KBC Great Music in Irish Houses Festival Launch
26 April 2012
KBC Great Music in Irish Houses Festival Launch
KBC Bank Ireland is pleased to announce the launch of Ireland’s longest running chamber music festival, the KBC Great Music in Irish Houses Festival which this year takes place from June 12th to June 17th.
The festival has been in operation for over 40 years and brings together some of the world’s finest chamber musicians to perform in some of Ireland’s most beautiful venues. The 2012 KBC Great Music in Irish Houses marks over 12 years of association between the bank and the festival.
Speaking at the launch of the 2012 Festival, KBC Bank Ireland Chief Executive, John Reynolds, said: ”KBC Bank Ireland is delighted to continue our support for this wonderful festival that celebrates the combination of Ireland’s unique heritage and some of the world’s most beautiful chamber music. All at KBC are proud to play a part in a festival that offers so much for all involved.”
Always held in beautiful locations, this year the Great Music in Irish Houses Festival will visit some of newly rejuvenated buildings whose restoration reflects the diversity of Irish architectural and interior design. This year’s opening concert will be held in Rathfarnham Castle and the National Concert Hall is a new venue for the 2012 Great Music in Irish Houses festival.
There is an exciting and dynamic programme and, in a recession friendly gesture, half of the world-class concerts will have tickets available at €20 or less. Tickets can be booked for all events through www.nch.ie
Highlights of the extraordinary musical talent programmed by Artistic Director Ciara Higgins for the 2012 Festival includes the Irish premiere of Steve Reich’s powerful Drumming, with a début appearance by the exhilarating percussion ensemble, The Colin Currie Group, on the 17th June.
Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, written in a prisoner of war camp in World War II will be performed on June 13th. The recent major transformation of Smock Alley in Temple Bar provides a dramatic setting for Finghin Collins, Carol McGonnell, Catherine Leonard and British cellist Guy Johnston to perform this extraordinary work.
• Opening the Festival this year is Rathfarnham Castle, which exemplifies the magnificent restoration work of the OPW, is the British Doric Quartet on June 12th. As well as quartets by Haydn and Schubert, these exciting musicians will perform Korngold’s Third Quartet, their recording of which has garnered international critical acclaim.
• While Ireland has a big international football match on June 14th in Euro 2012, music is not forgotten as guitarist Xuefei Yang pays her own musical salute to Spain and Ireland in a pre-match performance at the Little Museum of Dublin on Stephen’s Green.
• Following their début as a trio in Paris in 2010, three of our most creative musicians Dermot Dunne (accordion), Katherine Hunka (violin) and Carol McGonnell (clarinet) collaborate in an evocative programme of Dermot’s own brilliant musical arrangements on June 15th at the Royal College of Surgeons.
• The Elias Quartet, performing music by Beethoven and Schubert, makes the first of two Festival appearances on June 16th in Dublin’s Mansion House. On June 17th they partner guitarist-extraordinaire Xuefei Yang in a programme of Rodrigo, Bach, Boccherini and Dvořák in the Festival’s spiritual home, Castletown House.
• The brilliant young Irish mezzo-soprano, Tara Erraught will perform in the perennial Festival favourite Killruddery House in Co. Wicklow on June 16th. Dundalk-born Tara has had a meteoric career rise since her last Festival appearance in 2009. She is the youngest ever principal with the Vienna State Opera and will make her much-anticipated North American début during the 2012/2013 season.
Listings Information: KBC Great Music in Irish Houses Festival
Dates: June 12 – 17, 2012
Website: www.greatmusicinirishhouses.com
Bookings: www.nch.ie
Ends
