Far Flung Trio at the Theatre Royal

Malachy Robinson : The Far Flung Trio Tour 2016 from Culturefox.tv on Vimeo.

Bach Sonata no 2 in A major
Kreisler La Folia Variations
Klezmer tunes inc Hava Nagi
Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody
Bach Toccata & Fugue in D minor acc solo
Piazzola Two Tangos arr Wiebecke-Gottstein
C&W no Why Did You Leave Me
Edith Piaf La Vie en Rose Hymne l'Amour. L'Accordeoniste
Offenbach Overture to Orpheus
Encore: Cinema Paradiso theme Morricone

The Far Flung Trio finished their 2016 tour at the Theatre Royal, Waterford last night where they presented an eclectic entertaining set of repertoire. The bijou dimensions of the Victorian theatre suited the compact ensemble. The acoustic was fine and no amplification was required. Most of it worked very well. The folk origins of Liszt's  Hungarian Rhapsody were more apparent than in the virtuoso piano version. Dunne's arrangement of a famous Bach toccata reminded us that the accordion is essentially a portable organ. The only number that left me wanting more was the one that the trio did not arrange themselves. Piazzola demands the wheeze of a plaintive  reed evoking the spirit of an Argentinian  bandoneon. Spirited as the string duo rendition was , it lacked that vital colour. Robinson, a recent addition to the Hunka/ Dunne  duo proved his versatility in adding a vocals to a Buck Owens Country & Western number and a devilish  triangle to the Offenbach.

Too late to catch them on this tour but Theatre Royal has booked another chamber ensemble for April 16th. The Esposito Quartet with members drawn from the Irish Chamber Orchestra and RTE CO will perform work by their namesake, Schubert and Haydn.
http://www.theatreroyal.ie/events/esposito

More chamber music  recitals in March April via Waterford-Music who present Trio di Parma  and Chloe Hanslip with  Danny Driver upstairs in the Georgian Large Room. 

 

 

Mystery Man Paul Tiernan at the Coastguard Station

The name of singer songwriter Paul Tiernan was hitherto unknown to me. The poster pic of the artist in top hat and false music hall moustache suggested a performer with a theatrical sensibility and the addition of violinist Marja Gaynor, a major mover and shaker on the classical scene in Cork suggested a performer of some substance. The duo drew an near capacity house to the upstairs gallery at Tramore Coastguard Station on Friday night for a programme of bittersweet, elegant self penned songs (with a few covers) infused with the spirit of French chanson

A skilful player, Tiernan at times used his guitar like a percussion instrument, tapping the strings to release an eerie floating harmonic. His dark wry lyrics and appealing melodies reminded me at times of Randy Newman and Gilbert O Sullivan. He was wonderfully well-aided and abetted by the Gaynor who added mellifluous lines and Grapelli-esque riffs on violin. The whiff of a boulevard was evoked with interludes on a demonic melodica and drones on a gaudy concertina. Gaynor displayed her penchant for early music with a rumbustious Baroque partita.

Local lass, Anna McSweeney was in fine voice accompanying herself on guitar in a short supporting set.

A look through Tienan's biography shows an impressive music pedigree name checking big names among his  collaborators and citing excellent reviews from international music press.  He is promoting his 6th solo album, The Mystery of Others on this tour. If you've not heard him yet, let Paul Tiernan be a mystery to you no longer.  Do catch him on the remaining dates on this tour.


Thurs 25th Feb  White Horse Inn Ballincollig with Grainne Hunt and Marja Gaynor

Thurs 3rd March Hole in the Wall Kilkenny  with Marja Gaynor

Sunday 20th De Barras Clonakilty with The Vespertine Quartet
 

Joey Whelan & El Sombrero at the Copper Coast

 

It was a mucky, rain sodden night  in the South East on Saturday but there was slow release  of sunshine  over an evening of music , food, wine and chat at the Copper Coast Centre in the Waterford seaside village of Bonmahon.
It was my first trip to the centre, part of a UNESCO Global Geopark no less! The history of the  Bonmahon copper mining industry featured in a film shown at the Imagine Arts Festival in 2013and featured on this blog post Bonmahon copper minining on film . The centre housed in a converted church, makes for a convivial  performing space. We sat at long tables  under a vaulted timber ceiling sipping tempranillo . There are arched timber doors, a stone wall lining and a little bar in one corner.

The heat of a Spanish sun was conjured from a guitar by the fingers of Joey Whelan in two sets of works by Tarrega, Piazzola, Villa Lobos, Granados, Scarlatti, Albeniz and others, all performed from memory. Whelan added spoken programme notes and his performance was assured, very polished and quite enthralling.








The event was associated with West Waterford Food Festival and opened with an address from the chairman. There was food for body as well as the soul as during the interval,  Mexican nibbles were  served courtesy of  El Sombrero who operate out of Dunhill Eco Park.

It was an evening of many parts that combined to make a memorable  occasion. It was extraordinary, that while many live music events struggle to attract an audience, in this  relatively  remote part of West Waterford quite a way from any major conurbation,  on a miserable rainy evening, there was a audience of 50 patrons gathered. John Galloway was a gracious MC and  sombreros  off to Copper Coast manager, Catherine Kavanagh on a fabulous PR job.

El Sombrero: Javier Garduno & Michelle Comerford

Irish Chamber Orchestra at the Mansion House

When I look back on my career one of the great joys will have been this chance to work with Gábor Takács-Nagy. He's a consummate musician!

— Ailish Tynan (@AilishTynanEire) February 11, 2016

Pergolesi Salve Regina in C minor
Haydn from The Seven Last Words of Christ Introduzione: Maestoso ed Adagio Mozart Kommet her ihr frechen Suender KV 146
Haydn from The Seven Last Words of Christ Il Terremoto (The Earthquake)
Schubert Salve Regina D676
Schubert String Quartet in D minor D810 Death and the Maiden

The Irish Chamber Orchestra tried out a new  venue for their Dublin concert this week. moving into town from their more usual base at the RDS and bypassing the salubrious portals of the  NCH where I heard them last. There was a near capacity crowd and a lively buzz at The Round Room at the Mansion House. I almost got caught with the 7.30pm  start time and soprano Ailish Tynan was just finishing her introduction as I took my seat.

The room is a very large circular, domed space  and  the orchestra were placed at floor level at one end. While the acoustic is not as good as other venues I have heard them play in, it was in many respects, a more satisfying  evening. As soon as I could, I moved to an empty seat in the front row. Not only did this dramatically improve the sound effect but it was  a joy to watch conductor Gabor Takács Nagy direct his forces and observe the  rapport between him and the excellent soloist. Ailish Tynan's performance had a chamber music  sensibility,  her glorious  voice blending  like another instrument with the strings rather than soaring above them.  Mahler's arrangement of Schubert's string quartet, Death and the Maiden was vivid and exciting.

Audience and performers mingled during the interval. We met our soloist, Ms Tynan, in an aisle cooing over a very well behaved guide dog.  Des Keogh was  there to support his daughter, Oonagh. The German ambassador was in the house and  the Lady Mayoress attended wearing  her chain of office.

As always from the ICO there was superb musicianship and clearly great empathy between conductor and ensemble and it was pleasant to be in the city centre.  I would like to see the ICO experiment with the room, perhaps placing the ensemble in the centre with the audience placed around them. I would suggest making a bee line for the seats nearest the musicians for best  acoustic experience.





 

McLoughlin & McCarney at Tramore Coastguard Station

Treeline encored at Tramore Coastguard Station

Tony McLoughlin Singer songwriter

Tramore Coastguard Station has a marvellous location perched on the cliff at  the seaside town with a view of the sweep of Tramore bay. A café operates on the ground floor and the upper floor houses an art gallery and hosts occasional music gigs. The venue  offers a chatter free alternative to the pub and patrons are free to byob. To date I have heard veteran balladeer, Andy Irvine ,  the inimitable Francie White and his Omega 3 (plus 1) here and last night, songwriter Tony McLouglin held court at the venue joined by ace guitarist, Mick McCarney. McLoughlin  in jeans and cowboy boots and with a languid drawl in his mellow vocal delivery had an air of Nashville denizen in his rugged stage presence. The songs were good in a bluesy, country vein and easy on the ear. McLoughlin's set was much enhanced by Mick McCarney's skilful guitar obligados and interludes. The late Brian O Donnell was remembered in a dedication and  another  to local Green candidate Grace O Sullivan who was in the house.  Here is the PR blurb.

'The Irish performer and songwriter Tony McLoughlin has created a catalogue of literate songs that shine a spotlight in the dark corners of our real lives, while at the same time blending elements of country,folk,americana,and rock into his overall sound.His lived-in voice and captivating melodies can take you places you’ve never been before.’         (Hotpress Magazine).
http://www.tonymcloughlin.com/
Tony will be joined by Guitarist Mick McCarney who began his professional career in music in the 80’s playing with Donegal soul funk band ‘Quarterdeck’. He has since played with the likes of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. ‘Naked Lunch'(Steely Dan Tribute band), Dolores Keane, Chiara Browne and Ben Reel.

While this was a good gig from a musical point of view, the paucity of audience did not help to create a lively ambiance or indeed can not have made it a profitable evening for the artists. Munster Express arts critic made these comments on the Tramore arts scene in a recent review '


'When this newspaper ran its Arts & Theatre look back at 2015, I had some emails from Tramore people who deplored the fact that I had not included the 'vibrant art community' at the Coast Guard Arts Centre. Looking back over my diary I found I had not received an invite from the Coast Guard Centre for months and I had thought it was going the way of some arts organisations. Apparently, I am no longer on their information or mailing/invite lists.

I have noticed that since arts events went from 'Arts Service' funding to a catch-all 'Tourism Development' funding, things seem to have deteriorated in Tramore.

I think the Coastguard Station is a great venue offering advantages over a pub setting but audiences will need to be wooed to this alternative in a concerted effort by  both the artists and the venue promoter.

Next week Paul Tiernan is joined by the fab Finnish violinist Marja Gaynor for a gig on Friday 19th . It looks very promising. https://www.facebook.com/paultiernanmusic

 

A Gem: Pearl Fishers Live in HD

No print slot this time  for this review of a recent Met Live in HD broadcast. It was quite a sociable occasion with a large attendance. The front of house team, under Peter Shanahan at the Odeon Waterford did a good job distributing a synopsis to all and there was even cake in the interval. Prosecco next week please:)

Next in the diary: Puccini's  Turandot

Review: The Pearl

Nadir's Aria from Bizet's The Pearl Fishers - Met lIve in HD from Larry Murray on Vimeo.

Fishers Met Live in HD Odeon Waterford ****

The Met production of  Les Pecheurs de Perles broadcast on Saturday drew a larger audience than usual to the Odeon in Waterford. To date, only Lehar’s Merry Widow has proved to have more pulling power than Bizet’s exotic potboiler based on a love triangle between rival fishermen and a Hindu priestess. The opera hasn’t been performed at The Met for a century and its’ ‘rarity’ tag earned it a slot at Wexford in 1971. Beyond one lollipop, would there be enough to sustain us over an evening?

Curtain up revealed a mesmerizing underwater tableau where three aerialists simulate diving for pearls, a triumph of modern stage machinery and the art of video projection. This coup-de-theatre gave way to an intriguing set - a ramshackle waterside village on stilts crammed with a chorus in oriental peasant costume.  The muted hues were brightened with twinkling lights set on many levels and depths.  The familiar operatic duet, ‘Au fond du temple  powerfully sung by the well matched hunky duo, baritone, Mariusz Kwiecien and tenor, Matthew Polenzani as friends and rivals, Zurga and Nadir. Leila (Diana Damrau) glides in by boat to take up the position of village vestal virgin.  The stand out moment was when Nadir, alone on stage reveals that despite an oath, he and Leila have had a liaison and in je crois entendre encore, he sings an aria of rapture and yearning with such tenderness and superb  high pianissimos that you could sense the audience melt.

They resume their romance but are discovered. Leila’s lapse is blamed for a tempest and both are condemned to death.  Zurga relents and contrives to allow their escape. The Act 3 grimy office looks like the set of a Cold War drama and seems at odds with the rest of the production.

With a superb cast and stunning visual effects, the tension was maintained over 2 ½ hours. The Met Orchestra under Noseda gave a convincing account of Bizet’s score. There are many rare operas that one is glad to see once. I ‘d like to see this one again and it got a thumbs up from the Waterford audience. Brief blips in transmission reminded us of the power and fragility of the technology allowing us to share the thrills of a great house with our transatlantic counterparts. With a tea-time slot, we were home in time for MOTD. 

Broadcast on RTE LyricFM on Jan 16^th available on www.rte.ie/LyricFM

Next Met LIve in HD  transmission  via Classical Arts Ireland Puccini Turandot Jan 30^th

 

 

Project Opera: The Dead

Looking at the line up of offerings at Dublin theatres, there is a paucity of new work as programmers return to the classics with Wilde at the Gate and Shaw at the Abbey. There was a fresh approach  to a theatrical presentation of work by  James Joyce. A new operatic setting of the short story The Dead  went down very well at the Project Arts Centre at the opening night on Wednesday. There was a good regional representation of arts folk in the full house. This is a very neat production with a octet of singers and string players that should travel very comfortable to summer festivals.

Read a review of opening night here.




 

Classy Finnish at the Bello Bar

       Lisa Dowdall John O Brien                                                                                    photo Juraj Jablonka

Kaleidoscope, the monthly classical music salon  has moved to a new base at The Bello Bar at Portobello, Dublin. There was a big Cork contingent in the line up last Wednesday for an evening with a strong Finnish flavour.

Marja Gaynor presided as well as playing violin and viola. We heard Lisa Dowdall play Sibelius' Valse Triste on viola accompanied by John O Brien. John played a charming waltz by Merikanto.  There were polskas from a viola duo and Baltic Folk inspired jazz from a quartet with Carolyn Goodwin and Franco Turrisi.

Most intriguing was a preview of a brand new opera by John O Brien based on Wilde's story, The Nightingale and the Rose with singers Camilla Griehsel and Mark Chambers. It is hoped that it will come to production in The Everyman in 2017.  I look forward to it.

Winterval Tree

Waterford City Centre has been transformed for a fourth year running into a Winter wonderland with all the seasonal trappings of jollity. There are carousels,  ferris wheels, swing boats and jingle bell clad shire horses. My favourite thing in Winterval is the singing tree, a tiered platform camouflaged with seasonal greenery.  On Sunday, Storm Desmond yielded briefly to allow a mild and pleasant afternoon when  the ladies and gentlemen of the excellent Barrack Street Concert Band under their director Mark Fitzgerald entertained us with a festive collection. The Band are a treasured institution who work harder than other ensemble to add a musical grace to many civic occasions. They are mighty. Have a listen to their closing number, Christmas Collage  in the audioboom

If you missed them, they will be repeating the programme, in Ballybricken next week. Check with www.winterval.ie for details.

Click on the arrow to hear the BSCB play Christmas Collage

 

Sturm and Drang: Messiah in Limerick

 'Yet once a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea and the dry land

I made it through the wind and rain of Storm Desmond to join the orchestra of  Limerick Choral Union  for their biennial performance of Handel's Messiah - a truly glorious endeavour and one to savour and delight in with a sold out house at UCH. Soloists on this occasion were Jean Wallace, Martha Bredin , Patrick Hyland and John Molloy.

'I want seething and spitting and  none of your niceness' said Malcolm Green as he urged his choristers on to emphasise the elements of sturm and drang in a text. What a thrill to experience the force field that is bass John Molloy as he sang of darkness covering the earth, raging nations and hell raising trumpets. This voice has the heft at the bottom  to make you tremble



 He tells me he has three more Messiah engagements this season, one of which is in Halle, Saxony, the birthplace of Handel. On closer inspection, I note that,not only are there three Irish singers in the line up of the Happy Birthday Haendel -Messiah in Halle but also a familiar figure at the helm in Prionnsías O Duinn who has had this gig for the last nine years, I gather. This has to be at the classiest end of the Sing it Yourself Messiah's available. If you fancy it, you can sign up for the waiting list for the 2016 festival. (My report on a trip to Halle here)

Closer to home, you can sign up to Come and Sing Messiah favourite choruses at St Mary's Cathedral with Peter Barley on Sat 23rd April.

Related Posts Report LCU Messiah  2011 http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2011/12/limericks-handel-for-president.html