Latest news with #WigmoreHall
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival: What's still available to book
Understandably, this performance of a mainly Irish cast, supported by the Irish Chamber Orchestra, is completely sold out, but for those who didn't catch the early opera treats, there is still time to dive in to the event, which runs from May 27 to June 2. With 23 events, two full opera productions, and over 100 world-class artists performing in ticketed and free events across 12 unique venues, it is the most ambitious programme in the festival's 15-year history, say organisers. There are performances in a castle, a cathedral and a 19th century farmhouse, as well as in historic homes. The festival will also bring live performances to Cappoquin, Dungarvan, Stradbally, Youghal, and Castlemartyr. So if you haven't yet planned your trip, here are some hidden gems you can still get to see. Opera in the cathedral Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, featuring Paula Murrihy, Dean Murphy, Kelli-Ann Masterson, and the Irish Baroque Orchestra, will showcase the expressive beauty of baroque opera, offering a striking contrast in musical style and atmosphere across the festival. Tuesday, May 27's showing still has limited tickets available. It takes place at St Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore, Waterford. Tickets €20-€40. Concerts at Dromore Yard A romantic, semi-restored 19th-century farmyard on the banks of the River Blackwater sets the scene for two of the festival's most anticipated performances, headlined by internationally celebrated Irish mezzo-sopranos Paula Murrihy and Niamh O'Sullivan. Ms O'Sullivan's Where Birds Do Sing recital with pianist Gary Beecher from 3pm on Sunday, June 1 promises to be a standout moment – following their acclaimed appearance at Wigmore Hall, London. Some limited €35-€60 tickets are still available, but you will have to be quick. Paula Murrihy returns to the same venue for the festival finale, Baroque Hits, on Monday, June 2 from 8pm, performing with the Irish Baroque Orchestra under the baton of Nicholas McGegan. A handful of €25 tickets remain. ADVERTISEMENT Free outdoor recitals Throughout the week, a series of intimate classical performances will take place in historic homes and venues across the Blackwater Valley. The programme highlights include Shakespeare in Music, The Tinker and the Fairy, and a special poetry and music recital honouring George Bernard Shaw, with tickets starting at €25 for unallocated seating. However, there are also four lunchtime recitals that are free to attend on Tuesday, May 27 at Millenium Park in Lismore, on Friday, May 30 at at Walton Park in Dungarven, on Saturday, May 31 at Green Park in Youghal and on Sunday, June 1 at Castlemartyr Resort. They all start at 12pm and run for one hour, with the exception of Castlematyr, which starts at 1pm. Although there is no charge, attendees do need to book online at Witness the talent of tomorrow The festival supports emerging talent through four bursary awards, recognising exceptional promise in young artists and performers. This year's recipients will appear alongside Irish Heritage award winners in live performances during the week. Tickets for the recital of soprano Aimee Kearney and pianist Georgina Cassidy on Wednesday, May 28 from 1pm at Tourin House in Waterford are still available at €25 plus booking fee. Indulge in fine food – or a picnic Food lovers can look forward to a feast of flavours throughout the week, including a Midsummer-inspired menu created by celebrity TV chef Eunice Power, served in tents on the grounds of Lismore Castle. This three-course Italian-style meal is sold-out on Wednesday, May 28, but you can book for Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Dinner starts at 5.15pm and costs €85 per person for the standard menu or €75 for vegan. A booking fee is also added. Pre-show gourmet picnics are also available to order for Lismore Castle on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, or at Dromore Yard on Sunday and Monday. There's also an option at that location to pay a corkage fee of €10 to bring your own picnic. At Lismore Castle the picnic boxes showcase Comeragh lamb, Clare Island salmon and Irish cheeses, with a plant-based option also available. Both cost €55 plus a booking fee. At Dromore Yard, the menu includes either a chicken or falafel mezze costing €45 plus booking fee. Those heading to recitals can avail from some set menu deals at local eateries like The Saucy Hen in Villierstown, Barron's in Cappoquin, and Fuller's Bistro and The Vault Café in Lismore. All menus and prices are on the festival's website, where you can book meals.
Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Stile Antico review — classics and rarities in a majestic birthday party
It doesn't seem long ago that Stile Antico were the new kids on the block, challenging established professional choirs with a revolutionary tactic: no conductor at the front deciding how everything should sound. In fact, it's been 20 years since Stile Antico gave the first of its 600 concerts to date. This Wigmore Hall programme was an epic celebration of that anniversary. Stretched over nearly three hours, it comprised 14 substantial Renaissance pieces, two commissioned works and onstage interviews with all 12 current members by Radio 3's Hannah French. When former members joined in at the end for an exquisite singalong of The Silver Swan, it did feel rather like an episode of This Is Your Life. Interspersed with the banter, however, was
Times
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Kathleen Ferrier Awards review — Lily Mo Browne takes top prize
We all play the game at a competition — don't we? — of picking our own personal winners. And the name at the top of my list, and I suspect many others at this year's Kathleen Ferrier Awards at the Wigmore Hall in London, was Lily Mo Browne. A mezzo-soprano with a richly hued, deep voice, she generated expressive, emotional and dramatic power. And when she sang I had that instant prickle of curiosity — I wanted to hear what happened next. Browne was the judges' favourite, too, in a jury chaired by the soprano Patricia Rozario that was above all looking for someone who connected words with music, but who also surprised them. The 24-year-old British singer was awarded the first prize of £12,500.
Times
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Christian Elliott obituary: Cellist who adapted E.T. score and Beatles song
Christian Elliott was more than a cellist. He was also a composer, arranger, author and polymath. Nevertheless, his musical identity centred on the cello and for the past ten years he was a member of the Zehetmair Quartet, performing from memory with them at the Wigmore Hall in London, the Edinburgh International Festival and at concert halls across Europe. Not content with playing only one cello part, during the Covid-19 lockdown he adapted works such as Bach's Goldberg Variations and Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht for multiple parts, recording himself playing each one and knitting them together electronically into a seamless performance. His arrangement of Flying Theme from John Williams's score for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has nine cello parts, all of which he plays simultaneously in an
The Guardian
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Arts Council England a victim of ‘London-centric' media coverage, CEO says
The chief executive of Arts Council England has launched an impassioned defence of the organisation, claiming it has suffered because of 'London-centric' media coverage. Darren Henley, who saw in his 10th anniversary as Arts Council England CEO last week, told the Guardian there was an imbalance in media coverage. He said London-based figures were able to get newspaper coverage while regional arts leaders to whom ACE has redistributed funds were not getting the same access. ACE is charged with distributing public and lottery funds to arts organisations in England. Henley said: 'I observe the London-centricity in our media. I go around the country, and the people who lead in those places don't get the half-page columns in our national newspapers as easily as the people who are London based. 'There's a power dynamic there … there's a sort of imbalance. Maybe the role I have to play when I'm sitting in the corridors of power in London is to be representative of all those places who don't have a seat at that table.' His comments come after several high-profile London-based arts leaders heavily criticised ACE after the classical venue Wigmore Hall announced that from 2026 it would no longer take public subsidies. Instead the venue has secured £10m in pledged donations, with John Gilhooly, the artistic and executive director of Wigmore Hall, saying he was grateful for ACE's support, but adding that 'it has lost its way'. Henley said: 'I absolutely respect people who have a view that says we're doing something that isn't for their liking or their taste. That's perfectly reasonable for a public body to be challenged that way … but there are lots and lots of people who I meet who say something different. 'You've got a lot of groups who are very passionate about all the things we do and maybe negative voices shout louder than positive voices.' The former Classic FM boss said that ACE was 'not waging war on classical' after the Wigmore Hall withdrawal and criticism from several figures in the sector. One high-profile broadside came from the former English National Opera artistic director David Pountney, who said ACE 'had it in' for opera. Henley said: 'It's really important that we have world class opera at the Royal Ballet here in London, in our capital city that is as good or better artistically as anywhere else in the world. It's really important. But I also think it's equally as important that we have a network of grassroots live music venues in towns across this country.' Henley also dismissed suggestions from former National Theatre artistic director Nicholas Hytner, who argued that ACE funding should follow a UK Sport model and pursue 'excellence'. Hytner said: 'UK Sport is absolutely ruthless about winning gold medals, and if you are one of the sports teams that suddenly does well and wins lots of gold medals, you get more funding next time. If you don't do well, you get less funding. So under his model, if the RSC had an amazing run and the National Theatre had a not-so-good run, money would be taken away from the National Theatre and given to the RSC. 'I think that is not really what he's actually arguing … I think there's a little bit of misunderstanding there.' The government has ordered a review of ACE, which distributes more than £500m of public money and more than £250m of national lottery money annually, and employs more than 650 people. Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, said the review would be the first step to restore 'people's connection with the arts and culture in every region of the country'.
