Con Brio concert to feature Verdi, Gershwin, Paganini and Piazzolla

CLASSICAL music concerts are often perceived to be formal, stiff, straitlaced affairs – serious music played by serious people in serious places. Over the years Con Brio has worked hard to change that perception by making their Sligo concerts relaxed, pleasurable and convivial occasions where the focus is primarily on enjoying excellent music performed by exceptional musicians. One ensemble who embody this informal approach to the fullest are The Far Flung Trio who make a welcome return to Sligo this Sunday afternoon.

The Far Flung Trio comprises violinist Katherine Hunka, accordionist Dermot Dunne and double bassist Malachy Robinson. Katherine’s day job is leader of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and her duo with accordionist Dermot Dunne has been active in Ireland since 2007 when they toured in China with the ICO.

In 2014 they were joined by double-bassist Malachy Robinson and the trio has performed extensively around Ireland since then.

An exceptional musician, Katherine studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Gyorgy Park. Her debut at London’s Wigmore Hall, with pianist Sophia Rahman, gained critical acclaim.

She performed the world première of Britten’s re-discovered Double Concerto for Violin and Viola with Philip Dukes at the 1997 Aldeburgh Festival. She was a co-founder

Dermot Dunne, Katharine Hunka and Malachy Robinson.

member of the Britten Ensemble and she was appointed leader of the Irish Chamber Orchestra in 2002.

Dermot has performed in all major Irish venues and festivals including the National Concert Hall, Vicar Street, Belfast Opera House as well as The BBC Last Night at the Proms. He has appeared as special guest in concerts given by such diverse acts as The Blind Boys of Alabama, Irish

traditional group Altan and Welsh operatic star Katherine Jenkins. Malachy Robinson is a colleague of Katherine in the ICO as well as having his own groups The Gregory Walkers and the Robinson Panoramic Quartet. He performs with period instrument orchestras, chamber music ensembles and is a member of the Crash Ensemble.

These musicians bring their experience over an extensive range of repertoire to their trio programmes, drawing audiences into their performances through their exuberance and joviality.

A recent review in The Irish Examiner gives a flavour of the atmosphere The Far Flung Trio creates: “The trio’s enthusiasm and sense of enjoyment in what they were doing simply oozed from the stage and the audience loved it. This was not a ‘recital’ in the normal sense, it was more in the nature of a ‘session’ that one might hear in a very select pub or even a performance at a Fleadh Cheoil.

“The players arrived in their street clothes (no attempt at formal ‘concert dress’) and proceeded to entertain us with an astonishing variety of music, some familiar, played with a huge sense of joy, and performed with outstanding virtuosity.”

The Trio’s programme for this concert includes the overture to Verdi’s opera Force of Destiny, a trio version of Paganini’s Caprice No. 24, widely considered one of the most difficult pieces ever written for solo violin. It also includes a medley of Edith Piaf tunes, three pieces by George Gershwin (Someone to Watch Over Me, Lady be Good, I Got Rhythm), a gorgeous piece by famous Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk and Irving Berlin’s Puttin’ on the Ritz.

The finale, Libertango, is one of Astor Piazzolla’s most well-known and instantly recognizable compositions, with infectious rhythms that embody the spirit and excitement of the tango. What better way to spend an autumn Sunday afternoon. This concert takes place at 3pm. Tickets for this concert which takes place in The Model cost €20/€10 for students and they can be obtained from The Model, phone 071 9141405 or go online at www. themodel.ie.