Media Release 2 December 2015

Helsinki Philharmonic to Perform at the National Concert Hall to Mark the 150th Anniversary of Sibelius’ Birth

Featuring the Winner of the 2015 International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition

Helsinki Philharmonic
John Storgårds, conductor
International Concert Series 2015/16
Saturday 12th December 8pm

The celebrated Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of John Storgårds will perform at the National Concert Hall on Saturday 12th December at 8pm, concluding the Nordic strand of the Hall’s International Concert Series 15/16.

They will be joined by the 2015 winner of the famous International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, which takes place one week prior to the concert. Created to mark the centenary of the composer’s birth and held every five years, this competition has launched the careers of many of its former prize-winners including Nikolaj Znaider (who recently performed at the National Concert Hall on November 25th).

John Storgårds has a dual career as both a conductor and violin virtuoso, and is widely recognised for his creative flair for programming. Storgårds and the Helsinki Philharmonic are touring Mexico and Europe to mark the 150th anniversary of Sibelius’ birth.

Their performance on December 12th features an atmospheric all-Sibelius programme—a tribute particularly suited to an orchestra which gave the first performances of almost all the symphonic works by Jean Sibelius with the composer himself conducting.

Sibelius                En Saga, Op. 9
Sibelius                Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
Sibelius                Karelia Suite Op. 11
Sibelius                Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105

The National Concert Hall’s International Concert Series 2015/2016 continues on Saturday 23rd January at 7.30pm with a performance of Handel’s Samson by Chamber Choir Ireland and the Irish Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Matthew Halls. The Series is sponsored by Dublin Port and supported by The Irish Times as print media partner.

Tickets are available from the National Concert Hall Box Office, telephone 01 - 417 00 00 or visit www.nch.ie.
Tickets:  €75, €64.50, €47.50 (€32.50 choir balcony)

ENDS
For further information please contact Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 417 0057/087-1775334