Lunchtimes in St Iberius will showcase international talent
THE LUNCHTIME RECITALS are a popular part of the daytime festival programme, allowing people to hear principal artists performing their favourite repertoire in the intimate and atmospheric setting of St Iberius Church on the Main Street.
Una Hunt, Ireland’s leading authority on Irish composers whose music has been largely forgotten or neglected, will present the Thomas Moore Songbook, a programme of Moore’s Irish melodies in the historic church at 1.05pm on Thursday, October 20, and Saturday, October 28.
Taking part will be the soprano Sinéad Campbell Wallace and tenor Andrew Gavin with Ms Hunt on piano.
On Saturday, October 21, the American tenor Andrew Stenson who is appearing in Margerita on the festival main stage, will give a recital, accompanied by Tina Chang on piano.
On Tuesday, October 24, the Ukrainian baritome Yuriy Yurchuk, also starring in Margherita will be accompanied by Andrea Grant on piano.
On Wednesday, October 25, the Italian baritone Matteo D’Apolito, another Margherita cast member, will sing some of his favourite music, with Carmen Santoro on piano.
On Thursday, October 26, Irish opera artists including soprano Rachel Croash, tenor Patrick Hyland and baritone Rory Musgrave will give a recital, accompanied by Derbhla Collins on piano.
On Friday, October 27, the American bass Adam Lau who is appearing in Medea, will perform at lunch-time, accompanied by Andrea Grant on piano.
On Monday, October 30, the Spanish soprano Ruth Iniesta, starring in Medea, will give a lunch-time performance, accompanied on piano by Giorgio D’Alonzo.
On Wednesday, November 1, the French soprano Anne Sophie Duprels who is singing in Risurrezione, will be accompanied by Stephen Barlow on piano.
On Thursday, Nobember 2, the Italian mezzo-soprano Raffaella Lupinacci and baritone Filippo Fontana appearing in Medea and Margherita respectively, will give a lunch-time performance with Giorgio D’Alonzo on piano.
On Friday, November 3, the Italian mezzo-soprano Alessandra Volpe who is playing the title role in Margherita, will sing in St Iberius Church with Tina Chang on piano.
On Saturday, November 4, the Austrian tenor Gerard Schneider who is in Risurrezionne will be acompanied by Andrea Grant on piano.
A special daytime package for €65 includes a Lunchtime Recital or Thomas Moore Songbook concert with lunch and a ShortWorks opera. Seating is allocated for all performances, which start at 1.05pm each day.
Meanwhile, one of Ireland’s most successful pianists, Dubliner Finghin Collins will perform a piano recital in the O’Reilly Theatre in the National Opera House on bank holiday Monday, October 30, at 11am.
Having studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music with John O’Connor and the Geneva Conservatoire with Dominique Merlet, Finghin went on to win awards in Ireland and ultimately achieved great international success by taking first prize at the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland in 1999. Since then he has developed a flourishing international career.