The Goo 1
Festival Focus The always incredible New Music Du
blin festival returns for 2024, stretching over the four days of the 25th to the 28th of April. In partnership with the National Concert Hall, Culture Ireland and the Arts Council of Ireland, and Directed by Red Note Ensemble composer/director John Harris, the festival once again has summoned an exhaustively inventive lineup of composers, ensembles and organizations from across the country and indeed, the globe. “We don’t just host a festival; we create a space where the new, the unknown, and the unheard can flourish.” John Harris explains.” Our programme is a testament to the vibrant creativity alive in Ireland and around the world, offering something truly new for everyone.” The Ronseal of modern Irish music festivals, this years edition promises a host of premieres including ambient and classical masterminds A Winged Victory for the Sullen, who will play an all original set of material, after the National Symphony Orchestra perform Jóhann Jóhannsson’s Symphony, ‘A Prayer to the Dynamo’, and two world premieres from the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. The best vocalist Ireland has ever produced, Iarla Ó Lionáird will be performing as a soloist, will be performing with those lucky souls in the PAGE 18 National Symphony Orchestra performing further concert along with Brian Irvine’s Totally Made Up Orchestra - an inclusive and always-surprising musical tradition at returning for this year’s New Music Dublin! The debut performance from Irish supergroup Stone Drawn Circles also stands put as a highlight, a collaboration between double bass master Caimin Gilmore, renowned harpist Úna Monaghan, violist Nathan Sherman, percussionist Alex Petcu, with flutist Lina Andonovska and vocalist Michelle O’ Rourke also promises to be a spellbinding affair. The Monochrome Project, a 36 trumpet ensemble that includes the international Monochrome Project with students from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse deParis, the Royal Academy of Music London and brass players from across the island of Ireland led by Marco Blaauwan will be performing a major new a major new work by celebrated American composer David Lang. A personal highlight for this writer will see the Crash Ensemble bringing back their Crashworks work-in-progress project, which showcases new and emerging composers. Alongside this, the finest orchestra in the land will be performing major world premieres from internationally renowned composers Bekah Simms and Ann Cleare. Another personal favorite, the hip cats at Diatribe Records will be holding their bi-annual Diatribe Stage across multiple stages over the festival. A truly stacked festival within a festival, showcasing a collaboration between violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain and viola da gamba player Liam Byrne, and groundbreaking violinist/ composer Diamanda La Berge Dramm performing as a duo with flutist/composer and mother, Anne La Berge. Also performing as a duo will be Nathan Sherman and Alex Petcu of Stone Drawn Circle and the whole affair will close out with the Barry Guy Quartet playing a closing double bill with incredible turntablist Mariam Rezae. “With immense joy and privilege, New Music Dublin is announcing a programme that is as diverse and dynamic as the creators behind it,” says John Harris. “Our aim is to celebrate creativity in its most unadulterated forms, showcasing works that are as unpredictably brilliant as the minds of their creators.” New Music Dublin 2024: Thursday 25th - Sunday 28th April. Tickets and ticket package deals available from www.newmusicdublin.ie