Ireland’s National Concert Hall Announces NEW International Concert Series for 2023/2024 with ‘Europe’ as its Inspiration 

Ireland’s National Concert Hall Announces NEW International Concert Series for 2023/2024 with ‘Europe’ as its Inspiration 

Media Release 1st August 2023  
 
 International Concert Series 2023/2024 – eight concerts by world renowned artists and ensembles inspired by European values and ideas (19 September ‘23 – 6 June 2024)  
String Quartet Weekend ‘Migrations’ - a thought provoking and inspirational weekend of concerts, panel discussions and more reflecting the music and the times we live in (24/25 February 2024)  
Contemporary Music Series ‘Europe: Here and Now’ – eight concerts by cutting edge contemporary artists reflecting on the music of today (4 Oct ‘23 – 7 May ‘24)  
Chamber Music Series ‘Echoes of Europe’ – featuring some of Europe’s most exciting young chamber musicians exploring music from the European canon (7 Sept – 9 Nov 2023)  
BOOKING: Booking opens Tuesday 8th August 10am on www.nch.ie or Tel: 01-417 0000 [Advance Priority Booking for NCH Season Friends & Patrons, Tuesday 1st August 10am and for NCH Friends, Wednesday 2nd of August 10am]   
 
 The National Concert Hall is delighted to announce its NEW International Concert Series for 2023/2024 inspired by European values, culture and ideas. Exploring themes of migration, identity, freedom and more, this new series features a compelling line-up of some of the world’s most dynamic and exciting international ensembles to perform from September 2023 to June 2024. 

 

Centred on eight major concerts as well as a specially curated String Quartet Weekend, in its entirety the new series offers a diverse programme of up to 28 concerts featuring large scale symphonic works, intimate chamber concerts, cutting-edge contemporary repertoire and exciting debuts by established artists and rising stars.  

Highlights include: Hungary’s renowned Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra with conductor András Keller and French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard playing Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony; the renowned Danish String Quartet with works by Schubert and Rituals by Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir; Italian period ensemble Europa Galante with Fabio Biondi and rising star soprano Nardus Williams in a programme inspired by nature to include Vivaldi’s’ Four Seasons and more; an NCH debut by Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen with the distinguished conductor Paavo Järvi and pianist Fabian Müller playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1; the dynamic Britten Sinfonia with sensational young cellist Abel Selaocoe preforming Tavener’s The Protecting Veil; award-winning ensemble Arcangelo with ‘the hottest guitarist in the world’ Miloš Karadaglić; a recital by the highly respected and revered American pianist Richard Goode; and the highly praised Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir with their founder and Artistic Director Tõnu Kaljuste in an all Arvo Pärt programme. Also included is a very special String Quartet Weekend entitled Migrations shining a spotlight on the works of Mark Anthony Turnage Split Apart, a substantial five movement string quartet born out of the composer’s despair and anger at the outcome of the Brexit referendum and Charlotte Bray’s Ungrievable Lives on the refugee crisis and much more.  

 
Complimenting the series will be a new contemporary music series Europe: Here and Now curated by Crash Ensemble Artistic Director and cellist Kate Ellis, with Diamanda le Berge Dramm and Romain Bly featuring a range of cutting-edge contemporary musicians - Rakhi Singh, Binkbeats presents OHM, Éric-Maria Couturier, Zöllner-Roche Duo, Sofia Jernberg, Sebastiaan Kamner, The Saviet/Houston Duo, and Zubin Kanga - in a variety of innovative and experimental performances. The NCH also presents a new chamber music series Echoes of Europe featuring some of Europe’s most exciting young chamber musicians exploring music for the times we live in, curated by Irish violinist David Tobin.  

With this season the NCH seeks to reflect Europe’s rich cultural history and to explore the  cultural narrative of the Europe of today in a thought provoking, exciting and inspirational series of concerts and events.  

Maura McGrath, Chair of the NCH and Robert Read, CEO of the National Concert Hall commented:

“With this new series we wanted to explore new musical subjects that are relevant to the here and now, to offer fresh perspectives, and to champion the power of music as a force for good and change while providing a platform for some of the world’s most exciting and dynamic musicians and ensembles together with some of Ireland’s top talent. We believe the International Concert Series for ‘2023/’24 is a diverse and accessible artistic programme that offers new and exciting musical experiences for everyone to enjoy. Our thanks to our Patrons and Friends and to The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Media and Sport for their continuous support in making this possible”.  

   

NATIONAL CONCERT HALL INTERNATIONAL CONCERT SERIES 2023/’24  

On the 19th of September one of Hungary’s leading orchestras, Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra, characterised by passion and energy, perform under the baton of András Keller in Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, Bartók ’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard as guest soloist, and Beethoven’s legendary Symphony No. 3 Eroica. 
 
The much-lauded Danish String Quartet make a welcome return to the NCH on the 28th of September with works by Schubert and award-winning Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir, “one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music” (NPR).

Described as ‘energetic and refined’ by The New York Times, the Italian period ensemble Europa Galante make their NCH debut on the 14th of October, breathing new life into Vivaldi’s Four Seasons alongside arias by Purcell and Handel sung by ‘one of the most exciting British singers of her generation’ soprano Nardus Williams in a programme inspired by nature. 

Great piano works by German, Polish and French composers J.S. Bach, Chopin and Fauré will feature in the NCH recital debut by the highly praised pianist Richard Goode, on the 23rd of October. Goode is an artist who continues to perform at the highest level, winning over audiences globally with his impressive performances.   

Also making their debut on the 7th of December are Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and their long-standing Artistic Director Paavo Järvi. This magical pairing has earned a reputation for their powerful yet nuanced interpretations of classical repertoire, which will not be lost on Irish audiences when they perform two of Haydn’s ‘London’ Symphonies and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the award-winning Fabian Müller at the piano keyboard.   

Brimming with energy and vitality, Britten Sinfonia and rising star cellist Abel Selaocoe join forces for one of the finest works of the cello repertoire, The Protecting Veil by John Tavener on the 18th of February 2024. The programme also features Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 133 and Bartók’s Divertimento (a piece written by the composer before he left fascist Europe for life in New York City).  
 

Serving up a feast of early music favourites by Vivaldi, Bach, Boccherini, Couperin and more are Arcangelo under the baton of Jonathan Cohen. For this concert on the 7th of March, they will be joined by “the hottest guitarist in the world (The Sunday Times)” Miloš Karadaglić. Earning legions of fans, awards and acclaim around the world through his extensive touring, six chart topping recordings and television appearances, Miloš is a guitar sensation and regarded as one of the world’s most celebrated classical guitarists.   

On the 6th of June 2024, the Grammy Award-winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir named ‘one of the 10 best choirs in the world’ (BBC Music Magazine), make a very welcome return to the NCH with conductor Tõnu Kaljuste for a programme of works by Estonian composer and national treasure, Arvo Pärt, best-known for his sublime, moving and spiritual compositions.   

The 2023/’24 season is complimented by a new String Quartet Weekend featuring performances by the Belcea, Pavel Haas, Modigliani, Carducci and Solas String Quartets. Entitled Migrations the String Quartet weekend sees a series of concerts and panel discussions with a spotlight on the work of Mark-Anthony Turnage: Split Apart - a substantial five-movement string quartet born of the composer’s despair and anger at the outcome of the Brexit referendum and Charlotte Bray’s Ungrievable Lives on the refugee crisis. Also featured is Silvestrov’s String Quartet No. 3 conveying the composer’s enthusiasm for Ireland, the historical fate of which is said to remind him of his native country Ukraine and Jonathan Dove’s In Damascus, a song cycle set to words by Syrian post Ali Safar, in a bleak vision of ineffably historical beautify torn apart by indiscriminate war.  

In another addition to this year’s season, the NCH presents a four concert chamber music series - Echoes of Europe - curated by Irish violinist David Tobin. It features some of Europe’s most exciting young musicians exploring European classical and contemporary repertoire by Poulenc, Mozart, Franck, Clara Schumann, Beethoven, and Brahms as well as works by Nadia and Lili Boulanger, Rhoda Coghill, Gráinne Mulvey and more. The series runs from September to November in the Kevin Barry Recital Room.  

The NCH is also delighted to present a new series of eight concerts in The Studio entitled Europe - Here and Now curated by Crash Ensemble’s Artistic Director and cellist Kate Ellis focusing on cutting-edge contemporary European music-making by leading contemporary artists from trombonists to technologists and vocalists and violinists. Artists include Rakhi Singh, Binkbeats presents OHM, Éric-Maria Couturier, Zöllner-Roche Duo, Sofia Jernberg, Sebastiaan Kemner, The Saviet/Houston Duo, and Zubin Kanga.  

BOOKING for the NCH International Concert Series 2023/’24  

Public booking opens: Tuesday 8th August 10am  

Advanced priority booking open for NCH Patrons and Season Friends, Tuesday 1st August 10am and NCH Friends, Wednesday 2nd August 10am.  

More detailed event listings and ticket information is available at www.nch.ie   

 
NCH INTERNATIONAL CONCERT SERIES 2023/’24 BROCHURE  

 

 

ENDS  

Media Queries: Rosita Wolfe, Head of Marketing & Communications, Sinéad Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, NCH, or Roisin Dwyer, PR & Publications Executive NCH. Tel: 01- 4170077. E-mail. firstname.secondname@nch.ie    

 
ABOUT THE NATIONAL CONCERT HALL  

The National Concert Hall (NCH) has a vision to be an inspiring and world-renowned music destination, accessible to all, enriching the cultural landscape of Ireland. The NCH is Ireland’s National Cultural Institution for music hosting in excess of 1,000 events each year. It is the proud home to the National Symphony Orchestra, who perform their annual season of symphonic and classical music alongside more popular and lunchtime concerts throughout the year. The NCH is also host to a number of Ireland’s music development bodies including Music Network, Music Generation and NCH associate ensembles, Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra and Crash Ensemble, who together with the National Symphony Orchestra secures the National Concert Hall’s position as a national centre for the performance, appreciation and enjoyment of music in Ireland.