National Concert Hall Announces Two Eclectic New Series for Its 2024 Chamber Programme; A Stanford Centenary Celebration and From Antiquities to Modernity Contrasting Classic and Contemporary Works

The National Concert Hall is pleased to announce two distinctive new Chamber Music Series for Spring/Summer 2024. The Stanford Series, curated by pianist Finghin Collins, marks the centenary of the death of the great Irish composer Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and takes place on Sunday 3, 10 and 17 March. From Antiquities to Modernity, curated by clarinettist Berginald Rash, takes audiences on a journey from the icons of classical music to their modern counterparts over five concerts on 5, 19, 26 May and 16 June. 

The Stanford Series features works by the composer himself, alongside his musical heroes, teachers and esteemed pupils. Finghin Collins has assembled an impressive array of musicians for the concerts including flautist Ríona Ó Duinnín and clarinettist John Finucane, mezzo-soprano Sharon Carty, baritone Benjamin Russell, the ConTempo Quartet and more. Featured works in the series include Stanford’s exquisite sonata for clarinet and piano, settings of Joyce and Masefield texts by two of Stanford’s most eminent pupils Rebecca Clarke and Muriel Herbert and the composer’s celebrated sixth string quartet. 

From Antiquities to Modernity features celebrated works from across the centuries, taking a playful and joyous approach – juxtaposing the old and the new. Berginald Rash has drawn together a stellar cast of musicians over the five concerts, contrasting new and more familiar names, from renowned violinist, Ronald Long, Jr. and the brilliant and highly sought after pianist, HyeSoo Kang to ever-popular talents such as cellist William Butt and pianist Maire Carroll. The impressive panoply of works in the series includes Stravinsky’s neoclassical trio Suite from L’Histoire du Soldat, Schumann’s magical  Fantasiestücke, Op. 73, Jennifer Higdon’s expressive Autumn Music and Haitian composer Rudy Perrault’s prayerful Exodus.

Stanford Series - Curated by Finghin Collins  

Sunday 3 March 3pm | Kevin Barry Recital Room 

Ríona Ó Duinnín flute 
Finghin Collins piano
Sharon Carty mezzo-soprano
John Finucane, clarinet
Contempo Quartet

Reinecke Flute Sonata “Undine” Op. 167
Stanford A Sheaf of Songs from Leinster
Brahms FAE Scherzo (1853)
Frank Bridge Three Idylls for string quartet (1906)
Stanford Fantasy No. 1 in G minor (1921)    

Tickets €17.50

Sunday 10 March 3pm | Kevin Barry Recital Room 

Benjamin Russell baritone 
Finghin Collins piano 
Sharon Carty mezzo-soprano  
John Finucane clarinet 

Stanford A Fire of Turf (seven songs)  
Rebecca Clarke / Muriel Herbert Songs (*list below)  
Stanford Clarinet Sonata op. 129 (1911)  

*Clarke and Herbert song group 
Clarke The Seal Man (Masefield)  
Clarke June Twilight (Masefield)  
Herbert  Tewkesbury Road (Masefield)  
Herbert I hear an army charging (Joyce)  
Herbert Lean out of the Window (Joyce)   
Herbert To Daffodils (Herrick)  
Clarke Sally Gardens (Yeats) 
Clarke Greeting (Ella Young)  
Herbert The Lake Isle of Innisfree (Yeats)  
Clarke Shy One (Yeats)  
Clarke The Cloths of Heaven (Yeats)  

Tickets €17.50  

Sunday 17 March 3pm | Kevin Barry Recital Room 

Finghin Collins piano 
Benjamin Russell baritone 
Sharon Carty mezzo-soprano 
Andreea Banciu viola 
ConTempo Quartet

Schumann selected songs                                
Stanford  Three selected songs from “Cushendall”                
Rebecca Clarke Viola Sonata (1919)                        
Stanford Blarney Ballads                                 
Stanford String Quartet No. 6 Op. 122 (1910)

Tickets €17.50  

From Antiquities to Modernity - Curated by Berginald Rash 

Sunday 5 May 3pm | Kevin Barry Recital Room 

Ménage à trois 

Mason, Walker, Stravinsky, Bernstein, Bartok 

Berginald Rash, clarinet
Ronald Long Jr., violin
HyeSoo Kang, piano

Sunday 19 May 3pm | Kevin Barry Recital Room

Blueprint of Modernity 

Godwin, Price, Ortiz, Perrault, Coleridge-Taylor 

Berginald Rash, clarinet
Tania Passendji, violin
Steven Crichlow, violin
Lucy Nolan, viola
Bill Butt, cello

Sunday 26 May 3pm | Kevin Barry Recital Room 

On Nostalgia, Birds and Dreams 

Larsen, Schumann, Lieberman, Kendall, Faure 

Berginald Rash, clarinet 
Laure Chan, violin 
Lucy Nolan, viola 
Peggy Nolan,cello
Billy O'Brien, piano 

Sunday 16 June 3pm | Kevin Barry Recital Room 

Bläser 

Beach, Grant Still, Higdon, Coleman, Taffanel

Matthew Higham, flute
Lorraine Hart, oboe
Berginald Rash, clarinet
Greg Crowley, bassoon
Hannah Miller, horn

Sunday 16 June 6pm | Kevin Barry Recital Room 

Dark Love 

Ravel, Coonan 

Tom Lilburn, countertenor
Sandeep Guarrapadi, tenor
Berginald Rash, clarinet
Nathan Amaral, violin
Davide Forti, cello
Annalisa Monticelli, piano

Tickets €17.50

ENDS 

Media Queries: Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-4170077/ 087-1775334 or sinead.doyle@nch.ie or Roisin Dwyer, PR & Publications Executive, National Concert Hall 01-4170077 / 086-7129628 roisin.dwyer@nch.ie