CLASSICAL Baroque classics out in force
Bangor Abbey/Bardic Theatre Tonight/tomorrow, 7.30/8pm
The Ulster Orchestra is presenting two baroque favourites this evening and tomorrow night – JS Bach’s dazzling Concerto for Two Violins, and the same composer’s famous Brandenburg Concerto No 3, led by the Ulster Orchestra’s Associate Leader, Ioana Petcu-Colan (violin).
The first concert is on tonight in Bangor Abbey, beginning at 7.30pm, and the second concert is on tomorrow night at the Bardic Theatre, Donaghmore, beginning at 8pm.
To complete an evening of music perfect for a summer evening, the Ulster Orchestra will also include Tchaikovsky’s ever-popular Souvenir de Florence.
Tickets cost £6/£10 and are available locally, or you can visit www.ulsterorchestra.org.uk for more information. Warrenpoint Town Hall Thursday, 8pm
Newry Chamber Music presents a midsummer concert on Thursday, featuring resident ensemble the Fews Ensemble and internationally renowned Irish soprano Maire Flavin
The programme includes Berlioz’s song cycle for soprano and piano, Nuits d’ete (Summer Nights), and the rarely performed chamber version of Mahler’s magnificent Symphony No 4. Originally scored for a full symphony orchestra, this work was brilliantly transcribed for 13 musicians and soprano by the Austrian musician Erwin Stein in 1921 for the Society of Private Musical Performances in Vienna.
Tickets cost £15/£5. For further information, visit www. newrychambermusic.com.
Rathcol
It’s been a year brimming with box-office successes so far, but the best is yet to come in the world of film. As the days get warmer, the evenings lighter and the kids look forward to school holidays, the summer blockbusters start arriving, so get the popcorn ready — here are the silver-screen epics you won’t want to miss.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP When’s it out? What can we expect?
June 29.
Avengers: Infinity War took the world by storm earlier this year, but the small yet mighty Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) was notably missing from the action. As usual with films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the exact plot details are secret. What we do know is that this latest adventure will see Rudd’s character, Scott Lang, struggling to balance life as a father with his superhero duties as Ant-Man, especially when he and The Wasp (Michelle Pfeiffer) are faced with a dangerous mission. Bring it on.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION
When’s it out?
What can we expect?
July 27.
An-all star cast lend their voices to this family comedy (inset) — we’re talking Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez and Steve Buscemi. This time, the animation revolves around the monsters embarking on a cruise ship for a nice summer holiday. What could possibly go wrong? Well, when Mavis (Gomez) realises Drac (Sandler) has fallen for the ship’s mysterious captain, all hell breaks loose — turns out all of monsterkind are at risk. Yikes.
OCEAN’S 8
When’s it out? What can we expect?
June 22.
There’s been serious excitement surrounding this all-female reboot of the Ocean’s franchise — and rightly so. The fun heist flick follows Sandra Bullock’s Debbie Ocean (that’s the sister of George Clooney’s character from the original films) upon her release from jail. She’s soon up to no good again, thanks to the help of a team of criminal masterminds who happen to be played by some of Hollywood’s biggest names — Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson and Helena Bonham Carter. Oh, and Rihanna is in it too.
THE DARKEST MINDS
When’s it out? September 14. What can we expect? Okay, you might argue summer will be long gone by September, but this is the next big thing when it comes to adaptations of young adult novels. Amandla Stenberg (inset), who you’ll know as Rue in The Hunger Games, leads the cast as Ruby, who, thanks to supernatural abilities, has managed to survive in a dystopian world where disease has killed 98% of America’s children. After the government fear her superpowers are dangerous, Ruby, and other teens like her, are imprisoned — and we have an edge-ofour-seats thriller on our hands.
THE EQUALIZER 2
When’s it out? What can we expect?
August 17.
Denzel Washington is back as crime-fighting Robert McCall in a sequel to the 2014 box-office hit which saw him take down a notorious Russian gang. This time, the fight gets personal, following the death of an old friend. And, yet again, retired CIA operative McCall won’t give up until his mission to bring the bad guys down is completed. This is what you call non-stop action.
THE INCREDIBLES 2 When’s it out? What can we expect?
July 13.
It’s the Disney Pixar film we have all been waiting for, right? Fourteen years since the The Incredibles, the action begins right where we left it — Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson) has taken a step back from his role as Mr Incredible to look after the kids, including super-powerful baby JackJack. But don’t worry, his sassy wife Helen, aka Elastigirl (bottom), voiced by Holly Hunter, is still saving the world. This may look like a kids’ film, but it will be totally acceptable for adults to enjoy every minute too.
THE MEG
When’s it out? What can we expect?
August 10.
A shark. A very, very big shark. Jason Statham (right) plays a rescue diver tasked with saving the crew of a deepsea submersible which has been attacked by a 75-footlong prehistoric creature, a Megalodon, which was thought to be extinct but definitely isn’t. Warning: if Jaws left you with nightmares, The Meg sounds like it’s going to be even scarier. Orange Is The New Black’s Ruby Rose also stars.
THE PREDATOR When’s it out?
14.
September
What can we expect?
Another terrifying instalment in this much-loved series, which launched in
1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leader of a US special forces team attacked by an alien. The trailer shows former marine Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) encountering a terrifying mythical monster after investigating a spaceship crash, with Olivia Munn as a doctor who helps the hunted McKenna in his battle for survival.
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN When’s it out?
What can we expect?
July 20.
Abba fans, get tuning those vocal chord. A decade since the comedy musical Mamma Mia, it’s time for a sequel. Songs this time around include Angel Eyes, I Wonder and When I Kissed The Teacher. The scenery is just as spectacular (they filmed in Croatia this time) and Cher even makes an appearance. Meanwhile, much of the original cast are back, including Amanda Seyfried as a now-pregnant Sophie learning about her mother’s past, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and, of course, Meryl Streep. What’s not to love?
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — FALLOUT When’s it out?
26.
July
A whole load of crazy stunts. You’ll remember Tom Cruise broke his ankle jumping across buildings (left) while filming scenes for this movie — the sixth in the series — in London last year, and we’ve also seen clips of him dangling in the air from a helicopter over New Zealand. Other than the fact the past comes back to haunt Cruise’s character, Agent Ethan Hunt, as he and his IMF team try to prevent nuclear terrorism, we don’t know much about the storyline. But one thing’s for sure — 22 years since the first Mission: Impossible film, Cruise still gets pulses racing.
What can we expect?