Media Release 14th July 2015

Critically acclaimed Irish piano trio Ensemble Avalon and guest artists return to the National Concert Hall

Critically acclaimed Irish piano trio Ensemble Avalon return to the National Concert Hall this August, for a series of Thursday lunchtime concerts. The concerts featuring the trio and special guests will take place on 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th August and will present chamber classics for solo, duo and trio.

Guest artist for the lunchtime concerts will include Antony Ingham, piano, Alex Petcu, percussion and Kelley Lonergan, soprano.

Formed in 2006, Ensemble Avalon, Ioana Petcu-Colan, violin, Gerald Peregrine, cello and Michael McHale, piano, hail from North and South of the island and have given numerous recitals across Ireland, the UK and America, and have broadcast regularly on radio and television.

The trio was the first ever all Irish ensemble appointed to an Irish University and the first ensemble in residence at Trinity College, a post they held for 3 years. They were also artists in residence at the Hugh Lane gallery at that time, performing works by young Irish composers alongside the established repertoire.

The trio ran their own festival in association with Music for Wexford for 4 years, working with international artists such as Patricia Rosario, Daniel Stewart among others.

Their debut album was released on the RTÉ lyric FM label, to praise in the international press, with the both the Strad and Classical music magazine choosing it as their featured disc – ‘in the front rank of modern versions on disc’ (Classical Music Magazine)
 
Ensemble Avalon is presented by the National Concert Hall, in association with RTÉ Lyric FM

Ensemble Avalon Programme 6, 13, 20, 27 August

John Field Room
August 6
Former National Concert Hall rising star Gerald Peregrine, cello; Antony Ingham,piano
Bax, Bridge, Delius, Morean, Vaughan Williams

August 13
Former National Concert Hall Rising Star Alex Petcu, percussion; Kelley Lonergan, soprano
Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Villa-Lobos

August 20
Former NCH rising star Michael McHale, piano
Beethoven, Field, Chopin, Liszt

August 27
Ensemble Avalon: Ioana Petcu-Colan, violin; Gerald Peregrine, cello; Michael McHale, piano
Smetana, Piazzolla (arr. Bragato)

All tickets are priced at €15, (€10 concession price),
www.nch.ie / 01 4170000

www.facebook.com/ensembleavalon  

ENDS
For further information please contact: Gerald Peregrine on mrperegrine@gmail.com or 087 1010 903

ENSEMBLE AVALON REVIEWS
 
‘The work… certainly pleased the capacity audience (many from TCD, where Avalon is half-way through its historic three-year residency). Pianist McHale, cellist Gerald Peregrine and violinist Ioana Petcu-Colan again displayed the musical naturalness and spontaneity that is the hallmark of top class ensembles. Its performance of the main event, an early Beethoven piano trio, tripped along with appropriate Haydnesque liveliness’.
Sunday Business Post, Feb 2013
 
‘There is little doubt that the combined talent of violinist Ioana Petcu-Colan, pianist Michael McHale and cellist Peregrine constitute a formidable team that never fails to hold an audience’s attention’.
Sunday Business Post, January 2011
 
‘The Ensemble Avalon’s visits here – now consolidated into a three-year TCD residency in conjunction with the Hugh Lane – have proven rewarding and grown in popularity since their first one in 2007-There wasn’t space for everyone at this concert, with a queue of people turned away once the gallery was full’.
The Irish Times, January 2011
 
'The ensemble have reached an exciting stage in their career, and one suspects a lot of it will be on the great international stages.'
Sunday Business Post September 2009
 
...'completely enraptured a capacity audience...another impressive performance by Avalon'...
Sunday Business Post, February 2009
 
...'ravishing sensitivity...one of the highlights of my listening year'..
The Strad, January 2009