Waterford Chamber Music Festival at Mt. Congreve House and Gardens

 

Waterford Chamber Music Festival: Mt Congreve House and Garden

 

Temperatures peaked on Friday just as the Waterford Chamber Music Festival opened the weekend with a musical Promenade in Mt. Congreve Gardens. The model of a roster of performers in an historic house has proved a winning formula over three decades in Bantry at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival.  Now in its third year, directors Siobhán Doyle  and Billy  O’Brien delivered an enjoyable three day festival with an impressive line-up of young professional artists at one of Waterford’s major tourist attractions. There were three main concerts, a young artists platform and a morning song recital.

The opening event was a novel approach to capitalize on the natural beauty of the location.  Solo performers were set up at scenic points around the garden. Of the five pieces, flautist  Silvija Ščerbavičiūtė in her rendition of Debussy’s Syrinx framed by the temple best caught the mood of the sultry afternoon.  Pieces by Ysaye and Sarriaho, were vehicles for impressive virtuosity but were somewhat heavy going. Each piece was paired with poetry read by various members of the team. There was a new commission Goat Song by Sean O’Dálaigh with Hannah Miller on French Horn striking a dramatic pose under a magnificent oak tree. Full marks for the provision of the printed texts to mull over later.

It was good to see the musical activity extended to the outdoors and the inclusion of a spoken word element added a pleasant new dimension. There is plenty of scope for more alfresco events in the future. A matinee in the walled garden might work well. *

 

Siobhán Doyle

Later in the evening, the Ambrose room was packed for the first evening concert. While the room was not as salubrious as the Chinese Room used in previous years, the acoustic was good and there was a good shuffle of styles and performers over the course of the evening.  A trio led by festival co director Siobhán Doyle opened with an arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. They were followed by a duo with director Billy O’Brien and Mairead Hickey with two movements from a Mozart sonata, the only one of three dozen sonatas in a minor key. Pianist Maxine Alberti stepped in to play in a trio by Rachmaninoff.

Siobhán Doyle

Refreshed after interval drinks in the courtyard, we returned to hear a charming romance by pioneering American composer Amy Beach. The evening closed out with a splendid performance of Schumann’s piano quintet with all players playing vigour and élan.

There was much to enjoy in the first day of events and it is wonderful to hear chamber music performed in the style of room that the genre was originally written for. Music lovers in the South East have reason to be cheerful to get their summer fix on their doorstep. Bravo tutti!

Mairead Hickey Billy O'Brien 

*With the event wrapping up around 4pm, I would have liked less of a gap between the afternoon and evening start at 7.30pm.

Photos take from Waterford Chamber Music Facebook page 

www.waterfordchambermusic.com