National Youth Orchestra of Ireland in Bantry

(05 May 2010)

National Youth Orchestra of Ireland join forces with Irish Youth Choir for first time in Bantry

SmallNyoi

West Cork Music is delighted to announce that one of the highlights of this year's West Cork Chamber Music Festival will be the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and Irish Youth Choir Symphony Concert in St Finbarr's Church, Bantry on Friday 2 July at 7.30pm.

This is the 40th anniversary of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. For the first time ever, the 60 strong Orchestra will join forces with the 100 voices of the National Youth Choir in a new and exciting collaboration. Performing alongside them will be soprano Cara O'Sullivan and baritone Owen Gilhooly.

At the centre of this spectacular concert is Brahms' A German Requiem - one of the giants of the choral repertoire. This huge seven movement work has a central message of consolation for the bereaved and is both Brahms' largest scale work and yet most intimate work. This will be a performance to remember.

Also performed during the concert will be Ives' Unanswered Question which has the perennial question of existence put seven times by solo trumpet against a cosmic landscape of murmuring strings. Samuel Barber's centenary is celebrated with the performance of his Prayers for Kirkegaard by Cara O'Sullivan alongside the choir and orchestra.

The musical excellence continues later that same evening with the Late Great Show in Bantry House at 10.30pm. Those who stay up for this late recital will be richly rewarded as it will be a rare chance to catch the wonderful violinist Alina Ibragimova and her Chiarascuro Quartet playing Schubert's Quartet in A minor.

The West Cork Chamber Music Festival is generously supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Failte Ireland.