The Goo 1
Words: Cliodhna Ryan CLASSICAL It’s summer in Dub
lin, and with the stretch in the evenings, there is a sense of possibility, optimism and excitement in the air, as well as thrilling programming in our cultural spaces. From 14–18 June, MusicTown returns for its second year at the National Concert Hall (NCH). This isn’t a festival in the traditional sense. It’s a curated experience, one that places artistic dialogue and collaboration at its centre—be it through experimental theatre, DIY showcases, or new ensemble collaborations. Among the standout events is Róis, a young performer from Fermanagh whose collaboration with Crash Ensemble promises to bridge folk textures with contemporary classical music. Glasshouse turns its focus to the music of Scott Walker, and Crash Ensemble again features alongside Bren Berry, once of Revelino, now re-emerging as a solo artist. There’s also a rare appearance by Operating Theatre, the avant-garde duo of Roger Doyle and Olwen Fouéré, and an ambient afternoon performance by Eimear Reidy and Natalia Beylis. Check out the NCH website for details and be sure to book your tickets while you’re there. A few days later on 21 June, the Irish Chamber Orchestra and pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout present Beethoven’s Piano Concertos No. 2 and No. 4. Although Beethoven was by this time already an experienced orchestral composer, the Concerto No.2 in B-flat, was the first orchestral work he deemed fit for publication. Well before Beethoven, a prime issue of concertos had been the relationship of soloist and orchestra. The Fourth Concerto, an innovative and bold work, lifts that drama to an unprecedented intensity. Its second 36 movement, often read as a musical allegory of Orpheus taming the Furies, is one of the composer’s most affecting exchanges between piano and orchestra. The concert begins at 7.30 pm and is at the Whyte Recital Hall in the Royal Irish Academy of Music on Westland Row. We’re back at the NCH from 27–29 June, for the inaugural Festival of Voice, a celebration of the human voice in all its expressive forms. On the opening night, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Eimear Quinn, and rising soul star Tolu Makay join the National Symphony Orchestra under David Brophy for a programme that honours both tradition and innovation. The evening continues in The Studio, with an intimate performance by New Dublin Voices, directed by Bernie Sherlock, whose late-night concert explores contemporary choral works alongside timeless classics. On 28 June, the renowned British ensemble The Sixteen brings its Choral Pilgrimage to the main stage, guided by founder Harry Christophers. Drawing from over five centuries of sacred and secular repertoire—from Hildegard of Bingen to Arvo Pärt—their programme is a meditation on music’s ability to communicate spiritual meaning across centuries. There are also pop-up events throughout the city - Puccini in the Pub, communal singing in the Liberties, and morning melodies to start the day - a gentle reclaiming of public space through song. Again, all details can be found on the NCH website. Opera takes centre stage at The Pavilion in Dún Laoghaire on 29 June with Irish National Opera’s Music, Magic & Mischief—a deftly directed performance by the company’s Studio artists. In just sixty minutes, the audience is taken on a whirlwind tour through opera, from Mozart and Handel to Massenet and Strauss, performed by emerging talents Leanne Fitzgerald, Cathal McCabe, Deirdre Higgins and David Kennedy with répétiteur Ella Nagy at the piano. The performance is at 4 pm, so there’s plenty of time for a swim and an ice cream. On 6 July at The Hugh Lane Gallery Opera Collective Ireland presents The Andrée Expedition by Dominick Argento, a moving, rarely performed song cycle based on the true story of a doomed 19th-century Arctic balloon voyage. Sung by Benjamin Russell with Gary Beecher on piano, the work draws on the explorers’ recovered journals and letters. It’s part of the Sundays At Noon series, so while the tickets are free, they also get snapped up, so follow the series on Eventbrite and you won’t miss out. We’re back at the NCH on 11 July at 7.30 pm, where we join the National Symphony Orchestra as they embark on two epic journeys. First, Shaun Davey’s The Brendan Voyage, a groundbreaking work that charts a sixth-century transatlantic crossing through the voice of the uilleann pipes, performed by Mark Redmond. Following this, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 offers a majestic close to this concert. Written during his time in America, it’s a love letter to the new landscapes he discovered as well as the Czech homeland he longed for. In a month of music-making that spans avant-garde experimental music to Romantic masterworks, what we can hear in these performances is a shared search for connection and collaboration. Enjoy!