Your guide to the arts, music and more in County Wicklow Degani Trio team up with McGovern to celebrate Beethoven
THE acclaimed Degani Piano Trio will be joined by renowned actor Barry McGovern for a powerful concert entitled ‘Beethoven: Words and Music’ at Whale Theatre in Greystones.
The Degani Piano Trio return to the Whale Theatre at 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, for a performance of two of Beethoven’s Piano Trios – Op.70 No.1 in D major ‘Ghost’ and the Piano Trio Op.1 No.1 in E flat major. The much loved ‘Ghost’ Trio shows the passionate and mysterious side of Beethoven while the exuberant and joyous Piano Trio Op1 No.1 in E flat major show him in his most optimistic mood.
Beethoven’s music will be illuminated by excerpts from his letters both funny and heart-rending with narration by actor Barry McGovern.
In 2020, the world will celebrate the 250th birthday of Beethoven. This series is an exciting opportunity to explore Beethoven’s personality, his creative process and his daily life through collaboration between the artistry of the Degani Piano Trio and the pathos of Barry McGovern’s narration.
The Degani Piano Trio are an established Irish Piano Trio of distinguished musicians. It features Alan Smale on violin, Rachel Quinn on piano and Annette Cleary on cello. Their combined wealth of experience as recital artists, soloists, chamber musicians and orchestral leaders result in compellingly expressive interpretations. In past years, they have recorded CDs of piano trios by Brahms, Chopin, Piazzolla, Dvorak, and Haydn.
The trio was formed in 2015 and has performed frequently at the National Concert Hall, the Curtis Auditorium CIT and at other venues and festivals in Wicklow, Wexford, Sligo, Cork and around Ireland. They are known for their insightful and joyful interpretations of the classics.
Barry McGovern is one of Ireland’s best known stage, film and television actors and is well known for his appearances in such films as Joe versus the Volcano, Braveheart, Far and Away, the General and Citizen Lane.
He is also a prolific stage actor, a former member of the RTE players and the Abbey Theatre Company. He is regarded by many as one of the leading exponents of works by Samuel Beckett. His one man shows of I’ll Go On, Watt and First Love have toured worldwide. He played in Krapps Last Tape at the Edinburgh International Festival and Vladimar in the Beckett on Film Waiting for Godot.
Tickets are €25 or €20 concession and available at whaletheatre.ie.