A touch of class in town
FRESH FROM THE MOST SUCCESSFUL FLEADH EVER, PAULINE ASHWOOD TELLS ALISON COMYN ABOUT THE LINE-UP FOR THE DROGHEDA CLASSICAL MUSIC SERIES
IF you ever needed an example of how dreaming big can achieve results, look no further than the line- up for the Drogheda Classical Music Series 2019/ 2020. In the true spirit of ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’, director Pauline Ashwood has managed to secure an Irish debut performance of a royal favourite, as well as opportunities to learn from some of the world’s finest musicians and bright young stars in unique and intimate masterclasses.
And such is the reputation this still-fresh event has; even world-renowned performers are contacting her to get on the bill!
From late September to the first months of 2020, audiences in Drogheda, and all over Ireland and the world, can enjoy the finest artists in the most beautiful and historic settings that our town has to offer.
“Preparations can start 18 months in advance, or even two years in the case of Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero, whom I had originally asked in 2017, and a date became available for her in early 2020, so I booked her straight away,’ says Pauline, whose passion and enthusiasm for all things classical is infectious. “I put that on the back burner for a bit, knowing I had that secured, and then another piano opportunity arose - we have this Steinway (in St Peter’s Church of Ireland), which we need to celebrate as often as possible – and I wanted to start the season with a pianist and I’m delighted to have one of the best.”
This year’s series kicks off on Friday September 27th, with a special appearance by Cambridge-born pianist Leon McCawley, who has forged a highly successful career since winning first prize in the 1993 International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna and second prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition the same year.
Since then, his concert performances and extensive discography have established him as a pianist of great integrity and variety, bringing freshness and vitality to Classical, Romantic and 20th century repertoire.
“He’s a phenomenal pianist, whom I had heard of many years ago, and then he got in contact with me, and he had heard this was happening in Ireland, asked could he come, so it worked out that he was going to open it,” says Pauline proudly.
The award-winning pianist was last seen in Ireland in January taking part in Music for Galway’s Midwinter Festival, and just last week, made his sixth appearance at the BBC Proms in London. He opens the season with a solo recital of a programme including music by Haydn, Schumann, Brahms, and Hans Gál.
His concert programme will include Haydn Sonata in G major Hob. XVI/40, Schubert Sonata in C minor D. 958, Schumann Abegg Variations Op. 1, Hans Gál Three Sketches Op. 6, Brahms 4 Klavierstücke Op. 119 and Chopin Polonaise-Fantasie Op. 61.
One of the highlights of the series – and one for which tickets will fly out the door – is the young cellist who became a household name when he played at the wedding of Prince Harry and his bride Meghan Markle in 2018.
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason makes his Irish debut in Drogheda on Thursday October 24th, in what is bound to be one of the most successful of this year’s series (see panel).
Just a fortnight later on Friday November 15th, the internationally acclaimed Navarra String Quartet appear in a concert themed Love & Death, performing works by Turina, Kurtag, Puccini, and Schubert’s famous string Quartet Death and the Maiden.
The quartet has built an international reputation as one of the most dynamic and poetic string quartets of today, and as winners of countless, notable competitions and awards, this is their first performance in Drogheda which is presented in association with the National String Quartet Foundation.
“So many of our visiting artists comment of the beauty of St Peter’s Church of Ireland as a venue, where unlike a concert hall, it is intimate, and you can see people’s faces and how they are enjoying the performance, and of course, the acoustics are wonderful,” explains Pauline. “The first half of this performance will be short work, exploring the themes of love and death, and the second half, a very well-known Schubert works.”
This is followed on February 23rd by an appearance by the great Venezuelan pianist and humanitarian Gabriela Montero, who will perform a solo recital to include some of her signature improvisations before the season draws to a close with the quintets for piano and winds by Mozart and Beethoven featuring a stellar line up of Irish and international musicians.
“If you haven’t ever been to one of the concerts, you will be pleasantly surprised, because as well as maybe experiencing some new music you may never had heard before, it’s a night out, that isn’t five or six hours, and you’re right in the heart of the town, so can make a night of it.”
All concerts take place in St Peter’s Church of Ireland and begin at 7.30pm with a pre-concert talk at 7pm.
Tickets remain at an affordable €19 / €17 conc when booked in advance or €20 / €18 on the door, with a student / child ticket still at just €5. A series ticket for all events, including eight main evening concerts is just €110. Booking through Droichead Arts Centre on 041 9833946 or www.droichead.com with further information available from www.droghedaclassicalmusic.com
The series is funded by the Arts Council and Louth County Council.