The many fans of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and of the Irish Museum of Modern Art’s Sunday afternoon concert series will be delighted to learn that the ICO is returning to IMMA for a series of four concerts starting on Sunday 24 February. The ICO Spring Series 2002 will see the orchestra perform with a number of leading conductors and soloists, including the acclaimed US-based conductor Nicholas McGegan; the Austrian pianist Stefan Vladar, making his first visit to Ireland; the leading Romanian-born violinist Mariana Sirbu; Irish double-bass payer Malachy Robinson and the orchestra’s very popular leader Fionnuala Hunt.
For the first concert on Sunday 24 February the ICO will be conducted by Nicholas McGegan, Music Director of the San Francisco-based Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Baroque Series Director of the St Paul Chamber Orchestra. McGegan will be joined for Mozart’s Violin Concerto no. 2 K.211 in D by Fionnuala Hunt who has, since 1995, been the ICO’s Artistic Director and Leader, and has directed the orchestra in performances all around Ireland as well as on tour in Europe. Other works in the programme include Mozart’s Symphony no 29 K.201 in A and Stravinsky’s Concerto in D.
Fionnuala Hunt directs the orchestra on Sunday 10 March in Grieg’s Holberg Suite and Norwegian Airs and Suk’s Serenade for Strings. The ICO’s principal double-bass Malachy Robinson can be heard in Zoran Eric’s double-bass concerto Off. A member of the cutting-edge Crash Ensemble, Robinson also appears regularly with such period-instrument groups as Christ Church Baroque.
On Sunday 14 April the Austrian pianist Stefan Vladar takes the roles of director and soloist in Rossini’s Sonata a Quattro no. 6 in D, Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 12 K.414 in A, Barber’s Adagio and Stostakovich’s Chamber Symphony. Winner of the 1985 Beethoven Competition of Vienna, Vladar has worked with conductors such as Abbado, Dohnanyi, Hager, Hogwood and Marriner and made appearances with the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestras, the Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony, among others.
The final concert on Sunday 26 May sees the return of the Romanian-born violoinist Mariana Sirbu as director/soloist in a lively programme of works by Vivaldi, Rossini, Dvoøák, Bartok and Pärt. Sirbu has appeared as soloist in
many of the world’s great concert halls including the Berlin Philharmonic, Sydney Opera House, Musikverin in Vienna and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. She was founder and leader of the Academica String Quartet, with which she toured widely, and is also a member of the celebrated Italian chamber music ensemble I Musici as both leader and soloist.
The Irish Chamber Orchestra is an ensemble of professional musicians committed to excellence in the performance of classical and contemporary music. It has received plaudits both at home and abroad for sustaining the highest artistic standards. Under the artistic direction of the internationally acclaimed Irish violinist Fionnuala Hunt, the ICO offers a new and refreshing perspective on the chamber music repertoire through an energetic and unique approach to performance. Activities include a busy concert schedule at both national and international levels; commissioning and performing new work by Irish and international composers; recording classical and contemporary works; organizing the Killaloe International Music Festival and managing a comprehensive schools and community outreach programme.
Concert-goers at IMMA can also enjoy the exciting range of exhibitions on show, including the newly-open Rowan Collection of cutting-edge contemporary British and Irish art, Irish Art Now, examining the repositioning of Irish identity in the 1990s as reflected in the work of 13 artists, the very popular exhibition of portraiture from the Museum’s own Collection and a series of displays from the Gordon Lambert Trust. In addition, the Grassroots Café, already a major attraction after less than a year in business, and the expanded bookshop, both in the Vaulted Cellars, make for a really enjoyable and interesting day out.
The concerts are on Sundays 24 February, 10 March, 14 April and 26 May at 3.00pm. Tickets for individual concerts are €15.00, concessions €9.00. There is a special subscription offer of tickets for all four concerts for €45.00, or four for the price of three. Booking at the Irish Museum of Modern Art tel: 01-6129900; fax: 01-612 9999; email: [email protected].
Brochure for the series attached.
For further information and colour and black and white images please contact Philomena Byrne or Monica Cullinane at Tel : +353 1 612 9900,
Fax : +353 1 612 9999 email [email protected]
6 February 2002