Events and Tickets
National Symphony Orchestra Ireland announces Peter Whelan as Artistic Partner
National Symphony Orchestra Ireland announces Peter Whelan as Artistic Partner
Media Release: Wednesday 22 October 2025
The National Concert Hall (NCH) is pleased to announce the acclaimed Irish conductor Peter Whelan as National Symphony Orchestra Ireland Artistic Partner.
This newly created artistic role will see Peter form a close and regular working relationship with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland on an annual basis, allowing opportunity to explore repertoire of shared interest, particularly that informed by an approach rooted in, but not limited to, an historical perspective. Peter’s first concerts as Artistic Partner will take place in January and April 2026 as part of the National Concert Hall’s Spring/Summer Classical Season. In these, he will focus on works by composers ranging from Joseph Bologne and Mozart to Mendelssohn, Weber and Brahms.
Welcoming Peter Whelan’s appointment, Joe Csibi, Head of Orchestra and Chorus at the National Concert Hall, commented:
“Peter Whelan’s approach to music and music-making is filled with a great sense of joy and wonder. What truly sets Peter apart is his warmth, passion and deep care for each and every musician involved, seeing each as essential to the creative journey. This generous engagement extends also to audiences, making each concert experience unique and memorable. We recall, with great pleasure, our rich and rewarding music-making with him in recent years, works including Haydn’s The Creation and his D major Cello Concerto with Steven Isserlis as soloist, Mozart’s ‘Linz’ Symphony, Dvořák’s Serenade for Wind Instruments and Stravinsky’s Pulcinella.
“I know that National Symphony Orchestra Ireland’s adventure with Peter as Artistic Partner will be something special – an inspiring, enriching and joyful experience. We are immensely grateful for this chance to discover and create music, as if for the first time, with him and to share this with our audience.”
Speaking of his appointment, Peter Whelan commented:
“I am truly delighted and honoured to be appointed as Artistic Partner of National Symphony Orchestra Ireland. It is a privilege to collaborate with such an exceptional ensemble and to contribute to its inspiring musical journey. I look forward to creating unforgettable experiences together and sharing the transformative power of music with audiences across Ireland and beyond.”
Olivier Award-winner Peter Whelan is among the most dynamic and versatile exponents of historically informed performance of his generation. His artistic direction in live performance and the recording studio has been widely praised for its ‘rich insight, style and charisma’ (The Guardian), its ‘stylish verve’ (BBC Music Magazine), and ‘energetic yet unfailingly sensitive direction’ (Gramophone).
He is currently Artistic Director of Irish Baroque Orchestra and Curator for Early Music of Norwegian Wind Ensemble. In addition to taking up the role of Artistic Partner with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland in January 2026, he becomes Music Director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra from the 2026-2027 season and is Music Director Designate in 2025-2026.
As a conductor, Peter has a particular passion for exploring and championing neglected music from the Baroque and Classical eras. Highlights of the 2025-2026 season include the BBC Proms with Irish Baroque Orchestra, return visits to Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, Tapiola Sinfonietta and Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists.
In his first concert (Friday 23 January) as National Symphony Orchestra Ireland Artistic Partner, Peter will conduct works by Joseph Bologne, Mozart and Mendelssohn, including Mozart’s Third Violin Concerto with Ellinor D’Melon as soloist, and Mendelssohn’s ‘Scottish’ Symphony. He returns on Friday 24 April to conduct Brahms and Weber, including Weber’s First Clarinet Concerto with European Concert Hall Organisation Rising Star Carlos Ferreira as soloist, and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony.
The National Concert Hall’s Spring/Summer Classical Season will be announced on Friday 24 October at 10am. See nch.ie for full details.
Media Queries
Assumpta Lawless, Marketing & Communications Manager, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland.
Email: assumpta.lawless@nch.ie
Mobile: 087 290 4168
NOTES TO EDITORS
Peter Whelan
conductor
Olivier Award-winner Peter Whelan is among the most dynamic and versatile exponents of historically informed performance of his generation.
He is currently Artistic Director of Irish Baroque Orchestra and Curator for Early Music of Norwegian Wind Ensemble. In addition to taking up the role of Artistic Partner with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland in January 2026, he becomes Music Director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra from the 2026-2027 season and is Music Director Designate in 2025-2026.
As a conductor, Peter has a particular passion for exploring and championing neglected music from the Baroque and Classical eras. Recent engagements have included appearances with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The English Concert, Dunedin Consort, Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, Gluck’s Orfeo with San Francisco Opera, Vivaldi’s L’Olimpiade with Irish National Opera (across Ireland and the Royal Opera House, London) and Handel’s Rodelinda at Garsington Opera.
Highlights of the 2025-2026 season include an appearance at the BBC Proms with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and return visits to Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Meininger Hofkapelle, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, Tapiola Sinfonietta and Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists.
Peter’s artistic direction in live performance and the recording studio has been widely praised for its ‘rich insight, style and charisma’ (The Guardian), its ‘stylish verve’ (BBC Music Magazine), and ‘energetic yet unfailingly sensitive direction’ (Gramophone). As a champion of early music and opera, Peter represents ‘the very best of contemporary trends in bringing this music to life: flex and zest with tempi, lithe and vigorous… an incredible alertness to colours and moods summoned by the cut-and-thrust harmonic footwork of this music’ (Operawire) and ‘The English Concert and their musical director Peter Whelan brought Handel’s fabulous score to life in a performance of surpassing rhythmic energy, richly dramatic colouring and heart-breaking lyrical grace’ (The Telegraph).
Peter Whelan
National Symphony Orchestra Ireland Artistic Partner
Performances
January & April 2026
at the National Concert Hall
Friday 23 January 2026, 7.30pm
National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
Peter Whelan, conductor
Ellinor D’Melon, violin
Joseph Bologne Overture to L’Amant anonyme
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3, ‘Scottish’
Tickets: €15, €25, €29, €34.50, €39
Booking: Priority booking opens on Friday 24 October. Full public booking opens on Friday 31 October.
Friday 24 April 2026, 7.30pm
National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
Peter Whelan, conductor
Carlos Ferreira, clarinet
Brahms Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn
Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 1
Brahms Symphony No. 4
Tickets: €15, €25, €29, €34.50, €39
Booking: Priority booking opens on Friday 24 October. Full public booking opens on Friday 31 October.
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About the National Concert Hall
The National Concert Hall (NCH) is Ireland’s national cultural institution for music, proudly serving the Irish public since it opened in 1981 through live music performances and significant educational and cultural programmes. Based in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, next door to the picturesque Iveagh Gardens, the NCH is proud home to our National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, as well as providing residence for a range of other music organisations including Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Music Network, Crash Ensemble and Music Generation. It is currently planning for a major redevelopment of all facilities as part of the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040.
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Eisiúint do na Meáin: Dé Céadaoin an 22 Deireadh Fómhair 2025
Fógraíonn Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann
Peter Whelan mar Chomhpháirtí Ealaíne
Tá áthas ar an gCeoláras Náisiúnta an stiúrthóir clúiteach Éireannach Peter Whelan a fhógairt mar Chomhpháirtí Ealaíne Cheolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann.
Leis an ról ealaíne nua-chruthaithe seo, cruthóidh Peter dlúthchaidreamh oibre rialta le Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann ar bhonn bliantúil, rud a thabharfaidh deis chun stór spéise comhroinnte a iniúchadh, bunaithe go háirithe ar chur chuige atá fréamhaithe i bpeirspictíocht stairiúil, ach nach bhfuil teoranta dó. Beidh na chéad cheolchoirmeacha de chuid Peter mar Chomhpháirtí Ealaíne ar siúl i mí Eanáir agus i mí Aibreáin 2026 mar chuid de Shéasúr Clasaiceach an Earraigh/an tSamhraidh sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta. Ina measc sin, díreoidh sé ar shaothair le cumadóirí mar Joseph Bologne agus Mozart agus Mendelssohn, Weber agus Brahms.
Agus é ag cur fáilte roimh cheapachán Peter Whelan, dúirt Joe Csibi, Ceannasaí Ceolfhoirne agus Cóir sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta:
"Tá cur chuige Peter Whelan i leith an cheoil agus an cheoil a dhéanamh lán le mothúchán mór áthais agus iontais. Is é an rud a chuireann Peter ar leithligh i ndáiríre ná a chroíúlacht, a phaisean agus a chúram domhain do gach ceoltóir atá páirteach ann, ag féachaint ar gach ceann acu mar rud riachtanach don turas cruthaitheach. Síneann an rannpháirtíocht fhlaithiúil seo chuig an lucht féachana chomh maith, rud a fhágann go bhfuil gach eispéireas ceolchoirme uathúil agus cuimhneach. Cuimhnímid, le pléisiúr mór, ar an gceol saibhir agus fiúntach a rinneamar leis le blianta beaga anuas, saothair mar An Creation le Haydn agus a Cheolchoirm don Dordveidhil i mórghléas D le Steven Isserlis mar cheoltóir aonair, Siansa ‘Linz’ le Mozart, Saranáid d’Uirlisí Gaoithe le Dvořák agus Pulcinella le Stravinsky.
“Tá a fhios agam go mbeidh eachtra Cheolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann le Peadar mar Chomhpháirtí Ealaíonta ina rud speisialta – eispéireas spreagúil, saibhrithe agus lúcháireach. Táimid thar a bheith buíoch as an deis seo ceol a fhionnadh agus a chruthú leis, amhail is dá mba den chéad uair é, agus é seo a roinnt lenár lucht féachana.”
Ag labhairt dó faoina cheapachán, dúirt Peter Whelan:
“Tá fíor-áthas agus onóir orm a bheith ceaptha mar Chomhpháirtí Ealaíne Cheolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann. Is pribhléid é comhoibriú le ensemble chomh eisceachtúil sin agus cur lena aistear spleodrach ceoil. Táim ag tnúth le heispéiris dhodhearmadta a chruthú le chéile agus cumhacht chlaochlaitheach an cheoil a roinnt le lucht féachana ar fud na hÉireann agus níos faide i gcéin .”
Tá Peter Whelan, buaiteoir Ghradam Olivier, i measc na léiritheoirí is dinimiciúla agus is ildánaí dá ghlúin i réimse an taibhithe stairiúil. Tá moladh forleathan déanta ar a threo ealaíonta sa taibhiú beo agus sa stiúideo taifeadta as a ‘rich insight, style and charisma’ (The Guardian), a ‘stylish verve’ (BBC Music Magazine), agus ‘energetic yet unfailingly sensitive direction’ (Gramophone).
Faoi láthair tá sé ina Stiúrthóir Ealaíne ar Cheolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann agus ina Choimeádaí do Cheol Luath Ensemble Gaoithe na hIorua. Chomh maith le dul i mbun ról mar Chomhpháirtí Ealaíne le Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann i mí Eanáir 2026, déanfar Stiúrthóir den Cheolfhoireann Fhiolarmónach Bharócach é ón séasúr 2026-2027 agus is Stiúrthóir Ceoil Ainmnithe é in 2025 -2026.
Mar stiúrthóir, tá paisean ar leith ag Peter do cheol a rinneadh faillí ann ón ré Bharócach agus Chlasaiceach a iniúchadh agus a chur chun cinn. I measc bhuaicphointí shéasúr 2025-2026 tá Proms an BBC le Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann, cuairteanna ar ais chuig an Cheolfhoireann Fhiolarmónach Bharócach, Ceolfhoireann Aireagail na hAlban, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann, Tapiola Sinfonietta agus Cór Monteverdi agus Aonréadaithe Bharócacha Shasana.
Ina chéad cheolchoirm (Dé hAoine an 23 Eanáir) mar Chomhpháirtí Ealaíne de chuid Cheolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann, seolfaidh Peter saothair le Joseph Bologne, Mozart agus Mendelssohn, lena n- áirítear an Tríú Coinséartó Veidhlín de chuid Mozart le hEllinor D'Melon mar aonréadaí, agus Siansa ‘Albanach’ Mendelssohn. Filleann sé ar an Aoine 24 Aibreán chun Brahms agus Weber a stiúradh, lena n-áirítear an Chéad Choinséartó Clairinéid de chuid Weber le Réalt Nua Tallanach Eagraíocht Cheoláras na hEorpa Carlos Ferreira mar aonréadaí, agus an Ceathrú Siansa de chuid Brahms.
Fógrófar Séasúr Clasaiceach an Earraigh/an tSamhraidh sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta Dé hAoine 24 Deireadh Fómhair ag 10am. Féach nch.ie le haghaidh sonraí iomlána.
Ceisteanna ó na Meáin:
Assumpta Lawless, Bainisteoir Margaíochta & Cumarsáide, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann.
Ríomhphost: assumpta.lawless@nch.ie
Fón Póca: 087 290 4168
NÓTAÍ D'EAGARTHÓIRÍ
Peter Whelan
stiúrthóir
Tá Peter Whelan, buaiteoir Ghradam Olivier, i measc na léiritheoirí is dinimiciúla agus is ildánaí dá ghlúin i réimse an taibhithe stairiúil.
Faoi láthair tá sé ina Stiúrthóir Ealaíne ar Cheolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann agus ina Choimeádaí do Cheol Luath Ensemble Gaoithe na hIorua. Chomh maith le dul i mbun ról mar Chomhpháirtí Ealaíne le Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann i mí Eanáir 2026, déanfar Stiúrthóir den Cheolfhoireann Fhiolarmónach Bharócach é ón séasúr 2026-2027 agus is Stiúrthóir Ceoil Ainmnithe é in 2025 -2026.
Mar stiúrthóir, tá paisean ar leith ag Peter do cheol a rinneadh faillí ann ón ré Bharócach agus Chlasaiceach a iniúchadh agus a chur chun cinn. I measc teagmhálacha le déanaí bhí láithrithe le Ceolfhoireann Aireagail na hAlban, Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Ceolfhoireann Aireagail na hÍsiltíre, An Sinfonia Ríoga Tuaisceartach, Ceolfhoireann della Svizzera Italiana, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Kristiansand, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Lahti, Ceolfhoireann Ré na hEagnaíochta, An Cheolchoirm Shasanach, Grúpa Comhuirlisí Dunedin, Cór Monteverdi agus Aonréadaithe Barócacha Shasana, Orfeo de chuid Gluck le San Francisco Opera, L'Olimpiade Vivaldi le Ceoldrámachtaíocht Náisiúnta Éireann (ar fud na hÉireann agus an Royal Opera House, Londain) agus Rodelinda de chuid Handel ag Garsington Opera.
Tá moladh forleathan déanta ar a threo ealaíonta sa taibhiú beo agus sa stiúideo taifeadta as a ‘rich insight, style and charisma’ (The Guardian), a ‘stylish verve’ (BBC Music Magazine), agus ‘energetic yet unfailingly sensitive direction’ (Gramophone). Mar sheaimpín den luathcheol agus den cheoldráma, léiríonn Peter ‘the very best of contemporary trends in bringing this music into life: flex and zest with tempi, lithe and vigorous… an incredible alertness to colours and moods called by the cut - and -ust harmonic footwork of this music’ (Operawire) agus ‘The English Concert and their musical director Peter Whelan brought Handel's fabulous score to a performance of surpassing rhythmic energy, richly dramatic coloring and heart - breaking lyrical grace’ (The Telegraph).
Peter Whelan
Comhpháirtí Ealaíne Cheolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann
Taibhithe
Eanáir & Aibreán 2026
sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta
Dé hAoine 23 Eanáir 2026, 7.30pm
Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann
Peter Whelan, stiúrthóir
Ellinor D’Melon, veidhlín
Joseph Bologne réamhcheol do L'Amant anonyme
Mozart Coinséartó Veidhlín Uimh. 3
Mendelssohn Siansa Uimh. 3, ‘Albanach’
Ticéid: €15, €25, €29, €34.50, €39
Áirithint: Osclaítear áirithint tosaíochta Dé hAoine an 24 Deireadh Fómhair. Osclaítear áirithint phoiblí iomlán Dé hAoine an 31 Deireadh Fómhair.
Dé hAoine 24 Aibreán 2026, 7.30pm
Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann
Peter Whelan, stiúrthóir
Carlos Ferreira, clairinéad
Leagan Brahms ar Théama Joseph Haydn
Weber Coinséartó Clairinéid Uimh. 1
Brahms Siansa Uimh. 4
Ticéid: €15, €25, €29, €34.50, €39
Áirithint: Osclaítear áirithint tosaíochta Dé hAoine an 24 Deireadh Fómhair. Osclaítear áirithint phoiblí iomlán Dé hAoine an 31 Deireadh Fómhair.
(críoch)
Faoin gCeoláras Náisiúnta
Is é an Ceoláras Náisiúnta institiúid náisiúnta chultúrtha na hÉireann don cheol, a fhreastalaíonn go bródúil ar phobal na hÉireann ó osclaíodh é i 1981 trí thaibhithe ceoil beo agus cláir shuntasacha oideachais agus chultúrtha. Lonnaithe i gcroílár Bhaile Átha Cliath, agus béal dorais le Gairdíní Uíbh Eachach, tá an Ceoláras Náisiúnta bródúil as Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann, chomh maith le háit chónaithe a chur ar fáil do réimse eagraíochtaí ceoil eile lena n-áirítear Cór Aireagail Éireann, Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann, Music Network, Crash Ensemble agus Music Generation.Tá sé i gceist faoi láthair athfhorbairt mhór a dhéanamh ar na háiseanna go léir mar chuid den Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta agus de Thionscadal Éireann 2040.
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