Gregory Porter & Soda Blonde with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland Announced for National Concert Hall Summer Season

(Pictured: Gregory Porter; Soda Blonde; Hatis Noit; Hilary Hahn) 

The National Concert Hall (NCH) has unveiled an exciting summer programme running from May to July 2026, featuring international stars, leading Irish artists and a wide range of orchestral, film and contemporary music performances.  

Just Announced 

At its heart is National Symphony Orchestra Ireland (NSOI), presenting a vibrant and dynamic series of concerts. Highlights include a special appearance by two-time Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Gregory Porter who makes his NCH and NSOI debut this July. Also featured is acclaimed Irish alt-pop band Soda Blonde who, following their sell out NCH performance with the live recording of the orchestrated Dream Big album in 2024, return to collaborate with NSOI once more for a one-night only performance of this acclaimed recording.  

The orchestra’s summer programme also features spectacular film and soundtrack concerts. In July Back to the Future in Concert, brings the 1985 classic to the big screen, with the NSOI performing Alan Silvestri's score live. In June, The Music of John Williams celebrates the legendary composer with themes from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Jaws, Schindler’s List, Superman, Harry Potter and more.   

Also in July, the NSOI presents the original Broadway orchestration of West Side Story in Concert, in partnership with Irish Youth Musical Theatre and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. With all leading and ensemble roles performed by actors aged 16-25, it is directed by Séimí Campbell, with Anthony Gabriele as conductor and music supervisor.  

NSOI Summer Lunchtime Concerts  

The much-loved NSOI Summer Lunchtime Concert Series also returns, offering relaxed midday concerts featuring outstanding Irish and international soloists in a programme of popular classical works. The series opens with Irish soprano Maria Matthews performing operatic favourites including Bellini’s “Casta Diva” from Norma, conducted by rising star Tess Jackson, followed by virtuoso violinist Patrick Rafter performing classical favourites; soprano Ami Hewitt in a programme of Viennese and Hungarian operetta; and mezzo-soprano Deirdre Arratoon, winner of the NCH’s Bernadette Greevy Bursary award, performing opera arias including Bizet’s “Habanera” from Carmen. Clarinettist William Curran, winner of the 2025 RIAM Maura Dowdall Award, and conductor Georg Köhler winner of the 2023 Mahler Competition, also feature, with works including Weber's Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestration and the "Adagio" from Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. 

International and Irish Artists  

The summer programme will also welcome a distinguished line-up of international guest artists including three-time Grammy Award winning violinist Hilary Hahn; conductor Sir Simon Rattle with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi; American jazz drummer Makaya McCraven; legendary American jazz guitarist Pat Metheny and multimedia artist Laurie Anderson  with Sexmob-Republic of Love as part of NCH Perspectives. Acclaimed vocalist Angélique Kidjo and pianist Maki Namekawa will also perform with the NSOI in two unique concerts of Philip Glass Explored. Two defining contemporary American voices, Pulitzer Prize winners Julia Wolfe and John Adams, feature in the programme of the NCH's Classical Season Finale which sees NSOI conducted by Stephanie Childress together with pianist Nicolas Namoradze and National Symphony Chorus Ireland.  

Irish artists are strongly represented across the season, with singer/songwriters Gemma Hayes, Paddy Casey and Something Happens each performing their own concert as part of the NCH Landmarks series, while Christy Moore returns to the National Concert Hall stage for three eagerly anticipated concerts.  

NCH Festival of Voice  

The National Concert Hall will also host its Festival of Voice, supported by IPUT Real Estate Dublin, from 22–24 May. Headline artists include Japanese vocalist Hatis Noit, singers Rachael Lavelle, Clarissa Connolly and Saint Sister in Ecstatic Visions conducted by David Brophy. The festival will also feature Drone Mass by the late Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, performed by Crash Ensemble and Chamber Choir Ireland, while internationally renowned composer Eric Whitacre conducts Chamber Choir Ireland, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland and the National Symphony Chorus Ireland in a major performance of his own works. The festival also features additional concerts, masterclasses and mid-day concerts at Wilton Park, Dublin 2.  

TICKETS ON SALE Friday 3 April at 10am  

• Gregory Porter with NSOI (July 10th)
• Soda Blonde with NSOI (July 17th)
• Back to the Future in Concert with NSOI (July 3rd)
• The Music of John Williams i with NSOI (June 26th)

Look ahead, the National Concert Hall's annual family Christmas concert This Way to Christmas! Featuring The Snowman' presented in association with Theatre Lovett (December 18-20), will go on sale Friday 3 April at 10am.  

NCH Box Office: Tel: 014170000 or www.nch.ie  

Full List of all National Concert Hall Summer Concerts (May-July 2026) here

ENDS  

Media Queries: Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall 
087 1775334 | sinead.doyle@nch.ie or Roisin Dwyer, PR & Publications Executive, National Concert Hall 085-7129628 roisin.dwyer@nch.ie 

  

NCH SUMMER CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS (Main Stage)  

May  

1 May - NSOI: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in Concert
2, 17, 30 May – NCH Presents Christy Moore
6 May – Ludovico Einaudi Piano Solo
7 May – NCH Perspectives: Makaya McCraven
8 May – NSOI Jessica Cottis Conducts Tchaikovsky Four and Siobhán Cleary World Premiere
9 May – RTÉ Concert Orchestra Presents: May the Fourth Be With You – A Star Wars Spectacular
12 May – NCH Landmarks: Gemma Hayes
13 May – The Lyric’s the Thing with Paul Harrington
14 May – Hilary Hahn, violin & Tom Poster, piano
15 May – NSOI: John O’Conor plays Beethoven
22 May – Festival of Voice: Ecstatic Visions featuring Hatis Noit, Rachael Lavelle, Clarissa Connolly, Saint Sister
23 May – Festival of Voice: Eric Whitacre and National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
24 May – Festival of Voice: Drone Mass by Jóhann Jóhannsson performed by Crash Ensemble and Chamber Choir Ireland
29 May – NSOI: Jonas Alber conducts Mahler Five
31 May – Russell Watson: The Voice Returns 

June  

3 June – NCH Gamelan Orchestra with Javanese Dance
4 June – RTÉ Concert Orchestra Presents: Marilyn Monroe 100
5 June – NSOI: Philip Glass Explored with Russell Davies & Kidjo
6 June – NSOI: Philip Glass Explored with Russell Davies & Namekawa
8 June – Keb’ Mo’  
11 June–Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with Sir Simon Rattle
12 June – NCH Landmarks: Something Happens
13 June – Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle
16 June – NSOI: Summer Lunchtime Concert – Maria Matthews, soprano
16 June – Hibernian Orchestra Summer Gala Concert
19 June – NSOI Season Finale: Wolfe, Rachmaninov & Adams
20 June – Sleeping at Last 2026 EU Tour
21 June – RTÉ Concert Orchestra Presents: The Beach Boys
23 June – Music of the Night
23 June – NSOI: Summer Lunchtime Concert – Ami Hewitt, soprano  
26 June – NSOI: The Music of John Williams
30 June – NSOI: Summer Lunchtime Concert - Patrick Rafter violin
30 June – Feis Ceoil Gala Concert 

July   

3 July– NSOI: Back to the Future In Concert
4 July – NCH Landmarks: Paddy Casey
9 July – Songs that Shaped the World with Tom Cole Jr.
10 July– NSOI An Evening with Gregory Porter  
11 July– NCH Perspectives: Laurie Anderson with Sexmob-Republic of Love
14 July – NSOI: Summer Lunchtime Concert – Deirdre Arratoon, soprano
16 July – Pat Metheny – Side-Eye 111+
17 July –Soda Blonde with NSOI
23 & 24 July – NSOI: West Side Story in Concert
25 July – Agnes Obel 

About the National Concert Hall

The National Concert Hall is Ireland’s national cultural institution for music, proudly serving audiences since opening in 1981 through an extensive programme of live performance, education and cultural initiatives. Located in the heart of Dublin city centre beside the Iveagh Gardens, the NCH is home to National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, National Symphony Chorus, the NCH Cór Linn youth choir (for ages 14–19), and Ireland’s leading children’s choir Cór na nÓg. The NCH also provides a home for a range of resident music organisations, including Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Music Network, Crash Ensemble and Music Generation.    

The National Concert Hall is currently planning a major redevelopment of its facilities as part of Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan. The NCH Discover Centre marks the first phase of this once-in-a-generation transformation, reimagining the National Concert Hall as a vibrant, accessible cultural campus, a true home for music in Ireland. The expanded campus will feature new and enhanced performance spaces, learning and participation facilities, and welcoming civic spaces, engaging more than 500,000 visitors annually. At its heart, this redevelopment will deepen the NCH’s national impact, ensuring music is experienced, explored and shared by generations to come.  

 
Gregory Porter & Soda Blonde le Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann fógartha do Shéasúr Samhraidh an Cheolárais Náisiúnta 
 
Tá clár samhraidh uaillmhianach fógartha ag an Ceoláras Náisiúnta (NCH), clar a 
chuimseoidh réaltaí idirnáisiúnta, ealaíontóirí mór le rá Éireannacha agus réimse leathan 
aibhithe ceolfhoirne, scannáin agus ceoil chomhaimseartha agus é ar siúl ó Bhealtaine go Iúil 2026. 
 
Díreach fógartha 
Ag croílár an chláir tá Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann (NSOI), ag 
déanamh sraith de cheolchoirmeacha bríomhara agus fuinniúla. I measc na mbuaicphointí beidh an t- amhránaí snagcheoil Gregory Porter, a bhuaigh dhá Ghradam Grammy agus é ag canadh den chéad uair leis an NSOI agus ag an gCeoláras Náisiúnta i mí Iúil. Chomh maith leis sin, cloisfear an banna alt-phopcheoil Éireannach clúiteach Soda Blonde, atá ag filleadh tar éis dóibh a seó san NCH a dhíol amach in 2024, agus atá chun comhoibriú le NSOI arís le haghaidh taibhiú aon oíche amháin dá n-albam cáiliúil Dream Big. 

Cuimsíonn clár samhraidh na ceolfhoirne réimse ceolchoirmeacha scannáin agus fuaimriain freisin. I mí Iúil, tugann Back to the Future in Concert sárscannan 1985 chuig an scáileán mór, nuair a sheinnfidh NSOI scór Alan Silvestri beo. I mí an Mheithimh, ceiliúrfaidh The Music of John Williams an cumadóir cáiliúil le téamaí ó Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Jaws, Schindler’s List, Superman, Harry Potter, agus tuilleadh. 

Chomh maith leis sin i mí Iúil, cuirfidh NSOI ceolfhoirniú bunaidh Broadway de West Side Story in Concert i láthair, i gcomhpháirtíocht le hAmharclann Cheoil Óg ma hÉireann (IYMT) agus Ceol-Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann (RIAM). Agus taibheoirí idir 16 agus 25 bliana d’aois ag glacadh páirte, is é Séimí Campbell atá á stiúradh, agus Anthony Gabriele mar stiúrthóir agus mar mhaoirseoir ceoil. 
 

Ceolchoirmeacha Lóin NSOI an tSamhraidh

Tá Sraith Ceolchoirmeacha Lóin an tSamhraidh NSOI, a bhfuil an-tóir orthu, ar ais freisin, ag ofráil ceolchoirmeacha suaimhneacha meánlae i gclár de shaothair chlasaiceacha móréilimh seinnte ag sárcheoltóirí aonair agus stiúrthóirí idir Éireannacha agus idirnáisiúnta. Tá béim faoi leith ar ealaíontóirí nua agus ar réaltaí atá ag teacht chun cinn. Tosóidh an tsraith leis an soprán Éireannach Maria Matthews a chanfaidh na hamhráin cheoldrámaíochta is mó tóir, lena n-áirítear “Casta Diva” le Bellini ó Norma, faoi stiúir Tess Jackson, agus ina dhiaidh sin an veidhleadóir rímháistir Patrick Rafter ag seinm na hamhráin chlasaiceacha is mó tóir; an soprán is mó tóir le clár de mhion-cheoldrámaí Víneacha agus Ungáracha; agus an mezzo-soprán Deirdre Arratoon, buaiteoir Ghradam Sparánachta Bernadette Greevy an NCH, ag chanfaidh árianna ceoldrámaíochta lena n-áirítear “Habanera” le Bizet ó Carmen. Beidh an cláirnéidí William Curran, a bhuaigh Gradam Maura Dowdall an RIAM in 2025, agus an stiúrthóir Georg Köhler mar chuid den tsraith chomh maith, iad ag seinm saothar lena náirítear Concertino do Chláirnéid agus do Cheolfhoireann le Weber agus an “Adagio” ó coinséartó Chláirnéid Mozart. 

Ealaíontóirí Idirnáisiúnta agus Éireannacha 
Cuirfidh clár an tsamhraidh fáilte roimh liosta d’aoi-ealaíontóirí idirnáisiúnta den scoth, ina measc an veidhleadóir Hilary Hahn, a bhuaigh trí Ghradam Grammy; an stiúrthóir Sir Simon Rattle leis an Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; an cumadóir agus pianódóir Ludovico Einaudi; an giotáraí snagcheoil Meiriceánach mór le rá Pat Metheny mar chuid de shraith NCH Perspectives agus an t-ealaíontóir ilmheán Laurie Anderson le Sexmob - Republic of Love. Beidh an t-amhránaí clúiteach Angélique Kidjo agus an pianódóir Maki Namekawa ag seinm le NSOI i ndá cheolchoirm ar leith de Philip Glass Explored freisin. 
Beidh beirt sár-amhránaithe comhaimseartha Mheiriceánacha, buaiteoirí Dhuais Pulitzer Julia Wolfe agus John Adams, le cloisteáil i gclár Bhailchríoch Shéasúr Clasaiceach NCH ina mbeidh NSOI stiúrtha ag Stephanie Childress in éineacht leis an bpianódóir Nicolas Namoradze agus Cór Siansach Náisiúnta na hÉireann. 
Tá ionadaíocht láidir ag ealaíontóirí Éireannacha i rith an tséasúir, agus na 
hamhránaithe/cumadóirí amhrán Gemma Hayes, Paddy Casey, agus Something Happens ag déanamh a gceolchoirme féin mar chuid de shraith NCH Landmarks, agus filleann Christy Moore ar stáitse an Ceoláras Náisiúnta le haghaidh trí cheolchoirm a bhfuiltear ag tnúth go mór leo. 
 
Féile an Ghutha 
Beidh Féile an Ghutha á reáchtáil ag an gCeoláras Náisiúnta freisin, le tacaíocht ó IPUT 
Real Estate Dublin, ón 22–24 Bealtaine. I measc na bpríomhealaíontóirí beidh an t-amhránaí Seapánach Hatis Noit, an t-amhránaí Éireannach Rachael Lavelle, Clarissa Connolly agus Saint Sister in Ecstatic Visions faoi stiúir David Brophy. Beidh Drone Mass leis an gcumadóir Íoslannach nach maireann Jóhann Jóhannsson le Cloisteáil ag an bhféile freisin, á chanadh ag Crash Ensemble agus Cór Aireagail na hÉireann, agus stiúrfaidh an cumadóir cáiliúil idirnáisiúnta Eric Whitacre Cór Aireagail na hÉireann, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus Cór Shiansach Náisiúnta na hÉireann i mórléiriú 
dá shaothair féin. Beidh ceolchoirmeacha breise, máistir-ranganna agus ceolchoirmeacha meánlae i bPáirc Wilton, Baile Átha Cliath 2, mar chuid den fhéile chomh maith. 
 
TICÉID AR DÍOL Dé hAoine 3 Aibreán ag 10am 
Gregory Porter le NSOI (10 Iúil) 
Soda Blonde le NSOI (17 Iúil) 
Back to the Future i gCeilchoirm le NSOI (3 Iúil) 
Ceol John Williams le NSOI (26 Meitheamh) 
 
Ag féachaint ar aghaidh, beidh ticéid do cheolchoirm bhliantúil teaghlaigh an Cheolárais Náisiúnta ‘This Way to Christmas! Featuring The Snowman, a chuirfear i láthair í i gcomhar le hAmharclann Lovett (18 – 20 Nollaig), ar díol freisin Dé hAoine an 3 Aibreán ag 10rn. 
 
Oifig na dTicéad: Teil: 014170000 nó www.nch.ie 
Cliceáil Anseo] Liosta Iomlán de na Ceolchoirmeacha Samhraidh go léir sa Cheoláras 
Náisiúnta (Bealtaine-Iúil 2026) 
 
Críoch 

Fiosrúcháin ó na Meáin: Sinead Doyle, Bainisteoir Margaíochta & Caidreamh Poiblí, An Ceoláras Náisiúnta
087 1775334 | sinead.doyle@nch.ie  Roisin Dwyer, Feidhmeannach Caidreamh Poiblí & Foilseachán, An Ceoláras Náisiúnta 085 7129628 roisin.dwyer@nch.ie 
 
BUAICPHOIRTÍ CHEOLCHOIRMEACHA SAMHRAIDH NCH (Príomh-Ardán) 
 
Bealtaine

1 Bealtaine - NSOI: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial i gCeolchoirm 
2, 17, 30 Bealtaine – Christy Moore á Chur i Láthair ag NCH 
6 Bealtaine – Ludovico Einaudi Pianó Aonair 
7 Bealtaine – Peirspictíochtaí NCH: Makaya McCraven 
8 Bealtaine – NSOI - Jessica Cottis ag Stiúradh Tchaikovsky a Ceathair & Céadléiriú Domhanda Shiobhán Cleary 
9 Bealtaine – May the Fourth Be with You – A Star Wars Spectacular curtha i láthair ag Ceolfhoireann Cheolchoirme RTÉ
12 Bealtaine – NCH Landmarks: Gemma Hayes 
13 Bealtaine – The Lyric’s the Thing le Paul Harrington 
14 Bealtaine – Hilary Hahn, veidhlín & Tom Poster, pianó 
15 Bealtaine – NSOI: John O’Conor ag seinm Beethoven 
22 Bealtaine – Féile an Ghutha: Ecstatic Visions le Hatis Noit, Rachael Lavelle, Clarissa Connolly, Saint Sister 
23 Bealtaine – Féile an Ghutha: Eric Whitacre agus Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann 
24 Bealtaine – Féile an Ghutha: Drone Mass le Jóhann Jóhannsson á léiriú ag Crash Ensemble agus Cór Aireagail na hÉireann 
29 Bealtaine – NSOI: Jonas Alber ag stiúradh Mahler a Cúig 
31 Bealtaine – Russell Watson 
 
Meitheamh

3 Meitheamh – Ceolfhoireann Gamalan NCH le Damhsa Iávais 
4 Meitheamh –Marilyn Monroe 100 curtha i láthair ag Ceolfhoireann Cheolchoirme RTÉ 
5 Meitheamh – NSOI: Philip Glass Explored le Russell Davies & Kidjo 
6 Meitheamh – NSOI: Philip Glass Explored le Russell Davies & Namekawa 
8 Meitheamh – Keb’ Mo’ 
11 Meitheamh – Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment le Sir Simon Rattle 
12 Meitheamh – NCH Landmarks: Something Happens 
13 Meitheamh – Pentangle le Jacqui McShee 
16 Meitheamh – NSOI: Ceolchoirm Lóin an tSamhraidh – Maria Matthews, soprán 
16 Meitheamh – Ceolchoirm Gala Samhraidh Cheolfhoireann Hibernian  
19 Meitheamh – Bailchríoch Séasúir NSOI: Wolfe, Rachmaninov & Adams 
20 Meitheamh – Sleeping at Last 2026 Camchuairt AE 
21 Meitheamh –The Beach Boys curtha i láthair ag Ceolfhoireann Cheolchoirme RTÉ 
23 Meitheamh – Ceol na hOíche 
23 Meitheamh – NSOI: Ceolchoirm Lóin an tSamhraidh – Ami Hewitt soprán 
26 NSOI: Ceol John Williams
30 Meitheamh – NSOI: Ceolchoirm Lóin an tSamhraidh - Patrick Rafter veidhlín 
30 Meitheamh – Ceolchoirm Gala na Feise Ceoil 

Iúil

3 Iúil – NSOI: Back to the Future i gCeolchoirm 
4 Iúil – NCH Landmarks: Paddy Casey 
9 Iúil – Amhráin a Mhúnlaigh an Domhan le Tom Cole Jr. 
10 Iúil – NSOI: Oíche le Gregory Porter 
11 Iúil – Peirspictíochtaí: Laurie Anderson le Sexmob - Republic of Love 
14 Iúil – NSOI: Ceolchoirm Lóin an tSamhraidh – Deirdre Arratoon, soprán 
16 Iúil – Pat Metheny – Side-Eye 111+ 
17 Iúil – Soda Blonde le NSOI 
23 & 24 Iúil – NSOI 
 
MAIDIR LEIS AN GCEOLÁRAS NÁISIÚNTA 
Is é Ceoláras Náisiúnta na hÉireann institiúid chultúrtha náisiúnta don cheol, agus freastalaíonn go bródúil ar luchtanna éisteachta ó osclaíodh é in 1981 trí chlár fairsing de thaibhithe beo, d’oideachas agus de tionscnaimh chultúrtha. Agus é lonnaithe i gcroílár chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath in aice le Gairdíní Uíbh Eachach, tá an Ceoláras Náisiúnta ina bhaile do Cheolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann, don Chór 
Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann, do chór óige an Cheolárais Náisiúnta: Cór Linn (do dhaoine idir 14 agus 19 mbliana d'aois), agus don chór leanaí is mó le rá na hÉireann, Cór na nÓg. Tá an Ceoláras Náisiúnta ina bhaile freisin do raon eagraíochtaí ceoil cónaitheacha, lena n- áirítear Cór Aireagail na hÉireann, Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann, Music Network, Crash Ensemble agus Music Generation.

Tá athfhorbairt mhór ar a chuid áiseanna á pleanáil ag an Ceoláras Náisiúnta faoi láthair mar chuid de Thionscadal Éireann 2040 agus den Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta. Is é Ionad Discover an NCH an chéad chéim den chlaochlú seo nach ndéanfar é ach uair amháin i nglúin, a dhéanfaidh an Ceoláras Náisiúnta a athchruthú mar champas cultúrtha bríomhar, inrochtana, fíorbhaile do cheol na hÉireann. Beidh spásanna taibhithe nua agus feabhsaithe, áiseanna foghlama agus rannpháirtíochta, agus spásanna sibhialta fáilteacha mar chuid den champas leathnaithe, rud a mheallfaidh breis 500,000 cuairteoir in aghaidh na bliana. Is é croíchuspóir na hathfhorbartha seo, tionchar náisiúnta an NCH a threisiú, a chinnteoidh gur féidir leis na glúnta atá le teacht an ceol a bhlaiseadh, é a iniúchadh agus é a roinnt.