Description
The Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) is Ireland’s finest chamber orchestra, combining high quality performances with an expansive artistic vision. The Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) is Ireland’s finest chamber orchestra, combining high quality performances with an expansive artistic vision. Virtuosic, innovative and creative, the ICO blazes a trail with its unique collaborative approach and its rich relationships with an array of creative partners.
The ICO continues to work with Gábor Takács-Nagy (Principal Artistic Partner) and Jörg Widmann (Principal Conductor/Artistic Partner), seeking to expand audiences with their combined vision. Under the leadership of Katherine Hunka, the orchestra is one of Ireland’s busiest touring ensembles, both nationally and internationally.
Gábor Takács-Nagy continues with his great work and concentrates on core works of the repertoire for string orchestra in 2016/17, whilst Jörg Widmann continues to champion the many facets of Mendelssohn alongside his own innovative works.
The ICO collaborates with some of the finest international guest soloists in its 2016/17 season –Hungarian cellist István Várdai makes a welcome return in September while Jörg Widmann introduces his equally gifted sister in November, the violinist Carolin Widmann who performs Mendelssohn’s violin concerti over the next two years. The exciting Corsican-born Jean-Christophe Spinosi, a sought-after conductor and director of the Ensemble Matheus, takes the baton in December. Austrian conductor Thomas Zehetmair has fashioned a highly successful and broadly eclectic career as a violinist and conductor and the ICO looks forward to him conducting the orchestra for the first time, in 2017.
Irish composers are very much to the fore as the orchestra performs Ian Wilson’s Veer as well as a new work by Tariq O’Regan commissioned by Chamber Choir Ireland. In 2017, the ICO enters its second year of prestigious residencies at the Kilkenny Arts Festival and at Heidelberger Frühling Festival.
The orchestra’s trail-blazing approach continues to attract the world’s finest musicians both international and national including István Várdai, Carolin Widmann, Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Igor Levit, Thomas Zehetmair, Claron McFadden, Gilles Vonsattel, Gloria Rehm, Jochen Rieder, Sergeij Nakariakov, Tabea Zimmermann, Pekka Kuusisto, James Galway, Jonathan Cohen, Finghin Collins and Michael McHale to work with them.
The repertoire is exciting risk-taking and diverse, ranging from baroque to modern day masterpieces including new commissions. The orchestra enjoys fruitful relationships with an array of Irish composers including Garrett Sholdice, John Kinsella, Linda Buckley, Elaine Agnew, Míchael Ó Súilleabháin, Frank Corcoran, Sam Perkin, Ian Wilson and Tariq O’Regan.
The orchestra has successfully toured across Europe, Australia, South Korea, China and the US. Since his first appearance with the orchestra (Berlin 2007), Jörg Widmann has injected unprecedented energy which has seen the orchestra appear at prestigious festivals and venues throughout Europe since 2007. In 2016 the orchestra commenced its first international (3-year) residency in Heidelberg, securing several concerts at the distinguished Heidelberger Frühling with Igor Levit. Following a return visit to the Mozartfest Wῡrzburg and a performance at the Philharmonie, Cologne with Tabea Zimmermann, the orchestra made its debut at the Tonhalle Zurich with her to great acclaim. In 2017, the ICO performs with Jörg Widmann at venues in Blaibach, Neumarkt, Brussels and Frieburg and makes its debut at the Konzerthaus Vienna (2017).
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Don't miss this Limerick and Dublin! It's gonna be great!
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Hello Belfast,this gig is brilliant!7.30 tonight St Thomas's church Eglantine Ave
A Letter of Rights Promotional Trailer
A LETTER OF RIGHTS - LIMERICK/DUBLIN 25+26 FEBRUARY Dont forget tickets will be available on the door St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick and Christ Church Cathedral Dublin for Sat and Sun night 25+26 February. Chamber Choir Ireland and the Irish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Paul Hillier, will perform A Letter of Rights, a fabulous large-scale work for choir and orchestra alongside Handel’s brilliantly virtuosic Dixit Dominus, full of imaginative invention and pictorial passion. UK born composer, Tarik O'Regan teamed up with the American poet and librettist Alice Goodman to create this hugely exciting new work. New York based, O’Regan has already been recognised with two GRAMMY® nominations, two British Composer Awards and his work has featured on more than 30 albums. Alice Goodman is renowned for her libretti in John Adams’s operas - Nixon in China and The Death of Klinghoffer. Handel's Dixit Dominus was his explosion into genius, almost as if while in Rome at just 22, he decided to proclaim his brilliance to the world. Ranging from the opening fire and brimstone of ‘Dixit,’ the ravishing yet enigmatic ‘De torrente,’ and the incrementing fireworks of the closing ‘Gloria,’ - this is a masterwork! Don't miss this fantastic choral offering. Tickets can be purchased on the door for both Limerick and Dublin. https://vimeo.com/204353131 Chamber Choir Ireland Arts Council Ireland WWW.ILOVELIMERICK.COM Limerick.ie University of Limerick
Chamber Choir Ireland
Handel - Dixit Dominus - HWV 232
A LETTER OF RIGHTS IRISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA & CHAMBER CHOIR IRELAND Don't miss the ICO's opening first Limerick concert on Satuday night at 8pm St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick The orchestra collaborates with some of Irelands finest voices to bring a spectacular choral evening to Limerick. On the menu is Handel's glorious Dixit Dominus and Tarik O'Regans fabulous new work - A Letter of Rights celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta in Ireland. Handel's Dixit Dominus is the most magnificent of his psalm settings. It opens with an impressive chorus contrasting an imitation plainsong cantus firmus melody with a polyphonic texture presented by both the choir and orchestra. Two solos for alto and soprano are followed by another monumental choral section which includes many exciting passages of word-painting and vigorous fugal writing. In the soprano duet De torrente melting suspensions in the vocal lines are set against a simple accompaniment of gently repeated chords in the strings. The psalm ends with an appropriately expansive Gloria into which Handel reintroduces the opening chorus and ends with a spirited fugal Amen. Handel at his best! In A Letter of Rights, O Regan was drawn to the idea of poise, something which came directly from Alice's Goodwin's libretto. He explores how the parchment was made in 1215 (and which Alice references in her text), but also the delicate nature of arriving at the wording, written 800 year ago, and its subsequent interpretations. As a result, it has a ritualistic quality to it: palindromic, divided into several text-driven movements interconnected by instrumental interludes for strings. Magnificent! Don't miss this fabulous choral offering. You can catch this concert in Belfast and Dublin 23 & 25 Feb. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WehQ89dGdGY Chamber Choir Ireland Belfast Music Society University of Limerick Limerick.ie WWW.ILOVELIMERICK.COM Limerick 2020 Limerick Choral Union Voices of Limerick Seoda Chamber Choir Tarik O'Regan · Composer
Chamber Choir Ireland
Chamber Choir Ireland
A LETTER OF RIGHTS This choral collaboration will be something special! Don't miss it in Belfast, Limerick and Dublin on 23, 25 and 26 February respectively. Buy your tickets now on www.irishchamberorchestra.com
Top orchestra quits Britain over Brexit migration clampdown
good article!
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SUNDAYS AT THE STUDIO Irish Chamber Orchestra Pre-Concert Talks (12 March + 2 April @3pm) Dr. Michael Murphy (Mary Immaculate College) gave a fabulous opening talk yesterday on the ICO's upcoming trio of concerts with Chamber Choir Ireland. He gave a terrific insight into Handel's Dixit Dominus by inviting us back to the streets of ancient Rome, Handel's world, his time in Italy, the architecture, the music and how it came about. It was fascinating. Michael gave us an insightful education on A Letter of Rights, providing the background to the Magna Carta, the power struggles, the sacrifice and finally, the music and the words. This choral work is nothing short of magnificent and everyone is looking forward to hearing the piece in full this week. Tarik O'Regan and Alice Goodman have put together something really special in A Letter of Rights. This is a superb opportunity to gain a valuable perspective on all of the music the ICO will present between now and April. Don't miss the next talk on Sunday 12 March @ 3pm as Michael explores the delights of Mozart and Mendelssohn and of course the performers, Jorg Widmann and Igor Levit! You will love it! Only €15. Put it in the diary! Meanwhile don't miss these concerts this week 23, 25 & 26 February in Belfast, Limerick and Dublin. Tickets on sale on www.irishchamberorchestra.com Chamber Choir Ireland Tarik O'Regan · Composer Limerick 2020 LACE- Limerick Arts and Culture Exchange WWW.ILOVELIMERICK.COM Mary Immaculate College, Ireland The Lime Tree Theatre St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick Christ Church Cathedral Dublin Belfast Music Society Limerick Choral Union Seoda Chamber Choir Voices of Limerick Limerick Gospel Choir Unity Gospel Choir Limerick
A Letter of Rights Promotional Trailer
A LETTER OF RIGHTS CHAMBER CHOIR IRELAND & IRISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Ok folks, the ICO's next offering, is a collaboration with Chamber Choir Ireland, 23-26 February, Belfast, Limerick and Dublin. A Letter of Rights is a fabulous choral work by Grammy nominated composer, Tarik O Regan. This major new work is coupled with Handel's glorious Dixit Dominus. Have a listen! https://vimeo.com/204353131 Chamber Choir Ireland Arts Council Ireland Arts Council of Northern Ireland Music Network Christ Church Cathedral Dublin St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick Belfast Music Society For more information see www.irishchamberorchestra.com
Timeline Photos
Final performance of the tour last night and what a reception at the Konzerhaus Freiburg. It has been a terrific week - from Bavaria to Brussels and back here to a capacity house of 1,750 people. Just the icing on the cake! Thanks to the Arts Council Ireland and Culture Ireland for making this possible.
Timeline Photos
Not a ticket left!!1750 capacity for our final concert in the beautiful Freiburg Konzerthaus
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