 2026: Irish Baroque Orchestra & Crash Ensemble: Heiner Goebbels: Songs of Wars I Have Seen 8pm 32

23.10.26

30.10.26

31.10.26

NSOI: Thibaut Garcia plays Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez 7.30pm 33

ECM 2026: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir National Symphony Orchestra Ireland Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor & Anja Lechner, cello 7.30pm 34

ECM Cork 2026: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor. Triskel Arts Centre, Cork 8pm 36

NOVEMBER

01.11.26

06.11.26

ECM 2026: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor. Arvo Pärt at 90 8pm 37

NCH Friends Gala: Bomsori plays Korngold’s Violin Concerto with NSOI 7.30pm 38

10.11.26 Camerata Ireland & Barry Douglas, piano/conductor play Beethoven 8pm 40

12.11.26

13.11.26

NSOI Galway: Daniel Müller-Schott plays Elgar’s Cello Concerto Leisureland, Galway 7.30pm 41

NSOI: Daniel Müller-Schott plays Elgar’s Cello Concerto 7.30pm 41

24.11.26 Camerata of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & Matthias Goerne: Schubert’s Winterreise 8pm 42

27.11.26

NSOI: Anja Bihlmaier conducts Britten’s War Requiem 7.30pm 43

DECEMBER

04.12.26

NSOI: Nobuyuki Tsujii plays Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 7.30pm 44

05.12.26 NSOI Family Concert Symphony Shorts: Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story 12.30pm 46

12.12.26 ECM 2026: Sir András SchiffThe Art of Fugue 8pm 47

13.12.26 Joyce DiDonato with Kings Return & Craig Terry. Kings ReJoyce! 8pm 48

JANUARY

01.01.27 NSOI: New Year’s Day Gala 3.30pm 50

15.01.27 NSOI: John O’Conor at 80 plays Beethoven 7.30pm 52

16.01.27

NSOI Limerick: John O’Conor at 80 plays Beethoven UCH, Limerick 7.30pm 52

22.01.27 NSOI: Sophia Liu plays Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 7.30pm 53

29.01.27 NSOI: Benjamin Grosvenor plays Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto 7.30pm 54

FEBRUARY

05.02.27 NSOI: Karen Gomyo plays Bruch’s Violin Concerto 7.30pm 56

12.02.27 NSOI: Anastasia Kobekina plays Dvořák’s Cello Concerto 7.30pm 57

17.02.27 Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Pekka Kuusisto, conductor/play-director plays Sibelius

NSOI: Alexander Shelley conducts Beethoven & John Adams 7.30pm 60 27.02.27 NSOI Family Concert Symphony Shorts: Beethoven’s Eroica 12.30pm 62

MARCH

05.03.27 NSOI: Sunwook Kim plays Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4

NSOI: Marie-Ange Nguci plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 7.30pm 67

26.03.27 NSOI: Music for Good Friday. Bach’s St Matthew Passion 3.30pm 68

APRIL

09.04.27 NSOI: New Music Dublin. Premieres by Birtwistle, Tabakova & Bennett

NSOI: Randall Goosby plays Brahms’s Violin Concerto

NSOI Cork: Alexander Shelley conducts Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 Cork City Hall, Cork 7.30pm 74

23.04.27

30.04.27

NSOI: Alexander Shelley conducts Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 7.30pm 74

NSOI: Leonard Slatkin conducts Dvořák’s New World Symphony 7.30pm 75 MAY

06.05.27 Rafael Payare conducts San Diego Symphony 8pm 76

07.05.27 NSOI: Alexander Shelley conducts Star Wars & The Planets 7.30pm 78

08.05.27

14.05.27

21.05.27

NSOI Family Concert Symphony Shorts: Star Wars & The Planets 12.30pm 79

NSOI: Peter Whelan conducts Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 7.30pm 80

NSOI: Kristiina Poska conducts Debussy’s La Mer & Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle 7.30pm 81

22.05.27 Kremerata Baltica, Gidon Kremer, director & Midori, violin 8pm 82

28.05.27

NSOI Season Finale: Antony Hermus conducts Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust 7.30pm 84

National Concert Hall

ECM 2026

The National Concert Hall’s ECM 2026 series marks Ireland’s hosting of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Celebrating the pioneering record label ECM and its profound influence on contemporary music in Europe and around the world since its foundation in 1969, the series brings extraordinary artists to our stage as part of this season and our broader programme for the year.

Full details of all ECM 2026 concerts can be found here.

Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra

Sat. 22 Aug. ’26—8pm

Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra

Keri-Lynn Wilson conductor

Julia Kleiter soprano

Bohdana Frolyak Gloria Mahler Rückert-Lieder

Beethoven Symphony No. 7

A powerful opening to the National Concert Hall’s cultural programme for Ireland’s 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this special concert sees the return of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra. Hailed by The Guardian as “a symbol of resilience” and “artistic excellence”, they will be joined by soprano Julia Kleiter for Mahler’s deeply personal Rückert-Lieder, paired with the radiant beauty and intensity of Bohdana Frolyak’s Gloria. The evening culminates in Beethoven’s exhilarating Seventh Symphony, an electrifying celebration of resilience, hope, and unity.

Presented in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as part of the Cultural Programme for Ireland’s 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Tickets: €15, €26.50, €34, €39, €45

Julia Kleiter

Keri-Lynn Wilson

NSOI Season Opening

Shelley conducts Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’

Fri. 11 Sept. ’26—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Alexander Shelley conductor

Tara Erraught soprano

Dame Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano

National Symphony Chorus Ireland

David Young chorus director

Mahler Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’

“Very few pieces come close to the elation, joy and adrenaline that this symphony gives you”, states Alexander Shelley who leads National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, National Symphony Chorus Ireland and outstanding soloists Tara Erraught and Dame Sarah Connolly in Mahler’s awe-inspiring Second Symphony ‘Resurrection’. A deeply moving and life-affirming masterpiece, it unfolds from darkness to radiant triumph providing a monumental start to National Symphony Orchestra Ireland’s season.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.15pm

Tickets: €15, €27.50, €35, €42.50, €49

National Symphony Chorus Ireland

Alexander Shelley

NSOI Culture Night with Alexander Shelley & Jess Gillam

Fri. 18 Sep. ’26

—6.30pm & 8.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Alexander Shelley conductor

Jess Gillam saxophone

Bernstein Overture to Candide

Anna Clyne Glasslands (Irish Premiere)

Augusta Holmes La nuit et l’amour

Bartók Romanian Folk Dances

Kati Agócs Shenanigan (Irish Premiere)

John Williams Main Title from Star Wars

A vibrant Culture Night concert blending classical favourites and contemporary works, offering a ‘musical tasting menu’, designed to delight, surprise and inspire. Celebrated saxophonist Jess Gillam, the first-ever saxophonist signed to Decca Classics, joins the orchestra for Anna Clyne’s Glasslands inspired by the myth of the Banshee, and Kati Agócs’ Shenanigan,“a hoedown whirl of symphonic fun” (The Toronto Star). Augusta Holmès’ enchanting La nuit et l’amour also features in a lively programme of works by Bernstein, Bartók and John Williams’ iconic Star Wars. A vibrant and accessible musical experience for newcomers and regular concert goers alike.

Concert duration approx. 65 minutes

Tickets: Free but ticketed

Jess Gillam

NSOI: Ivanov plays Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1

Fri. 2 Oct. ’26—7.30pm

National Concert Hall Dublin

Sat. 3 Oct. ’26—7.30pm

SETU Waterford

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

John Wilson conductor

Emanuil Ivanov piano

Grażyna Bacewicz

Tchaikovsky

Overture

Piano Concerto No. 1

Rachmaninov Symphony No. 3

Dynamic Bulgarian pianist Emanuil Ivanov brings dazzling technique and sensitivity to Tchaikovsky’s iconic First Piano Concerto, a romantic showstopper famed for its bold opening and sweeping melodies. The programme continues with the rich textures of Rachmaninov’s Third Symphony, preceded by Grażyna Bacewicz’s Overture. Despite being written during the German occupation of Poland it is an intriguing piece which the BBC writes “contains a musical message of hope” offering an evening of passion, drama and late-Romantic colour under the baton of much-loved conductor John Wilson, one of the most exciting and meticulous British conductors of his generation.

NSOI Waterford, 3 Oct. presented in association with Symphony Club of Waterford. Tickets available https://scowmusic.com/

NSOI Dublin Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Emanuil Ivanov

NSOI: Jonathan Biss plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17

Fri. 9 Oct. ’26—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Peter Whelan conductor

Jonathan Biss piano

Haydn Symphony No. 22 ‘The Philosopher’

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 17

Mozart Symphony No. 41 ‘Jupiter’

Praised by The New Yorker for his “impeccable taste and formidable technique”, renowned pianist Jonathan Biss makes a welcome return to the National Concert Hall following his 2025 appearance to perform Mozart’s lyrical Piano Concerto No. 17, notable for its refined intimacy and wit. Framed by Haydn’s thoughtful ‘Philosopher’ Symphony and Mozart’s majestic and final Symphony ‘Jupiter’, it will be brought to life by NSOI under the expert guidance of Artistic Partner Peter Whelan.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.15pm

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Peter Whelan

Bach Collegium Japan play Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos

Sat. 10 Oct. ’26—8pm

Bach Collegium Japan

Masato Suzuki conductor

Bach Brandenburg Concertos Nos 1-6

Few works capture the brilliance, joy and genius of Johann Sebastian Bach quite like his six Brandenburg Concertos. Praised for bringing both scholarly insight and remarkable musical energy to Bach’s music, Bach Collegium Japan make a welcome return to the National Concert Hall to perform Bach’s complete set of Brandenburg Concertos. A rare opportunity to experience these extraordinary masterpieces, some three hundred years after they were written, in one exhilarating evening under the direction of Masato Suzuki.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.45pm

Tickets: €15, €28.50, €36, €44, €55

Masato Suzuki

ECM 2026: IBO & Crash Ensemble

Heiner Goebbels - Songs of Wars I Have Seen

Sun. 11 Oct. ’26—8pm

Irish Baroque Orchestra

Crash Ensemble

Geoffrey Paterson conductor

Heiner Goebbels Songs of Wars I Have Seen

Goebbels’ landmark Songs of Wars I Have Seen draws on Gertrude Stein’s wartime diaries. Blending spoken word and live music by Crash Ensemble and Irish Baroque Orchestra with conductor Geoffrey Paterson, this intimate work offers a poignant reflection on everyday life in times of conflict, described as “a thought-provoking, hauntingly tender work for trouble times” by The Boston Globe

The National Concert Hall’s ECM 2026 series, celebrating the pioneering German label, is part of Ireland’s Cultural Programme for the 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union, supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

Post-Concert Talk 9.30pm: Heiner Goebbels in Conversation with John Kelly, The Studio

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Crash Ensemble

NSOI: Garcia plays Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez

Fri. 23 Oct. ’26—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Julio García Vico conductor

Thibaut Garcia guitar

Camille Pépin Laniakea (Irish premiere)

Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez

Falla Interlude and Dance from La vida breve

Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol

Ravel Boléro

A vibrant celebration of Spanish and French inspired music, rich in colour and rhythm. Celebrated guitarist Thibaut Garcia performs Rodrigo’s beloved Concierto de Aranjuez, one of the most popular works in the guitar repertoire. Camille Pépin’s cosmic-inspired Laniakea (meaning immense heaven) opens the programme which also includes excerpts from Falla’s vibrant flamenco-infused La vida breve, RimskyKorsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, and Ravel’s iconic Boléro. This is an evening of irresistible orchestral flair with a distinctly Spanish feel led by conductor

Julio García Vico.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.15pm

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Thibaut Garcia

ECM 2026: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Fri. 30 Oct. ’26—7.30pm

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Tõnu Kaljuste conductor

Anja Lechner cello

Erkki-Sven Tüür Passio

Erkki-Sven Tüür Illusion

Erkki-Sven Tüür Crystallisatio (Irish Premiere)

Tõnu Kõrvits Laul (Irish Premiere)

Tõnu Kõrvits Reflections from a Plainland (Irish Premiere)

Tõnu Kõrvits Dreams 4-7 from Seven Dreams of Seven Birds (Irish Premiere)

Arvo Pärt Symphony No. 1

Arvo Pärt In Principio

The Grammy award-winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir joins National Symphony Orchestra Ireland and cellist Anja Lechner for music by renowned Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, featuring his dramatic and majestic In Principio, inspired by the opening lines of the Gospel of John, along with his striking First Symphony. Music of haunting beauty, stillness and spirituality, it is paired with works by fellow Estonian composers Erkki-Sven Tüür and Tõnu Kõrvits, creating a powerful evening of Baltic music under the baton of conductor Tõnu Kaljuste.

Post-Concert Talk 9.30pm: Tõnu Kaljuste in Conversation with John Kelly, The Studio

Tickets: €15, €28.50, €36, €44, €55

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Anja Lechner

ECM 2026 Cork: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Sat. 31 Oct. ’26—8pm

Triskel Arts Centre, Cork

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Tõnu Kaljuste conductor

Arvo Pärt Magnificat

Arvo Pärt Which Was the Son of ...

Arvo Pärt The Deer’s Cry

Arvo Pärt Dopo la vittoria

Arvo Pärt Kanon pokajanen excerpts: Kontakion, Ikos, Prayer After the Canon Veljo Tormis The Bishop and the Pagan (Piispa ja pakana)

Luciano Berio Cries of London

Evelin Seppar Iris

Philip Glass

Father Death Blues (from Hydrogen Jukebox)

Experience one of the world’s leading choirs in a programme of contemporary choral masterpieces. At its heart is music by Arvo Pärt, including the serene Magnificat and the powerful Kanon pokajanen, reflecting his signature minimalist style. Works by Veljo Tormis, Luciano Berio, Philip Glass and Seppar complete the programme, blending chant, folk influences, poetry and nature-inspired sound in a deeply spiritual musical journey.

Tickets: €35 (€32 Concessions)

ECM Cork tickets available at www.nch.ie and www.triskelartscentre.ie

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

ECM 2026: Arvo Pärt at 90

Sun. 1 Nov. ‘26—8pm

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Tõnu Kaljuste conductor | Kadri Toomoja organ

Arvo Pärt

Berliner Messe: Kyrie, Gloria

Summa

Berliner Messe: Veni sancte spiritus

Nunc dimittis

Berliner Messe: Sanctus

Dopo la vittoria

Berliner Messe: Agnus Dei

Kanon Pokajanen: Kontakion and Ikos

Magnificat

Veni creator

The Deer’s Cry

Drei Hirtenkinder aus Fátima

Littlemore Tractus

Kanon Pokajanen: ‘Prayer After the Canon’

Vater unser

Celebrate the belated 90th birthday of Arvo Pärt, one of today’s most influential composers, with a programme of his most profound and meditative works from the serene Magnificat to the introspective Berliner Messe. Performed by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, under conductor Tõnu Kaljuste and guest organist Kadri Toomoja this concert offers an immersion into the full emotional and spiritual range of Pärt’s music, celebrated for its stillness, spirituality and timeless beauty.

Tickets: €15, €28.50, €36, €44, €55

Tõnu Kaljuste

NCH Friends Gala

Bomsori plays Korngold’s Violin Concerto with NSOI

Fri. 6 Nov. ’26—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Alexander Shelley conductor

Bomsori violin

Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Korngold Violin Concerto

R. Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra

Korean violin sensation Bomsori performs Korngold’s sumptuous Violin Concerto, filled with cinematic lyricism, and overflowing with the sweeping lush melodies, in our National Concert Hall Friends Gala. With Dukas’ playful The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Strauss’s powerful Also sprach Zarathustra, forever linked to the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, this is an evening of orchestral drama, colour and spectacle brought to life under the baton of NSOI’s dynamic Principal Conductor Alexander Shelley.

Tickets: €15, €26.50, €34, €39, €45 (30% Discount for Friends of NCH)

Bomsori

Camerata Ireland & Barry Douglas play Beethoven

Tue. 10 Nov. ’26—8pm

Camerata Ireland

Barry Douglas piano/conductor

Beethoven Coriolan Overture

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 ‘Emperor’

Celebrated Irish pianist Barry Douglas, praised for his “authority and poetic insight” (The Irish Times) directs and performs an all-Beethoven programme of power and elegance with the acclaimed Camerata Ireland. From the drama of the Coriolan Overture to the brilliance of his First Piano Concerto, and the majesty of his Fifth Piano Concerto, the ‘Emperor’, this concert celebrates one of the greatest composers in classical music and his enduring legacy.

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Camerata Ireland

Barry Douglas

NSOI: Daniel Müller-Schott plays Elgar’s Cello Concerto

Thurs. 12 Nov. ’26—7.30pm

Leisureland, Galway

Fri. 13 Nov. ’26—7.30pm

National Concert Hall, Dublin

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Anna Rakitina conductor

Daniel Müller-Schott cello

Jessie Montgomery

Overture (Irish premiere)

Elgar Cello Concerto

Sibelius Symphony No. 7

Grieg Peer Gynt Suite No. 1

Praised for his “intense expressivity” and “bold, fiery technique” (The New York Times), German cellist Daniel Müller-Schott performs Elgar’s deeply expressive Cello Concerto, a work of poignant beauty and reflection. Framed by Sibelius’s powerful and dramatic Seventh Symphony, the Irish premiere of Jessie Montgomery’s Overture, and Grieg’s evocative Peer Gynt suite, this programme highlights a rich palette of orchestral colour, showcasing the orchestra’s expressive range under the baton of Anna Rakitina.

NSOI Galway concert, 12 November, presented in association with Music for Galway. For tickets see www.musicforgalway.ie

NSOI Dublin Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Daniel Müller-Schott

Camerata of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Matthias Goerne - Winterreise

Tue. 24 Nov. ’26—8pm

Camerata of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Matthias Goerne baritone

Schubert Winterreise

Schubert’s Winterreise, one of the most profound and defining song cycles in Western music history is a true masterpiece of the genre. Praised by The New York Times as “peerless in this repertoire”, renowned baritone Matthias Goerne brings exceptional depth and insight to this introspective song cycle, joined by musicians from the world-renowned Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, charting a journey through longing, isolation and quiet despair, revealing the full emotional range of the human heart.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.45pm

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Camerata of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

NSOI: Britten’s War Requiem

Fri. 27 Nov. ’26—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Anja Bihlmaier conductor

Ailish Tynan soprano

Laurence Kilsby tenor

Joshua Hopkins baritone

National Symphony Chorus Ireland | David Young chorus director

Choristers of St Patrick’s Cathedral

Stuart Nicholson Master of the Music

Britten War Requiem

Britten’s pacifist War Requiem stands as a towering choral masterpiece written on his return to England after the Second World War, completed in 1962. A deeply moving reflection on war and reconciliation, it is recognised as a masterpiece that weaves the traditional Latin Requiem Mass with poems by British soldier Wilfred Owen, capturing the brutal realities of war. Hailed as “devastating and unforgettable” (The Guardian) War Requiem endures as one of the most powerful and relevant musical works of the 20th century. The concert is a tribute to Benjamin Britten in the 50th anniversary year of his death.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.15pm

Tickets: €15, €27.50, €35, €42.50, €49

Anja Bihlmaier

NSOI: Nobuyuki Tsujii plays Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2

Fri. 4 Dec. ’26—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Alexander Shelley conductor

Nobuyuki Tsujii piano

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2

Wagner Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde

Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Astonishing Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii returns to the National Concert Hall following his acclaimed 2025 recital debut to perform for Irish audiences once more. He brings lyricism and brilliance to Chopin’s poetic Second Piano Concerto, said to be inspired by the composer’s youthful infatuation with a young soprano Konstancja Gladkowska. Wagner’s sumptuous Prelude and Liebestod from his transcendent opera Tristan und Isolde and Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story offer a vibrant orchestral showcase, adding passion and energy to a richly expressive programme of love and longing. Tickets: €15, €27.50, €35, €42.50, €49

Nobuyuki Tsujii

Family Concert

Symphony Shorts Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Sat. 5 Dec. ’26—12.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Alexander Shelley conductor

Presented by Jessie Grimes

NCH Discover Artist-in-Residence

Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Join us for West Side Story, a modern musical retelling of friendship, rivalry, and love, inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and set in the busy streets of 1950s New York. Two rival teenage gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, don’t get along, but everything changes when Tony (a former Jet) and Maria (sister of the Shark leader) meet and fall in love. What happens next is full of big emotions, unforgettable music, and powerful moments.

Led by presenter and storyteller Jessie Grimes, the NCH Discover Artist-in-Residence, this fun and interactive concert is specially designed for children aged 6 and up. You’ll hear how the orchestra tells the story through music, from energetic dance rhythms to bold brass sounds and beautiful, sweeping melodies by Leonard Bernstein. With live music, playful storytelling, and amazing performances by NSOI, this relaxed and Autism Friendly concert is a fantastic way to experience music up close.

Arrive early for Free, pre-concert fun activities, designed to engage children and spark their imagination before the concert begins.

Duration approx. 1 hour

Suitable for children aged 6+

Tickets: €20 Adult, €15 Child, €65 Family Ticket (4 tickets, max 2 adults)

ECM 2026: Sir András SchiffThe Art of Fugue

Sat. 12 Dec. ’26—8pm

Sir András Schiff piano

J.S. Bach The Art of Fugue

One of today’s leading pianists, Sir András Schiff performs Bach’s unfinished masterpiece The Art of Fugue, which he calls “the greatest work by the greatest composer who ever lived.” Reflecting on his 2024 Wigmore Hall performance, he said: “I’ve waited 70 years to play this work… you cannot climb Mount Everest immediately… this is the climax.” A Grammy Award-winning Bach interpreter, Schiff brings insight and clarity to this profound exploration in a rare performance by one of the most revered pianists of our time.

Tickets: €15, €28.50, €36, €44, €55

Sir András Schiff

Joyce DiDonato Kings Return & Craig Terry

Sun. 13 Dec. ’26—8pm

Kings ReJoyce!

Joyce DiDonato mezzo-soprano

Craig Terry piano

Kings Return

A variety of Seasonal Favourites

Celebrated for her radiant “24-carat gold voice,” (The Times) American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato makes a welcome return to the National Concert Hall, with a joyful festive programme of seasonal favourites to include - ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’, ‘Carol of the Bells’, ‘O Holy Night’, ‘Go Tell it on the Mountain’, ‘Rejoice/ Hallelujah’, ‘You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch’ , ‘I’ll be Home for Christmas ‘, ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’ and more. She will be joined by Dallasbased a cappella sensation Kings Return and pianist Craig Terry, blending classical favourites, carols, gospel, and jazz-inspired arrangements in a vibrant, heart-warming, and joyful celebration of the season, delivered by one of the greatest voices of our time.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.45pm

Tickets: €15, €35, €47.50, €59, €75

Joyce DiDonato

NSOI: New Year’s Day Gala

Fri. 1 Jan. ’27—3.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Gavin Maloney conductor

Ailish Tynan soprano

Gavan Ring tenor

Josef Strauss

Lehár

Johann Strauss II

Strauss II

Johann Strauss II

Eduard Strauss

Lehár

Josef Lanner

Robert Stolz

Lehár

Joseph Hellmesberger II

Lehár

Josef Strauss

Phönix-Marsch, Op. 105

Phönix-Schwingen, Walzer, Op. 125

Dein ist mein ganzes Herz from Das Land des Lächelns

Schönes Italien from Paganini

Der Zigeunerbaron Overture

Der Zigeunerbaron Entrance March

Czardas from Die Fledermaus

The Watch Duet from Die Fledermaus

Thunder and Lightning Polka

Helenen-Quadrille, Op. 14

Gern hab’ ich die Frau’n geküsst from Paganini

Die Romantiker, Walzer, Op. 167

Du sollst der Kaiser meiner Seele sein from Der Favorit

Vilja from The Merry Widow

Valse espagnole

Lippen schweigen from The Merry Widow

‘Ohne Sorgen’ Polka schnell, Op. 271

Ring in 2027 with a sparkling gala of beloved Viennese classics and orchestral favourites with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, conductor Gavin Maloney and acclaimed Irish singers, soprano Ailish Tynan and tenor Gavan Ring. Inspired by Vienna’s New Year tradition, this uplifting concert blends elegance, charm and celebration with uplifting orchestral showpieces by Strauss, Léhar and more, perfect for seasoned music lovers and first-time visitors alike.

Tickets: €15, €27.50, €35, €42.50, €49

Ailish Tynan

NSOI: John O’Conor at 80 plays Beethoven

Fri. 15 Jan. ’27—7.30pm

National Concert Hall, Dublin

Sat. 16 Jan. ’27—7.30pm

University Concert Hall Limerick

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

David Brophy conductor

John O’Conor piano

Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3

Elgar Enigma Variations

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3

Few artists are as deeply woven into Ireland’s musical life as Irish pianist John O’Conor. For decades, his NCH performances have captivated audiences with their poetic clarity and authority particularly in Beethoven’s repertoire. Widely regarded as a leading Beethoven interpreter, his many performances and recordings of the complete piano sonatas earned international acclaim. Awarded the NCH Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, O’Conor’s legacy extends beyond the stage to his teaching and nurturing the next generation of performers. Celebrating his 80th birthday, this concert honours both his remarkable career and his love of Beethoven, as the National Concert Hall celebrates Beethoven’s 200th anniversary year.

NSOI Limerick presented in association with University Concert Hall Limerick.

NSOI Limerick, 16 Jan tickets available from www.uch.ie

NSOI Dublin Tickets: €15, €26.50, €34, €39, €45

John O’Conor

NSOI: Sophia Liu plays Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2

Fri. 22 Jan. ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Diego Matheuz conductor

Sophia Liu piano

Mel Bonis Trois femmes de légende (Irish Premiere)

Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2

Prokofiev Symphony No. 5

Charismatic conductor Diego Matheuz, long-time collaborator of famed conductor Gustavo Dudamel, leads NSOI in this compelling programme centred on Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto, described by Classic FM as “gloriously free and wistful.” It will be brought to life by the young Chinese-Canadian piano prodigy Sophia Liu, a 2026 Classic FM Rising Star, praised for her “supernaturally fluid” touch. The sweeping power of Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony follows. Opening the concert is the Irish premiere of Mel Bonis’s Trois femmes de légende; three evocative portraits of legendary heroines Salome, Ophelia, and Cleopatra.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.15pm

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Sophia Liu

NSOI: Benjamin Grosvenor plays Beethoven

Fri. 29 Jan. ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Sasha Scolnik-Brower conductor

Benjamin Grosvenor piano

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 ‘Emperor’

Beethoven Grosse Fugue Op. 130 arr. for string orchestra

Beethoven Symphony No. 1

Celebrated British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, described as being “the real deal” by The Financial Times, performs Beethoven’s majestic ‘Emperor’ Concerto, a masterpiece which embodies heroism and resilience, in this, his first concert with NSOI. This concert, the first of many in 2027 marking the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, also features Beethoven’s youthful First Symphony and his intense Grosse Fugue, offering a compelling introduction to the genius of Beethoven for newcomers and seasoned listeners alike.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.15pm

Tickets: €15, €26.50, €34, €39, €45

Benjamin Grosvenor

NSOI: Karen Gomyo plays Bruch’s Violin Concerto

Fri. 5 Feb. ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Anna Sułkowska-Migoń conductor

Karen Gomyo violin

Beethoven Egmont Overture

Bruch Violin Concerto

Karłowicz Eternal Songs (Irish Premiere)

Borodin Polovtsian Dances

Praised by The Chicago Tribune as “a first-rate artist of real musical command, vitality, brilliance and intensity,” violinist Karen Gomyo is renowned for her ability to captivate audiences with deeply expressive performances. She brings these qualities to Bruch’s much-loved Violin Concerto featuring its profoundly moving Adagio. The programme also includes Beethoven’s dramatic Egmont Overture, Karłowicz’s atmospheric Eternal Songs, and Borodin’s vibrant Polovtsian Dances, ensuring a colourful evening of gloriously rich Romantic music.

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Karen Gomyo

NSOI: Anastasia Kobekina plays Dvorák’s Cello Concerto

Fri. 12 Feb. ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Anna-Maria Helsing conductor

Anastasia Kobekina cello

Cór Linn

Ciarán Kelly director

Dvořák Serenade for Strings

Jessica Traynor & Elaine Agnew What the Future Holds (World Premiere & NSOI Commission)

Dvořák Cello Concerto

Captivating audiences with her stunning musicality and charismatic stage presence, Anastasia Kobekina performs Dvořák’s deeply expressive Cello Concerto. One of the greatest compositions by the Czech composer it is described as “simply a masterpiece” by cellist Steven Isserlis. Framed by Dvořák’s elegant Serenade for Strings and a world premiere of What the Future Holds by celebrated Irish composer Elaine Agnew and poet Jessica Traynor, collaged from poetry created by Cór Linn, this concert combines beloved classical repertoire with a radiant new work for young voices.

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Anastasia Kobekina

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Pekka Kuusisto plays Sibelius

Wed. 17 Feb. ’27—8pm

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

Pekka Kuusisto violin/director

Andrea Tarrodi Birds of Paradise

Sibelius Violin Concerto

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5

Hailed by The Guardian as “a thrillingly original musician,” Finnish violinist and director Pekka Kuusisto brings fresh energy to this programme with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in their National Concert Hall debut. Kuusisto performs Sibelius’s one and only Violin Concerto, admired for its melancholic beauty and blistering virtuosity. The evening continues with Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, a perennial crowd-pleaser, laden with emotional intensity, lush orchestration and memorable melodies. Inspired by David Attenborough’s Planet Earth, the concert opens with Swedish composer Andrea Tarrodi’s vivid Birds of Paradise.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.45pm

Tickets: €15, €30, €42.50, €54, €65

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

Pekka Kuusisto

NSOI: Alexander Shelley conducts Beethoven & Adams

Fri. 26 Feb. ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Alexander Shelley conductor

Renée Fleming soprano

Thomas Hampson baritone

National Symphony Chorus Ireland

David Young chorus director

Beethoven Overture to Fidelio

John Adams Three Scenes from Nixon in China

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’

Two of the world’s great voices, Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson feature in this unmissable concert with NSOI, led by Alexander Shelley. Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture sets the tone of this politically charged programme with its spirit of liberation and resolve, before we hear Hampson and Fleming in three scenes from John Adams’ Nixon in China. The evening culminates in the triumph of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony, a monumental work of defiance, heroism and dramatic intensity, marking Beethoven’s 200th anniversary year at the National Concert Hall.

Tickets: €15, €30, €42.50, €54, €65

Thomas Hampson

Renée Fleming

Symphony Shorts: Beethoven Eroica Symphony

Sat. 27 Feb. ’27—12.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Alexander Shelley conductor

Jessie Grimes presenter and NCH Discover Artist-in-Residence

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’

Step into the world of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony, a piece of music filled with adventure, excitement, and heroic energy. Imagine bold brass fanfares, dramatic surprises, and sweeping melodies as the orchestra brings Beethoven’s powerful story to life. You’ll hear musical “conversations” between the instruments, moments of triumph and mystery, and music that bursts with imagination and emotion.

In this relaxed and Autism Friendly concert, join NSOI, led by Alexander Shelley, and presenter and storyteller Jessie Grimes for a fun, family-friendly journey into one of the most famous symphonies ever written. Discover how Beethoven continued to create extraordinary music even as he began to lose his hearing, proving that imagination and determination can overcome any challenge.

Arrive early for Free, pre-concert fun activities, designed to engage children and spark their imagination before the concert begins.

Duration approx. 1 hour

Suitable for children aged 6+

Tickets: €20 Adult, €15 Child, €65 Family Ticket (4 tickets, max 2 adults)

Sophia Liu

NSOI: Sunwook Kim plays Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4

Fri. 5 Mar. ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Sunwook Kim piano/conductor

Ava Dodd soprano

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4

Mahler Symphony No. 4

Since winning the Leeds International Piano Competition some 20 years ago, Sunwook Kim has excelled as one of today’s finest pianists and conductors appearing with some of the world’s leading orchestras. He joins NSOI to both direct and perform as soloist in Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto, a poetic, innovative and introspective masterpiece, marking Beethoven’s 200th anniversary at the National Concert Hall. Mahler’s radiant Fourth Symphony follows, featuring the luminous soprano Ava Dodd, praised for her “golden voice”. Two great composers at their most expressive.

Tickets: €15, €26.50, €34, €39, €45

Ava Dodd

Sunwook Kim

NSOI: Pablo Ferrández plays Schumann

Fri. 12 Mar. ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Antony Hermus conductor

Pablo Ferrández cello

Schumann Cello Concerto

Bruckner Symphony No. 6

Celebrated as a “new cello genius” (Le Figaro) and “truly special” by violinist Anne Sophie Mütter, Spanish cellist Pablo Ferrández performs Schumann’s intimate and expressive Cello Concerto, a work of quiet beauty, richness and sensitivity. Composed in just two weeks and never performed publicly during Schumann’s lifetime, the concerto has since become a cornerstone of the cello repertoire. Bruckner’s monumental and radiant Sixth Symphony follows, offering a captivating programme of musical introspection and grandeur led by Dutch conductor Antony Hermus.

Tickets: €15, €26.50, €34, €39, €45

Pablo Ferrández

NSOI: Marie-Ange Nguci plays Mozart

Fri. 19 Mar. ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Delyana Lazarova conductor

Marie-Ange Nguci piano

Judith Ring Beneath the Shadows (World Premiere & NSOI Commission)

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23

Beethoven Symphony No. 4

Rising star pianist Marie-Ange Nguci performs Mozart’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 23, a jewel of the Classical period, described as intimate, tender yet brilliant and exuberant. A world premiere by Irish composer Judith Ring Beneath the Shadows, inspired by Beethoven, opens the concert, followed by Beethoven’s lively Fourth Symphony, “a symphony that makes you feel good to be alive” (BBC Music Magazine). This is a vibrant blend of classical elegance and contemporary creativity led by Delyana Lazarova, marking Beethoven’s 200th anniversary at the National Concert Hall.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.15pm

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Marie-Ange Nguci

NSOI: Music for Good Friday

Fri. 26 Mar. ’27—3.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Gerhard Markson conductor

National Symphony Chorus Ireland | David Young director

Cór na nÓg | Mary Almond O’Brien director

Gwilym Bowen tenor (Evangelist) | Anna Devin soprano

Jess Dandy contralto | Thomas Elwin tenor

Milan Siljanov bass (Christus) | Simon Shibambu bass

J.S. Bach St Matthew Passion

J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion, one of the most profound works of the baroque period, is described as “a monumental achievement of spiritual and artistic expression” (The New York Times). Performed on Good Friday by NSOI, NSCI and Cór na nÓg with a stellar cast of soloists, under the guidance of Gerhard Markson, this sacred oratorio offers a powerful and deeply moving musical meditation on Christ’s crucifixion. With its dramatic storytelling, expressive arias, and majestic choruses, the work offers a deeply reflective and unforgettable experience for Good Friday.

(Please note the duration of concert is three hours and fifteen minutes)

Tickets: €15, €27.50, €35, €42.50, €49

Jess Dandy

New Music Dublin: NSOI play Bennett, Tabakova & Birtwistle

Fri. 9 April ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Martyn Brabbins conductor

Ed Bennett

New Work (World Premiere, NSOI & NMD Commission)

Dobrinka Tabakova Earth Suite (Irish Premiere)

Sir Harrison Birtwistle Deep Time (Irish Premiere)

Three striking contemporary works are presented, all united by reflections on nature, time and the forces that shape our world. Dobrinka Tabakova’s Earth Suite offers a meditation on the natural environment, while Sir Harrison Birtwistle’s Deep Time is a vast, elemental work evoking the effect of geological forces over time. Conductor Martyn Brabbins, who had a close relationship with Birtwistle, acting as both a champion of his works and a collaborator, will bring this thought-provoking programme, which also includes a world premiere by Irish composer Ed Bennett, to life with NSOI as part of New Music Dublin 2027.

Tickets: €30

Martyn Brabbins

Vox Clamantis sing Arvo Pärt

Thurs. 15 April ’27—8pm

Vox Clamantis

Jaan-Eik Tulve conductor

Gregorian antiphon Da pacem Domine

Arvo Pärt Da pacem Domine

Arvo Pärt Sieben magnificat antiphonen

David Lang the sense of senses

Arvo Pärt The Woman with the Alabaster Box

Arvo Pärt Peace upon you, Jerusalem

Arvo Pärt Which Was the Son of …

Helena Tulve Gloria

Gregorian antiphon Virgo prudentissima

Arvo Pärt Magnificat

Arvo Pärt And I Heard the Voice …

Renowned for their “purity of sound” (BBC), acclaimed Estonian vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis present a stunning programme of the music by Arvo Pärt, including the serene and profoundly meditative choral work Da pacem Domine (intended as a solemn, universal prayer for peace) to the radiant Magnificat, interwoven with Gregorian chant and the work of renowned contemporary composers David Lang and Helena Tulve. This is choral music at its most profound led by Vox Clamantis founder and Artistic Director Jaan-Eik Tulve.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.45pm

Tickets: €15, €28.50, €36, €44, €55

Vox Clamantis

NSOI: Randall Goosby plays Brahms’s Violin Concerto

Fri. 16 April. ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Hans Graf conductor

Randall Goosby violin

Brahms Violin Concerto

Schubert Symphony No. 8 ‘Unfinished’

R. Strauss Don Juan

Celebrated for his “warm tone and expressive phrasing” (The New York Times) American violinist Randall Goosby makes his NCH debut in Brahms’s Violin Concerto. Brimming with captivating melodies and demanding virtuosity, the popular work demonstrates Brahms’s ability to create music that speaks directly to the soul. Paired with Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony, showcasing Schubert’s extraordinary musical prowess and Strauss’s vivid tone poem for orchestra Don Juan, charting the title character’s passionate pursuits and ultimate despair, this is a powerful and expressive programme of orchestral brilliance led by the famed conductor Hans Graf. Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Randall Goosby

NSOI: Clara-Jumi Kang plays

Sibelius’s Violin Concerto

Thurs. 22 April ’27—7.30pm

Cork City Hall, Cork

Fri. 23 April ’27—7.30pm

National Concert Hall, Dublin

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Alexander Shelley conductor

Clara-Jumi Kang violin

Amelia Clarkson Porcelain (World Premiere & NSOI Commission)

Sibelius Violin Concerto

Beethoven Symphony No. 5

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, instantly recognisable for its iconic four-note ‘fate’ motif, is the centrepiece of this powerful programme, which forms part of the Beethoven 200th anniversary celebrations at the NCH. Written while he was losing his hearing, the symphony charts a journey from darkness to light and struggle to triumph, showcasing Beethoven’s genius in one of the most recognisable works of classical music. With a new work Porcelain by Irish composer Amelia Clarkson, inspired by Beethoven and Sibelius’s arresting and beautiful Violin Concerto performed by the “staggeringly talented performer” (The Scotsman), Clara-Jumi Kang, this concert blends contemporary creativity with timeless masterpieces, led by NSOI Principal Conductor Alexander Shelley.

NSOI Cork, 22 April, presented in association with Cork Orchestral Society. Tickets for both concerts available from www.nch.ie

NSOI Cork Tickets: €24, €32 (concessions available)

NSOI Dublin Tickets: €15, €26.50, €34, €39, €45

Clara-Jumi Kang

NSOI: Slatkin conducts Dvorák’s New World Symphony

Fri. 30 April ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Leonard Slatkin conductor

Ciarán Hinds narrator

Rossini

Leonard Slatkin

The Thieving Magpie Overture

The Raven (Irish Premiere)

Dvořák Symphony No. 9, ‘From the New World’

Dvořák’s New World Symphony takes centre stage in this unforgettable evening, filled with sweeping melodies, rich emotion, and its famous, soul-stirring Largo theme. Written during Dvořák’s time in America, it captures both the bold spirit of the new world and a deep longing for the Czech composer’s homeland.

Six-time Grammy Award-winning conductor Leonard Slatkin returns to the NCH, leading the Irish premiere of his atmospheric work The Raven, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s haunting tale, with live narration from Irish actor Ciarán Hinds. The programme opens with the sparkling overture The Thieving Magpie by Rossini.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.15pm

Tickets: €15, €26.50, €34, €39, €45

Leonard Slatkin

Rafael Payare conducts San Diego Symphony

Thurs. 6 May ’27—8pm

San Diego Symphony

Rafael Payare conductor

Leonidas Kavakos violin

Gabriela Ortiz Kauyumari

Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1

Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Stravinsky The Firebird Suite (1919)

The San Diego Symphony makes its NCH debut in a thrilling programme led by acclaimed Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare, renowned for his profound musicianship, technical brilliance and charismatic stage presence. Violinist Leonidas Kavakos is the soloist for Shostakovich’s powerful first Violin Concerto, which can be heard alongside Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz’s Kauyumari, Bernstein’s celebrated Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, and Stravinsky’s dazzling Firebird Suite under Payare’s direction with one of America’s finest orchestras in a landmark debut performance.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.45pm

Tickets: €15, €40, €57.50, €69, €85

San Diego Symphony & Rafael Payare

Rafael Payare

Leonidas Kavakos

NSOI: Alexander Shelley conducts Star Wars & The Planets

Fri. 7 May ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Alexander Shelley conductor

Members of National Symphony Chorus Ireland

David Young chorus director

Missy Mazzoli Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)

John Williams Suite from Star Wars

Holst The Planets

Embark on a cosmic journey from the vastness of space to the magic of the silver screen with NSOI and members of NSCI, conducted by Alexander Shelley. Experience Mazzoli’s contemporary cosmic soundscape ‘Sinfonia’ (for Orbiting Spheres), hailed by the BBC as “music in the shape of the solar system”, followed by John Williams’ iconic Suite from Star Wars, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the beloved film. Holst’s The Planets follows, where each movement paints a vivid astrological portrait carrying audiences on a musical journey across the solar system.

Tickets: €15, €27.50, €35, €42.50, €49

Alexander Shelley & NSOI members

Symphony Shorts Star Wars & The Planets

Sat. 8 May ’27—12.30pm

National Symphony

Orchestra Ireland

Alexander Shelley conductor

Jessie Grimes

NCH Discover Artist-in-Residence and presenter

John Williams Suite from Star Wars

Holst The Planets

Blast off on a musical journey through space, no rocket required! Imagine you’re sitting under a sparkling night sky. Suddenly, the orchestra begins, and whoosh! you’re jetting past planets, dodging stars, and racing through galaxies. Then, you’re suddenly in an epic space adventure! You might recognise the heroic themes from Star Wars Suite by John Williams. Close your eyes and you could be flying alongside brave heroes, zooming through space battles, or meeting mysterious creatures on distant planets.

In this relaxed and Autism Friendly concert, join NSOI, led by Alexander Shelley, and presenter and storyteller Jessie Grimes for this fun, family-friendly journey through the stars.

Arrive early for Free, pre-concert fun activities, designed to engage children and spark their imagination before the concert begins.

Duration approx. 1 hour

Suitable for children aged 6+

Tickets: €20 Adult, €15 Child, €65 Family Ticket (4 tickets, max 2 adults)

NSOI: Peter Whelan conducts Beethoven

Fri. 14 May ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Peter Whelan conductor | Paula Murrihy mezzo-soprano

Mendelssohn The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave)

Mahler Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Boy’s Magic Horn): Rheinlegendchen

Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?

Verlor’ne Müh

Das irdische Leben

Lob des hohen Verstandes

Wo die Schönen Trompeten blasen

Urlicht

Beethoven Symphony No. 2

An evocative programme led by NSOI’s Artistic Partner Peter Whelan. Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture opens, a piece that was inspired by the composer’s travels through Scotland and the dramatic beauty of the Hebridean coastline. This is followed by Mahler’s folk-inspired songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Boy’s Magic Horn) with acclaimed Irish mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy. Beethoven’s energetic Second Symphony, a vibrant and optimistic work that captures the composer’s bold creativity, brings the concert to a vibrant close, forming part of the 200th Beethoven anniversary celebrations at NCH.

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Paula Murrihy

NSOI: Debussy’s La Mer & Bartók’s Duke

Bluebeard’s Castle

Fri. 21 May ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Kristiina Poska conductor

Jennifer Johnston mezzo-soprano (Judith)

Kostas Smoriginas bass-baritone (Duke Bluebeard)

Debussy La Mer

Bartók Duke Bluebeard’s Castle

Described as “the musical equivalent of Monet’s impressionist paintings” (BBC Music Magazine) Debussy’s shimmering La Mer opens with three evocative symphonic sketches, followed by Bartók’s gripping one-act opera Duke Bluebeard’s Castle featuring distinguished soloists Jennifer Johnston mezzo-soprano (as Judith) and Kostas Smoriginas bass-baritone (as Duke Bluebeard). A dramatic and evocative evening of orchestral music at its best with NSOI, under the baton of Kristiina Poska.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.15pm

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Kristiina Poska

Kremerata Baltica, Gidon Kremer & Midori

Sat. 22 May ’27—8pm

Kremerata Baltica

Gidon Kremer director

Midori violin

Haydn

Violin Concerto No. 1 in C major

Mahler (arr. Stadlmayer) Adagio from Symphony No. 10

Shostakovich (arr. Sharlat) Lebyadkin Verses

New Commission (2027) - Suite for String Orchestra and Two

Solo Violins - by composers from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Leading violinist Gidon Kremer and distinguished violinist Midori join forces with Kremerata Baltica in a refined and imaginative programme of timeless classics and new work. From the poised brilliance of Haydn’s Violin Concerto in C major to Mahler’s soul-searching Adagio from his Tenth Symphony, Shostakovich’s

The Four Verses of Captain Lebyadkin, which sets texts from Dostoyevsky’s Demons and a major new commission by leading Baltic composers, this concert reflects Kremer’s signature artistic curiosity, while presenting music of the highest standard.

Tickets: €15, €28.50, €36, €44, €55

Kremerata Baltica & Gidon Kremer

Midori

NSOI Season Finale: Berlioz The Damnation of Faust

Season Finale and Opening Concert of Festival of Voice 2027

Fri. 28 May ’27—7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Antony Hermus conductor

Paul Appleby tenor (Faust)

Adam Plachetka bass-baritone (Méphistophélès)

Sasha Cooke mezzo-soprano (Marguerite)

Seán Boylan baritone (Brander)

National Symphony Chorus Ireland

David Young chorus director

Berlioz The Damnation of Faust

Berlioz’s epic The Damnation of Faust blending opera, oratorio and symphony based on Goethe’s legendary tale, brings the season to a dramatic close under the baton of Antony Hermus with NSOI, NSCI and acclaimed soloists. A sweeping tale of ambition and redemption, combining orchestra, chorus and a stellar cast of soloists, it is a powerful and fittingly dramatic finale to the season and opening celebration of the Festival of Voice 2027.

Pre-Concert Talk 6.15pm

Tickets: €15, €26.50, €34, €39, €45

Antony Hermus

Sasha Cooke

National Concert Hall

ECM

National Concert Hall presents this special series, celebrating the trailblazing independent German label, ECM – Edition of Contemporary Music - as part of the Cultural Programme for Ireland’s 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union, supported by The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

Vjay Iyer

Savina Yannatou & Lamia Bedioui

Anja Lechner

Heiner Goebbels

2026

Sun. 11 Oct. 8pm

Main Stage

Heiner Goebbels

Songs of War I’ve Seen

Irish Baroque Orchestra and Crash Ensemble

Tickets: €15, €25, €30, €35, €39

Thurs. 29 Oct. 8.30pm

The Studio

Craig Taborn Solo & Craig

Taborn - Peter Evans Duo

Craig Taborn, piano

Peter Evans, trumpet

Tickets: €30

Fri. 30 Oct. 7.30pm

Main Stage

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

National Symphony

Orchestra Ireland

Tõnu Kaljuste conductor

Anja Lechner cello

Tickets: €15, €28.50, €36, €44, €55

Sat. 31 Oct. 8pm

Triskel Arts Centre, Cork

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Tõnu Kaljuste conductor

Tickets: €35 (€32 Concessions)

Sat. 31 Oct. 8.30pm

The Studio

Jordina Millà, piano & Barry Guy, double bass

Tickets: €27

Sun. 1 Nov. 3pm

Kevin Barry Recital Room

Anna Gourari Trio

Anna Gourari, piano

Yamei Yu, violin

Tatjana Vassiljeva, violincello

Tickets: €25

Sun. 1 Nov. 6pm

Kevin Barry Recital Room

Rolf Lislevand

Rolf Lislevand, lute and baroque guitar

Tickets: €25

Sun. 1 Nov. 8pm

Main Stage

Arvo Pärt at 90

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Tõnu Kaljuste conductor

Tickets: €15, €28.50, €36, €44, €55

Tue. 3 Nov. 8pm

Main Stage

Savina Yannatou & Arcanum

Greek singers Savina Yannatou & Primavera En Salonico with Lamia Bedioui perform Watersong while Scandinavian jazz supergroup Arcanum lead in the second half.

Tickets: €15, €25, €35

Sun. 7 Nov. 8pm

Main Stage

Vijay Iyer – Solo Piano

Iyer is a Grammy-nominated composer and pianist, recognized as a leading voice in modern jazz and improvised music.

Tickets: €15, €29.50, €45

Sat. 12 Dec. 8pm

Main Stage

Sir András Schiff

The Art of Fugue

Schiff is hailed as one of the most profound interpreters of Bach’s music over his 40 year career.

Tickets: €15, €28.50, €36, €44, €55

Tickets for Triskel Cork available at www.triskelartscentre.ie and www.nch.ie

Andras Schiff

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

The Magical Harp of the Dagda

(World Premiere)

Tue. 3 Nov. ’26—10.30am & 12.30pm

Illustration by Sarah Kilcoyne

Schools Concert

A

story based on Irish myth with music by Aoife Ní Bhriain and Cormac McCarthy.

Text by Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde.

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Karen Ní Bhroin conductor

Aoife Ní Bhriain composer and fiddle

Cormac McCarthy composer and piano

Mick O’Brien uilleann pipes, whistle and Irish flute

Aisling Lyons Irish harp

Cláirseach Draíochta An Dagda

Fadó, fadó, bhí na Tuatha Dé Danann i réim in Éirinn. B’é an Dagda a bhí ina cheannaire orthu. An Dia Mhaith, a thugtaí air, agus trí dhraíocht a chláirsí, thug sé síocháin do mhuintir na tíre agus scaip sé suamihneas i measc an dúlra ar fad.

Ach níor fhan ord nó eagar ar an saol, agus cuireadh an tsíocháin sin i mbaol, nuair a tháinig an fathach, Balor, ar an bhfód.

An éireoidh leis na Tuatha Dé Danann an lámh in uachtar a fháil arís agus síocháin a thabhairt ar ais don tír trí cheol binn na cláirsí?

The Magical Harp of the Dagda Long ago, The Tuatha Dé Danann ruled Ireland. The Dagda was their leader. He was known as The Good God, and through the magical power of his harp, he brought peace to the people and spread harmony throughout all of nature.

But that harmony was threatened when the giant, Balor, threw the world into chaos, and threatened the rule of the Dagda.

Can the Tuatha Dé Danann prevail, and can the enchanting music of the harp restore harmony to the land and its people once again?

Commissioned by NSOI and Bayerischer Rundfunk with the support of the Government of Ireland, as part of the Cultural Programme of Ireland’s 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Schools concerts, suitable for children aged 7 to 11 years of age.

Tickets: €10 students. Teachers go free.

nch.ie

Music in the Classroom

Schools Concerts

Music in the Classroom with NSOI: Leaving Certificate

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Presented by Jessie Grimes, NCH Discover Artist-in-Residence

NSOI and NCH Artist-in-Residence Jessie Grimes explore Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, featuring Movement 4, Marche au supplice (March to the Scaffold), alongside Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, one of his most popular works. Through musical illustrations, Jessie Grimes highlights the key themes, contrasts and distinctive musical character of both Leaving Certificate set works.

Tue. 1 Dec. ’26—10.30am & 12.30pm

Music in the Classroom with NSOI: Junior Cycle

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Presented by Jessie Grimes, NCH Discover Artist-in-Residence

Built around the new Junior Cycle Music Learning outcomes and using some of the greatest orchestral music ever written, NSOI and NCH Discover Artist-in-Residence Jessie Grimes explore how live music can provoke emotion, change mood and illustrate a scene.

Tuesday 9 February 2027—10.30am & 12.30pm

Music in the Classroom with NSOI: Primary Schools

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland

Presented by Jessie Grimes, NCH Discover Artist-in-Residence

Let Jessie Grimes be your guide on an exciting musical journey. From soaring strings to thundering timpani, discover the wonders of orchestral music and unlock the secrets of symphonic storytelling! This is the an ideal introduction to the magic of live orchestral music. Fun concerts for children aged 7-12.

Tuesday 11 May 2027—10.30am & 12.30pm

All concerts duration 1 hour

Tickets: Students: €10. Accompanying teachers go free

NCH Discover Family Screenings

Family Screening with NSOI: The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child

Step into a magical adventure where your favourite children’s books burst to life on a big screen, as The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child enchant families of all ages. Based on the beloved stories by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, this special event brings a big orchestra on stage, with live music from NSOI, accompanying the films to inspire, excite, and spark a love of the thrilling live orchestral experience together.

Sun. 20 Sept. ’26—12.30pm & 3pm

Family Screening with NSOI: Zog and Stick Man

Bring the whole family for a magical big-screen adventure with Zog and Stick Man, where two favourite storybook heroes leap into life before your eyes. Based on the much-loved books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, this special event features a big orchestra on stage, as NSOI performs the vibrant and imaginative music live alongside the films. The heart-warming experience is full of fun, wonder, and excitement, perfect for inspiring young imaginations and sharing the joy of live orchestral music together.

Sun. 18 April ’27—12.30pm & 3pm

Both concerts duration 1 hour 10 minutes

Tickets: Full Price: €30. Child: €23. Family ticket (4 people, max 2 adults) €94

Go spreaga an ceol tú

Bain sult as ceol binn sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta. Is leatsa an Ceol. Is leatsa an Ceoláras Náisiúnta.

Where Concerts Make Connections

Thank You to our Corporate and Individual Supporters We would like to acknowledge with appreciation and gratitude the generous support of our Corporate Partners, Corporate Members, Patrons, John Field Society Members and Friends.

Programme Partners

Trust & Foundation Partners

Corporate Members

Ovation

Encore

Applause

NCH Discover Circle, Patrons & Supporters

Frank & Ivy Bannister | William Barton | James Billet

Michael Bourke | Sharon Burke | Dr Tom Carey

Dorothy Clements | Bernadette Coggins

Bríd Cannon & Juan Pablo Cortes Ocampo

Gerry Dempsey | Louis & Mary Fitzgerald

Dr Cróna Gallagher & Jim Clery | Paul Jacobs

Patrick & Mary Joy | Brian Kingham

Mary & Martín MacAodha | Philip Meade

Brian Mc Elroy | Maura McGrath

The Ciarán Murray Family | Prof Deirdre O Grady

Sinead Nic Oireachtaigh | Dr Rachel Patton

Jamie Plenderleith | Kieran Tobin | Stephen Vernon

Dr Peter & Elva Wyatt | Charles R. Young

Friends, Season Friends & Supporting Friends

Please get in touch with a member of the Partnerships & Philanthropy Team to learn more and find out how you can support your National Concert Hall today: Aisling Kennedy Corporate Development Executive aisling.kennedy@nch.ie: Emmet McSwiney Individual Giving Executive emmet.mcswiney@nch.ie

#SupportYourNCH RCN. 200011987