The Goo 1
Words: Cliodhna Ryan CLASSICAL After a brief summ
er break, I’m back, and delighted to say that Dublin’s music scene this September offers a wealth of riches, so let’s get straight into it. After its summer pause, Kaleidoscope Night returns to the Bello Bar on 3 September with an evening full of contrasts and delights. Composer and multi-instrumentalist Neil Ó Lochlainn unveils a new project inspired by Bríd, Daughter of the Dagda, a striking series of paintings by Patsy Connolly. The work unites four of Ireland’s most versatile musicians, each steeped in a different tradition — Irish folk, jazz improvisation, and the textural landscapes of contemporary classical music. Also returning is the Damsel Duo (Beth Meyers & Monica Mugan), whose indie-folk sensibilities, intricate arrangements, and seamless harmonies have made them a Kaleidoscope favourite. Violinists Erin Hennessy and Molly O’Shea revive the music of neo-Romantic composer Mary Dickenson-Anuer, while Rachel Factor, on a replica of Queen Elizabeth I’s virginal, pairs with Eamon Sweeney’s baroque guitar to weave 16th- and 17th-century repertoire. Doors open at 8 pm, with music starting at 8:30 pm. On 5 September at 7.30 pm, the National Concert Hall pays tribute to Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina’s remarkable contribution to the arts, society and culture in Ireland as his term as President draws to a close. The occasion coincides with the release of Higgins’ debut spoken-word album, Against All Certainty, recorded at Áras an Uachtaráin and set to music by Myles O’Reilly for Claddagh Records. The President’s poetry will be brought to life by a diverse roster of artists — from poet Paula 42 Meehan and novelist Sebastian Barry to rapper God Knows, broadcaster Ryan Tubridy, and drag icon Panti Bliss — joined by the National Symphony Orchestra. The evening, hosted by Tommy Tiernan, also features music from some of Ireland’s best-loved performers Imelda May, Martin Hayes, Paul Brady and Mary Coughlan, amongst others. On 5 and 6 September, as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival, you can experience SKY/MEMORY at the Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle. Created by artist Jenn Ní Mhordha in collaboration with Glasshouse Music’s Maeve Kelly and Soria Reilly, it’s described as a “sonic meditation on memory and the Irish sky” — a hypnotic blend of chamber ensemble, voice, electronics, and cascading visuals that invites audiences into a ritual of sound and imagery. It’s a 60-minute immersive experience that starts at 8.30 pm. On 12 September at 7.30 pm, conductor Leonard Slatkin launches the National Symphony Orchestra’s season with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20, its turbulent drama delivered by French pianist David Fray. Cindy McTee’s Timepiece makes its Irish premiere, a rhythmically alert, witty work drawing inspiration from Bernstein and Mahler, while Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben closes the night in a blaze of orchestral colour. The following evening, Viva Verdi, Viva Wagner sees Irish soprano Sinéad Campbell Wallace joined by Ryan Capozzo and Yngve Søberg for a journey through some of the greatest works by opera’s titans, from Verdi’s La forza del destino to Wagner’s Götterdämmerung. This is a celebration of the astonishing talent of Irish soprano Sinéad Campbell Wallace, who is taking international opera stages by storm. The concert is at 7.30 pm on September 13th. Opera turns playful on 17 September at the Civic Theatre, Tallaght, with Opera Collective Ireland’s Irish premiere of Errollyn Wallen’s Cautionary Tales. Aimed at children 7+, it’s a mischievous, fast-paced introduction to opera. Wallen’s score darts from Bach to Mission: Impossible, performed by a young cast in a sleepover setting that draws audiences into their world of storytelling and song. The fun starts at 7.00 pm. Next to chamber music, and the exquisite combination of violin and cello. 18 September brings violinist Andrew Sheeran and cellist Caitríona Finnegan to St Ann’s Church Lunchtime Concert Series for Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello, Peteris Vasks’ meditative Castillo Interior, and Caroline Shaw’s limestone & felt. Their combined musical experience spans orchestras, contemporary ensembles, and folk collaborations. The concert starts at 1.20 pm. Finally, at 8 pm on 25 September, the Tradition Now festival at the National Concert Hall opens with a rare Dublin performance from Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares. Founded in 1952, the Bulgarian female vocal ensemble’s shimmering harmonies have influenced artists from Kate Bush to Dead Can Dance’s Lisa Gerrard. Their Voices and Strings programme, arranged by Georgi Andreev, pairs the choir with the Quarto Quartet and Irish folk harmony group Landless for a cross-cultural conversation between Bulgarian polyphony and Irish folk tradition. From the pluck of a baroque guitar to the epic scale of Strauss, Dublin’s musical heart is beating strong this month, so enjoy!