Musici Ireland Chamber Music Series at NCH

I caught the second of Musici Ireland's lunchtime chamber music series at the NCH on Thursday.  I try to reserve my use of superlatives for particularly splendid performances but this recital of piano quartets was absolutely excellent. A combination of elements made this occasion truly joyful.  There was committed and elegant playing from the trio of string players, Joanne Quigley, Beth McNinch and Grainne Hope.  There was a brilliant virtuoso element in the contribution of guest, Finghin Collins, at the piano,  particularly in the opening Mozart Quartet in Eb. Best of all, there was a sense of joy and collegiality between the performers that radiated from the platform to  the full house gathered in the John Field Room.  We heard two works . Mozart's opus 493 in Eb, delightful and effervescent  followed by a more lush and Romantic  Fauré in C minor.  It was like having a glass of the driest sparkling champagne  followed by the richest full bodied red  You can read a more in depth description in this review from the Goldenplec

The performers looked summery in floral dresses and grey suit. (RTE NSO please note)
Musici Ireland is a collective of players drawn from Irish. professional orchestras, established in 2012 by Beth McNinch, a Wexford based viola player. There are two further concerts scheduled. Next week the trio are joined by Helena Wood for a programme of Classic film music. The final concert on 28th August features another of A+  list piano virtuoso, Micahel McHale and violinist Ioana Petcu Colan, bass Sarah Halpin  for a Schubert programme.

Venue notes.
It was nice to see senior  NCH management  present among the audience.  The  lobby café coffee is dreadful.  To add insult to injury,  it is served in paper cups.  A glass of white wine will set you back  a whopping €6.95.  For that price I would expect a bottle to be plucked ceremoniously  from an ice bucket and poured   into  crystal by the starched  cuffed hand of a sommelier. 

Related Posts Summer Soups Songs: Lunchtime at NCH and St Columbas's    http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2014/08/summer-soup-songs.html