Media Release 15 March 2016
Eva Hoffman, Olwen Fouéré, Owen Roe and Two World Premieres added the National Concert Hall’s 2016 programme ‘IMAGINING HOME’
Additions - INTO EUROPE (30th March)
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George Bernard Shaw’s Treason on Trial performed by Owen Roe (world premiere)
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Fintan O’Toole’s The Nightmare of Empire/The Dream of Europe performed by Olwen Fouéré (world premiere)
Additions - ON REVOLUTION (31st March)
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Eva Hoffman– reflection on revolutionary change
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Colm Tóibín and Donnacha Dennehy (world premiere) The Dark Places performed by Crash Ensemble, Robin Adams (baritone) and Stephen Richardson (bass-baritone)
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Elégie en prose (for Robert Emmet) by Berlioz performed by Michael McHale (piano) and Robin Adams (baritone)
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Vanbrugh Quartet perform works by Philip Glass and Beethoven
The National Concert Hall is delighted to announce the names of the artists to be added to the line-up for two of the seven concerts (entitled INTO EUROPE and ON REVOLUTION) as part of its Ireland 2016 series Imagining Home. Taking place between the 28th of March and 3rd of April 2016, the events, inspired by the 1916 Proclamation, speak of Ireland’s cultural journey over the last 100 years, its place in the world today and its shared future.
INTO EUROPE (30th March) - The National Concert Hall is delighted to announce two world premieres: Treason on Trial by George Bernard Shaw to be performed by Owen Roe, and The Nightmare of Empire/The Dream of Europe by Fintan O’Toole to be performed by celebrated actress Olwen Fouéré (commissioned by the National Concert Hall). Both premieres are centred on the plight of the 1916 figure Roger Casement.
Into Europe also features actress Lisa Dwan performing, for the first time on an Irish stage, Samuel Beckett’s Not I and Footfalls. Pianist Barry Douglas and Camerata Ireland perform a selection of John Field Nocturnes, Schubert’s Du bist die Ruh (arranged by Franz Liszt for solo piano) and Krzysztof Penderecki’s Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima; a landmark piece by Barry Douglas’ long-time collaborator. The work is a musical response to the crises of the mid-20th century.
ON REVOLUTION (31st March) - This programme now features leading international writers – Joseph O’Neill, Ahdaf Soueif, Hisham Matar, Adam Zagajewski – all reading from their own prolific works. Celebrated writer Eva Hoffman, has been added to the line-up. She will reflect on the various kinds of revolutionary change which Eastern Europe has undergone during her lifetime.
The evening will be interspersed with musical pieces, opening with Berlioz’s Elégie en prose (for Robert Emmet) performed by Robin Adams (baritone) and Michael McHale (piano) and Frederic Rzewski’s Excerpts from A People United Will Never Be Defeated. The Vanbrugh Quartet perform Philip Glass’ String Quartet No. 3 ‘Mishima’ (movements I, V and VI) and Beethoven’s Quartet in E minor, Op. 59, No.2 (movement I).
Full details of the National Concert Hall’s Imagining Home series can be found here. Imagining Home is part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, led by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, T.D. It is a year-long programme of activity to commemorate the events of the 1916 Rising, reflecting on our achievements over the last 100 years and looking towards Ireland’s future. www.ireland.ie.
Imagining Home media partners include The Irish Times and RTÉ Radio 1.
IMAGINING HOME
AMERICA Monday 28 March 2016 8pmCelebrating the long musical conversation across the Atlantic a gathering of Irish and American musicians perform songs from this rich musical dialogue. Artists taking part are Rosanne Cash, Paul Brady, Maura O’Connell, Rodney Crowell, Andy Irvine, Tim O’Brien, Mick Moloney and band.
ENGLAND Tuesday 29 March 2016 8pm
Kevin Rowland and Sean Read of Dexys (formerly Dexys Midnight Runners) and Irish singer/songwriter Declan O’Rourke, perform alongside Martin Carthy, Camille O’Sullivan, Cáit O’Riordan, Paul Brady, Andy Irvine, Cathal Coughlan and Lisa O’Neill in a unique event, hosted by writer and broadcaster John Kelly which looks at the musical interplay between Ireland and England.
INTO EUROPE Wednesday 30 March 2016 8pm
Inspired by the European identity of the Irish republican tradition, Into Europe explores Ireland’s place in European culture. Samuel Beckett, John Field and Roger Casement spark an evocative evening of word, performance and music. The programme includes Lisa Dwan performing Samuel Beckett’s Not I and Footfalls; Fintan O’Toole on Roger Casement and human rights and pianist Barry Douglas performing with Camerata Ireland.
ON REVOLUTION Thursday 31 March 2016 8pm
An evening of word and music exploring revolutionary ideals and their impact with an international gathering of writers and commentators from Ireland, Egypt, Libya, India and Europe including Joseph O’Neill, Ahdaf Soueif, Hisham Matar, Eva Hoffman, Adam Zagajewski, and Colm Tóibín. This concert includes the world première of a new commission The Dark Places by Colm Tóibín, and acclaimed composer Donnacha Dennehy to be performed by Crash Ensemble and guests.
THE LITERARY IMAGINATION Friday 1 April 2016 8pm
A celebration of the country’s literary heritage, its present and its future, with some of Ireland’s greatest living writers and poets including John Banville, Anne Enright, Colm Tóibín, Eavan Boland, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, John Montague, Kevin Barry and Paul Muldoon.
THIS IS IRELAND Saturday 2 April 2016 8pm
Glen Hansard gathers friends and collaborators to celebrate Ireland in 2016.
OUT OF THE TRADITION Sunday 3 April 2016 8pm
Well-known traditional singers, sisters Maighread & Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, join sean-nós singer Treasa Ní Mhiollain, celebrated Irish harpist Tríona Marshall, fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain, Irish language poet Louis de Paor and award-winning actress Olwen Fouéré in this concert which explores a journey through Irish traditional music from its roots to the thriving traditional scene of today. They will joined by fiddler Martin Hayes and guitarist Dennis Cahill, Usher’s Island, the Tulla Céilí Band, fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and Iarla Ó Lionaird.
Tickets for each concert in IMAGINING HOME at the National Concert Hall are €39.50, €29.50, €22.50 Tel: 01 417 0000 or www.nch.ie
ENDS
For further information please contact: Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 417 0057/087 1775334
