Media Release 10 August 2015

Dublin Port sponsors the National Concert Hall’s International Concert Series for 2015/2016

The National Concert Hall is delighted to announce Dublin Port as sponsors of the National Concert Hall’s International Concert Series for 2015/2016.

The flagship series, comprising 15 concerts by some of the world’s leading ensembles, soloists, orchestras and conductors from around the world, begins on Saturday 28 August 8pm with the renowned Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra together with their American Music Director Andrew Litton and guest violinist Alina Ibragimova.
Fresh from the BBC Proms, the Bergen Philharmonic will delight Irish audiences with a performance of the ever–popular Violin Concerto in E minor by Mendelssohn, the Rite of Spring by Stravinsky and Carnival in Paris by Svendsen.

Highlights of the Scandinavian themed season for 2015/2016 also includes the first visit to Ireland by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra in an all-Sibelius programme (celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Finnish composer along with the Winner of the 2015 Sibelius Violin Competition); a recital by Danish violinist Nikolaj Znaider making his NCH debut; a return visit by Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra with Danish Principal Conductor Thomas Dausgaard and Norwegian pianist Christian Ihle Hadland. The season also includes an eagerly awaited return by world-renowned soprano Angela Gheorghiu to perform popular operatic arias accompanied by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra; a performance of Monteverdi Vespers by The Sixteen in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and debuts at the National Concert Hall by the celebrated Bach Collegium of Japan (performing Bach’s Mass in B minor with director Masaaki Suzuki) and the Basel Symphony Orchestra, with Music Director Dennis Russell Davies and pianist Alice Sara Ott amongst others.

Dublin Port Chair Lucy McCaffrey
“As Ireland’s premiere Port, welcoming two million ferry and cruise visitors each year, we are delighted to partner with Ireland’s premiere music venue, the National Concert Hall, to support its ambitions in bringing world-class music to Irish audiences. I have no doubt that the forthcoming 2015/2016 season will bring huge pleasure to music fans throughout the country. We are very proud to support our National Concert Hall in the year ahead”.

Simon Taylor, CEO of the National Concert Hall comments
“The International Concert Series is the National Concert Hall’s flagship series, bringing Irish audiences the finest artists from all over the world. We are delighted to welcome Dublin Port on board as a key sponsor and partner as we prepare to open our season with of the world’s oldest orchestras, the Bergen Philharmonic. Appropriately, Bergen is Norway’s largest port, with trade and tourism also forming a vital part of the city’s life and economy, along with a thriving musical and cultural landscape.”

The Bergen Philharmonic has been at the centre of Bergan’s musical life for more than 250 years. Since the appointment of Andrew Litton as Chief Conductor in 2003 (now Music Director) the Orchestra has increased its profile on the concert circuit with extensive international tours as well as recordings and international commissions. Under Litton's leadership they have debuted at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, as well as appearances at Vienna’s Musikverein, Berlin’s Philharmonie, and New York’s Carnegie Hall.

The National Concert Hall’s International Concert Series 2015/2016 is supported by The Irish Times, as print media partner.

FIRST CONCERT OF THE 15/16 SEASON

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (Friday 28th August 2015, 8pm)
Andrew Litton, conductor | Alina Ibragimova, violin
Svendsen Carnival in Paris, Op. 9
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
Stravinsky La sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)

Tickets: €65, €57.50, €44.50, €27.50 National Concert Hall Box Office Tel: 01 417 00 00

ENDS
For further information please contact; Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 417 00 57