Natalie Clein in New Ross

I heard Natalie Clein interviewed on Pat Kenny on Wednesday and was delighted to catch this celebrated cellist in New Ross last night. We arrived just time after a little trouble finding the right church. (New Ross has two churches bearing the name of Mary and our one was on top of a hill). The solo Bach was wonderful and the Piazzola numbers accompanied by guitar worked very well. The words 'specially commissioned ' can strike dread into the heart of many listeners accustomed to linking the term with 'squeaky gate' music, but at least the information that it was twelve minutes long was useful. Good programme notes had lots of interesting information on the pieces.

There was a very good turnout, but the performance was somewhat marred by some rather loud,uninhibited, raspy coughing from a young man who I think might have done better to stay out at home out of the cold for the night.

Virtuoso guitarist Gerry Power and anchor man of Powers Bar Sessions the from Dunmore East was in audience. We also met soprano, Roisin O Grady from Tramore, herself a touring artist with Music Network

CDS Term Resumes

Classes begin again at 34 Willsgrove on April 13th

Classes conclude 15th June

Exams take place 1st June

End of year concert mid June

Fleischmann Lecture by Michael Murphy

Municipal Lecture
Mary Immaculate College Limerick

Dr Michael Murphy
‘virtuosity, vehemence, vigour’: Fleischmann the composer

Monday, 19 April at 8pm in Room G08, MIC.

There will be a short performance of Fleischmann’s music afterwards in the college chapel where Colette Davis will conduct the ‘Voices of Limerick'

Music of Grief Stabat Mater

On Good Friday, I took a break from the Easter duties with the hard working Ennis Cathedral Choir to join Limerick Choral Union and Orchestra as a violist for their Easter concert featuring the Stabat Mater by Karl Jenkins. Conductor Malcolm Greene had assembled a range of forces to deliver a memorable performance of this very moving work. It was my first experience of playing a work by this Welsh composer.

Singer Camille Malaawy's performance of the arabic segments was spine tingling and the addition of the Ethnic wind instrument, the Mey to the soundscape and dimming of lights added enormously to the conjuring up of a differnt world. Surely only the most steely heart could fail to be moved by Sarah Ellen Murphy's Lament.

Also on the programme was a Puccini Mass featuring big sweeping operatic melodies and carried off beautifully by the young singers Peter O Donohue and David Howes who I expect we will hear a lot more of in the coming years.

All in all, it was a wonderful musical extravaganza which was very exciting to be a part of . Well done Malcolm Greene

Twin Violin Concertos Benedetti and Zosi
You know the way it is. You don't hear a concerto for ages and then two come along. I found myself in Cork on Thursday evening and arrived just in time for Nicola Benedetti's performance with the NSO at Cork City Hall. She looked stunning in red satin and her playing is spirited but also very seductive . She looked a little uncomfortable when not playing and I gather she had been ill and unable to play in Limerick. Having arrived late , my son Jack and I sat near the back of the hall and the sound was not as poor as expected . We met bass player David Whitla who spoke about the Montreal Jazz Festival which Jack hopes to get to later this year.

I spent a few days in Garmisch Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps with my sister and our daughters. I went along to hear the North West German Symphony Orchestra . The Kongresshall Theatre is really cosy there . It is like a rustic version of the Barbican, lined in pine . The soloist was a very young man Edoardo Zosi from Milan who played a concerto by Samuel Barber in this his centenary year and very splendid he was too.

I was a little surprised to hear the cor Anglais player practicing her big solo for the New World symphony on stage during the interval anticipating its exposition in the second movement somewhat.

CDS Music Summer Camps Dates for 2010

Following the great success of the 2009 summer camps the provisional dates are announced for the 2010 season.

21st June - 2nd July Post Primary Group 12 -14 ages group Ennis Venue tbc

28th June - 2nd July Primary Age Group 8 -12. West Clare Venue tbc

5th -9th July Primary Age Group 8-12 Ennis Venue tbc

12th -16th July Primary Age Group 8-12 Waterford Venue tbc

Courses will consist of introduction to strings, drumming, beginners guitar, ensemble playing
all instuments provided.

Contact cdsymphonia@gmail.com for details or keep an eye on my blog for further information.