Summer Soup Songs: Lunchtime series at NCH & St Columba's

St Columba's Ennis

I heard two terrific young singers  in two lunchtime  recitals  a couple of weeks ago. The first was  in the grand auditorium of the prestigious National Concert Hall with the full forces of the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, the second, in the hidden gem of the  neo Gothic St Columba's Church in Ennis County Clare.

My review of baritone Sean Boylan with pianist Tham Horng Kent was published earlier this week in the Irish Examiner, link here . It is good to see this series establishing itself on the scene hosted by Helen Houlihan. What impressed her about today's singer, I asked the soprano. 'The voice of course but most of all the ability to get right into the heart of the text' she said. Virginia Kerr was among the gathering to hear her student perform. Sopranos Ruth Kelly and Edel O Brien who also perform as part of the series were in a attendance to support  their fellow artists.

Rachel Kelly

Another rising star of the opera stage drew a full house to National Concert Hall on Tuesday for the final concert in the RTE National Symphony Orchestra's lunchtime series.  In a programme titled Love Actually, mezzo soprano Rachel Kelly  demonstrated the sparkling form and graceful stage presence that has propelled her onto the prestigious Jette Parker Young Artist programme at the Royal Opera House in a programme of arias by Mozart, Rossini, Bizet and Guonod. Kelly  sported a 'grand bit of glam' in sequinned gown and sparkly jewellery . The ladies of the RTE NSO wore a casual dress down Friday look in black pants and assorted tops and cardis. Perfect for cycling home in after the concert. Come on ladies! Break out those summer frocks. The occasion demands it. 

The combined forces of the Kelly and Hunt clan gathered in the foyer to support their girl. NCH chief Simon Taylor was in the John Field Room to greet concert goers.  The combination of great value price €10 and a daylight hours performance with a tidy running time  attracted a large proportion of senior citizens and day trippers. 'I come every week' said Mary from Dundrum. 'Tuesday is always music day. I wouldn't miss it'

You can hear Rachel singing in a master class with the soprano Joyce di Donato here  


Kelly has a busy Autumn schedule ahead. as a cast member of major new productions at the ROH  in the Autumn season. She appears in the ROH collaboration with The Globe, L'Ormindo and in Verdi's early work, Il Duo Foscari. The series continues with the RTE Concert Orchestra picking up the baton.  Their guest soloist on Aug 12^th  is soprano Ana Devin followed by  Eamonn  Mulhall on 26th. John Wilson, new principal conductor of the RTE CO conducts an instrumental programme on August 19th 

Bus 145 directly in front of Luas stop brings you all the way from Heuston Station to  Leeson Street , a stone's throw from the NCH

Related posts  Musical Postcards France at NCH

http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2013/06/classical-thursday-recital-series.html

Review of recital with Rachel Kelly and Una Hunt at Wexford Opera Festival 

Limey Lords a Leaping: Me and My Girl in Ennis

Everyone is doing the Lambeth Walk on the Causeway this week as Ennis Musical Society present the 1930's morale booster, Me and My Girl for their 60th anniversary production. Tapping into the current penchant for toff TV, Downton Abbey, the show, a  gender reverse take on Pygmalion is the frothiest, lightest theatrical confection, a good old fashioned song and dance show  full of catchy tunes, corny jokes and lashings of lively dance routines, delivered with brio  in glorious tecnicolour by the Banner society . Hard to believe that cast and chorus members were  busy with all sorts day jobs before taking to the boards for the evening.

Brian Henry as Bill is an exuberant song and dance man in the best music hall tradition . Mary Healy  as Lady Jacqueline is delightfully OTT as his blonde bombshell comedic foil.  Tony Murray steals a scene dispensing advice as the doddery old family solicitor, Pargeter. Lauren Dunne as feisty heroine Sally shines in the wistful 'Once You Lose Your Heart' . The riotous company numbers are the ones that most cheer the heart  beautifully choreographed by Barbara Meany. Musical director Shane Farrell  keeps the tempos bright and breezy and  The Lambeth Walk was a  rumbustious delight. Is there a more cheerful and amiable song than The Sun Has Got His Hat On staged as a Lawn Tennis and Croquet party romp in eye socking whites and marine blue costumes?

Anyone for tennis?   from Ennis Mus Soc website

The nine piece pit with full brass and reed section had a terrific big band sound and the percussion added all sorts of bells and whistles I have never heard in a live band before. Pit  pianos are very often  filling in for missing parts but in this score the old joanna  is essential  to evoke that cockney knees up vibe though I missed a bass  part to add more bottom resonance.

Ticket prices were a modest €15 and this was great value for a  production which gave no sense that values were pared down in line with recession. How fantastic to see musical theatre alive and thriving on our doorstep in Clare. In the last few weeks alone there has been no need for a trip to the West End to see lively entertaining productions as both Ennis and Shannon societies mounted excellent productions .



Robert Lindsay A snatch from the 1986  London production

Venue Notes
Amateur societies and their following  aren't usually  in any hurry to clear the house and the meet and greet time after the show is important. It was a pity that no teas and coffees were available in the foyer following the performance .

The programme notes thoughtfully included printed lyrics to facilitate a closing sing a long. Great idea but the house lights need to come up for it to work.


Cathys Reviews Sound of Music   Ennis Musical Soc2012

'Flute Player' Personified at Clare Poets February

Featured Poet Brian Mooney 

His was an earthed universe....
When he played 

he seemed

 to gather up 

the notes 

that cascaded down 

from 

his timber flute

   from Flute Player for Des Mulkere

The Clare Poets kept the flame  burning at the monthly poetry vigil in Glór Foyer on 16th February . The featured poet was founder member Brian Mooney . Sadly Brian was indisposed but his daughter Cora read beautifully  from his work. Some of the lines had a particular resonance as special guest  was  Des Mulkere for whom Brian wrote Flute Player quoted above.   We heard Danny Boy and the Last Rose of Summer  and Des , a farmer and musician  knitted a number of threads in his discourse delivered in a rich sonorous voice-the Kiltartan Irish and his family's association with Yeats , Denis Hempson and the Belfast Harp Festival amongst others.  Mike Douse was in the chair  and added a note on John McCormack's recordings of Moore's Melodies. There was a lively open mike session with regulars and newcomers. I enjoyed  Pat Considine's ,The Waking Field and Patricia's eco conscious poem on Fracking, both attending for the first time I believe.    The always impressive Peter Kay picked up the WB thread with his  performances from memory  of  Bulla .  We had a  poem as Gaeilge from Pat McNamara and poems from Arthurs Watson and Joe Cronin.
The Clare Poets meet in Glor, Ennis on the third Saturday of each month. All are welcome, poets or hearers.

Scenes That Are Brightest: Ennis Brass Band & Friends

Soloist Clodagh Power and  Ennis Brass Band

 Scenes that are brightest                              
 May charm awhile

 Hearts which are lightest,
 And eyes that smile;   from Maritana libretto by Bunn

Scenes That Are Brightest  WV Wallace
A Iosa Mhic Mhuire   trad arr McDonagh
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen   Vincent di Palcido 
Coro nGrata                               

The Christmas Song       
Ave Maria Caccini                               

Zither Carol  Czech Carol       

Seasonal selection from Ennis Brass Band 

  Ennis Brass Band gave a concert of seasonal music  in St Columba's on Saturday night.  I was thrilled  to be invited to perform for a second year at this gathering along with singer Vincent di Placido .  I had the privilege of  opening the programme with a number from the opera Maritana by WV Wallace in honour of  the Waterford born composer's bicentenary year.  Wallace's father was a bandmaster and  noting the dates of the memorials on the candlelit walls it seemed an appropriate choice of period for this space. Vincent has a beautiful lyric tenor voice and his delivery of my favourite  Neopolitan song Coro n Grata (aka Catari) was gorgeous .  I was joined by Fiona de Buitleir on clarinet for my final selection of an Ave Maria attributed to Caccini but thought to be a modern composition and the jaunty Zither carol.  Both Vincent and I were expertly  accompanied by Nigel Bridge, Master of Music  at St Columba's on the house boudoir grand  piano complete with candlabra. 

Members brightening the streets earlier in the day 

This is a wonderful space to play in . The accoustic is rich and warm and the many candles create a magical ambiance. The Ennis Brass Band played a selection of seasonal favourites. Clodagh Power featured as cornet soloist on 'Chestnuts Roasting' In a charming finale children in the audience came front of house to play percussion and conduct the band. The Ennis Brass Band are a treasure and Daragh McAllister  and Nigel Bridge made eloquent opening and  closing remarks on the wonderful contribution this ensemble make to musical life of the town of Ennis . 

Related posts Cornets & Candlelight with  Ennis Brass Band 2011

Remembrance Service Ennis Cathedral 2012

Remembering Clares' War Victims



I reported on this event last year on this blog (link here)  .  The main elements were repeated this year.  An  article, Lessons in Sacrifice appeared in this week's Clare Champion and  gives a full description of the event with many photos by John Kelly

Lessons in Sacrifice The Clare Champion

Photos of the event can also be found on www.ennisparish.com

St Patrick's Day Serenades at Cahercalla

John Gavin and daughter Pauline  photo by  John Kelly

Singer, Maret O Hehir put together a lovely programme of entertainment for a concert  for patients at Cahercalla Hospital Co Clare yesterday. There were singers, dancer,s flutes fiddle, harmonica  and a harp for the day that was in it .  Fr Fergus McEveney sang one of my favourite numbers  Kreisler's The Old Refrain. John Gavin , ace harmonica player had them up dancing with a selection of waltzes. Sineid White visiting from Cork gave us a lovely version of Red is the Rose and  my selection included the queen of Irish airs, an Culfhionn.  The happy feet of Lissycasey Set Dancers gave us all a lift  and the versatile musician and 'Clare's Got Talent' judge, Nigel Bridge was accompanist. 

Clare Noel Canticles

Weary  of Oh Holy Night Already?  Originally banned by the  church and   part of a seminal moment of the history of recording, have a listen to  the  fascinating history of the uber popular French carol here courtesy of Fionn Davenport's Newstalk podcasts.My first memory of hearing this carol was at a Lord Mayor's concert in City Hall, Cork about thirty years  ago, sung by  teenage soprano, Mary Hegarty, a  clear  and powerful voice soaring over the orchestra in the large hall.

Here is a round up of the various renditions I have  heard in Clare  in  the last fortnight.   Even in this heartland of traditional Irish music, this French operatic carol has taken firm root and features on most carol evenings in the run up to the 25th Dec.  Fond and all as I am of it, I suggest some ground rules to preserve some of its 'je ne sais quoi'   How about 'No singer to be allowed to perform it twice in a a two week period unless in a different  language or backwards and no performance during daylight hours (which God knows are very brief enough anyway), for starters.Perhaps the parish musical director could arrange a licencing scheme, any breaches punishable by excommunication  or early morning cantor duty for a suitably punitive period !



Clare Cantiques de Noel Census
110th Dec  Cahercalla Christmas Concert Maret O Hehir
210th Dec  Beau Soir at Danlann an Chlár Karoline O Sullivan & Maeve Cairney Duet 
314th Dec  St Columba's Ennis  Katie O Donoghue,   Lismorahaun Singers
4 15th Dec Edel  O Brien St Senan's Kilrush
518th Dec  Ruth Kelly Ecumenical  Service Ennis at the Friary
620th Dec  Ruth  Kelly  Jukebox Opera at the Friary
7 23rd Dec Tony Murray at the Food Emporium
8 24th Dec Tony Murray Midnight Mass Ennis Cathedral
   click on the highlighted links for more details

For a brief moment I thought I might be called upon to emulate radio engineer Reginald  Fessendon's historic task of broadcasting a solo violin version when not one but two guest sopranos were indisposed on Christmas Eve. (yes, one could quote Oscar Wilde, to lose one, most unfortunate but two!..),  but parish radio listeners were spared when Tony Murray (most recently seen as Mr Bumble in Ennis Musical Society's production of Oliver) stepped forward from the tenor ranks to perform the favourite. Bravo Tony! Bravo indeed sir!

Radio Renaissance Man Reginald Fessendon

Dancing Days in Ennis



 

Dancers from Dinan School Corps photo Declan Monaghan



Greystones ladies stepping out

Pat Mac

Brock Maguire in the Great Hall

What a hotspot of eurhythmical activity, the Banner county town was yesterday.   In the Hall of Scoil Chríost Rí.  6th class were busy putting the final touches to their presentation of the Haka  and out on the Gort Rd  Ennis Educate Together NS, Fatima di Lucia was busy preparing her group of dancers for  their forthcoming performance at International Day Fair. In the Old Ground Dick O Connell  was guiding dancers through their paces at the second Foinn Seisiún.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the stunning show presented by the Dinan School of Ballet on the Glór Stage.  The show was a delightful series of  dances in a broad range of styles with classsical ballet at the core  in a presentation of  story of the Wizard of Oz . The costumes were  in a dazzling range of colours with no sparing of  sequins and glitter and the performers ranged from tiny tots to experienced mature performers. The backing tracks included songs from the film interspersed with other numbers in an  eclectic range of styles . I really enjoyed the tap numbers and  we loved the marriage of classical ballet complete with psychadelic purple and green tutus to Me No Speak Americano, a number which itself combines different genres.  Siobhán Sexton in the role of Dorothy  had  a very graceful  stage presence and had the tough job of opening the show with a solo turn.

Foinn Seisiún with Frank Custy at Fleadh Nua Ennis



MC and Dance Master Dick O Connell

I called in  to the Old Ground Hotel to catch some of the late afternoon Fleadh Nua activity . I expected to find a few visiting musicians ploughing through some dance tunes in a corner of the bar . I was pleasantly surprised to see the upstairs room full of an audience of all ages  young and old. I went along to see the legendary teacher Frank Custy in action and both he and Fear an Tí, Dick O Connell  guided the aftenoon of music mixing dances with slow airs and songs calling on the individuals in turn.





Stepping Out

 

The wonderful dancing feet of Stephanie

We had  amongst other numbers the Boys of Barr na Sráide ,  a slow air on the uilean pipes, a lovely unaccompanied  duet  from husbad and wife duo. There were mazurkas sean waltzs and polkas . The highlight for me was the sheer exuberance of Stephanie from Bodyke with her steel capped dancing shoes . What a great noise she made on the wooden floor.  I was delighted to meet Frank Custy  himself and Catriona from Sixmilebridge Folk Club  and Phil Jameson from Norh Carolina . I recognised some faces from a visit to last years Fesival Club Fleadh Nua 2010  and had a chat with Margaret from The Netherlands who was on a return visit..  The presence of an Asian camera crew added an exotic air to the procedings.  It was like an old fashioned party and Dick O Connell did an excellent job as MC.    The central venue is great and I love the time 4pm  to 6pm is very good slot. You can nip in after work and on the way home for tea. 

Post session interviews



D'Unbelievables at Glór

As an extra night was added to an already sold out extended run we went along to hear  Jon Kenny and Pat Short reunited for nationwide tour. What new sharp observations would they have on contemporary rural Ireland since their last outing  some years ago? I wondered. They certainly had much potential material to work with. 

Tommy Fleming at Glór Ennis

Set List                                                                           Second half
Going Home
Dream a Little Dream                                                     Isle of Hope
Sand and Water                                                            Danny Boy
You raised me up                                                           Solitaire
The Boxer                                                                       Vincent
The Contender                                                                 All I want is you
Bright Blue Rose                                                               Carousel When You Walk
Halcyon Days                                                                    Will Ye Go Lassie Go
Christmas 1915                                                                  Hard Times
                                                                                            Encore Smile

The car park was full to overflowing when I arrived at Glór indicating a  full house for this popular entertainer and I gather he usually packs this venue on his tours here in  recent years.   I had never heard Tommy Fleming  live and my first recollection of hearing him was in an interview with Gay Byrne  following a comeback after a car accident which must have been some time ago now. So I was curious to see what sort of live performer he was and what  factor drew his consistently large audiences.

Clare Poets Take a Haiku



Yuki performs Cherry Blossom



Yuki explains her Haiku

I spent the afternnon at The Clare Three Legged Stool Poets monthly meeting at Glor.. There was quite a lot of business to conduct with the launching of the group's Haiku competition for schools.  The afternoon was ably compered by Rob Hopkins and there were many contributers today.  Fred Johnston  spoke about the technical aspects of composing a Haiku.- which is a short 17 syllable poem and not to be confused with a well known ritual tribal dance  ; teachers from Clare schools spoke about the positive impact the inititaive is having  in their schools. Yuki Nishioka spoke about the genre and demonstrated one of her own.  A multi faceted performer she sang and played some traditional Japaneese melodies    It was good to hear a young voice at the gathering and Mark James performed his rap influenced rhymes with and without guitar .


Pat MacNamara of Knockanean NS School





Fred lays down the ground rules



There was good variety in the open mic session. Ilsa Thielen opened with a poem about a horse (a common theme lately), Noel Mulqueen followed with some Yeats and MC Rob read from his own work . Peter Kay was I believe a new voice to the group and remembered the late  and sadly missed Brendan O Beirne.  Arthur Watson's work  always makes me smile and today's offerings about lawn mowers, rural  health centres and acronyms was no exception.  Brian Mooney spoke about forthcoming events and Pat MacNamara disproving the old adage,  (those who can, do and those who can't ....)closed the written word offerings with a powerful war poem of his own.



Mark Jame Poetry Slam Winner

Mary Fean of RINS Fm Shannonside Radio Station was there to conduct an interview with the main movers and shakers in the group. Unfortunately Glór, strangely enough, closed up at 5.15 pm and we had to leave - which  effectively curtailed the informal exchange that is very much part of such an occasion. Next meeting is on Saturday 19th February and features Paddy Bushe from Kerry.  Put in your diary!  http://www.clarepoets.com/

Peter Kay

Andy Irvine at Glór

Travelling Troubadour Andy Irvine

There is something timeless about Andy Irvine  who appeared in Glór last week; a travelling troubadour with a collection of lute like stringed instruments  to support his voice , his penchant for singing to drone accompaniment creating  a wire strung  accoustic  soundworld that would not sound out of place in another century  alongside say  a 17th  century English balladeer like  John Dowland, (leaving aside occasional interludes on harmonica evoking folk giants Guthrie and Dylan).

John O'Conor at Glór

Haydn                       Sonata in b minor Hob XVI no 32
Beethoven                 Sonata in c minor Op 13 'Pathetique'
 Field                         Three Nocturnes  no 5 in B flat ; no 6 in E; no 18 'Le Midi'


Chopin                        Berceuse in D flat op 57
                                   Barcarolle  Op 60
Ginastera                    Argentinian Dances

John O Conor gave a solo piano recital at Glór tonight. The auditorium was respectably full  and it was encouraging to  see a row of youngsters towards the front of the auditorium. In the absence of programme notes, the soloist gave very interesting and humourous spoken introductions to each set of pieces and this was added much to the enjoyment of the repertoire and demonstrated his excellent  communication skills.

The programme was laid out cronologically and one had a sense of the excitement of the new sound possibilities of  the romantic  piano  released by the Romantic composers,  Field and Chopin  following the briskness of the Classical  Haydn sonata.

The audiuence included many Ennis  cognoscenti, including Kieran and  Breda O Gorman of Clare Music Circle,  soprano Maret O Hehir, Archie Simpson of Lismorahan Singers and tenor Peter O Donoghue,  Mary Ellen Nagle of Clare Music Makers  , Marie Corley of Ennis Cathedral Choir and Terence Mangan  Governer General of the Lions Club  and his wife Maureen . I was delighted to meet my neighbours Veit and Rania Kuhn of Penguin Pianos who tuned the piano for the performance .


I do like it when performers come front of house to meet and greet patrons .  I believe John O Conor did greet many of the younger audience members  backstage but I believe  this very important aspect of the evening might be better  taking  place  front of house in the foyer or the red room. There were quite a few people hovering in the foyer who would like to have met the artist and reluctant to find  the route backstage,

John O Conor's  personal remuneration package has been under some scrutiny in the press this week and while his rather plummy D4 tones do rather set my culchie teeth on edge, I was impressed with him tonight  and enjoyed the performance rather more than I thought I might.  I think John O Conor , as one of the country's most successful performers and teachers ought to be well remunerated.

One quibble, as TV sitcom character Frazier might say, a  tee shirt is an undergarment, I feel a proper shirt collar is required for a  performance, but hey, call me old fashioned .

Clare Poets November Remembrance with Kevin Higgins & Julie Feeney







Kevin Higgins



I note that it is the third Saturday of the month which means it is Clare Poets afternoon. I  am surprised to see  songstress Julie Feeney is  listed as the guest artist Surely some mistake.  My twitter updates suggest that she is probably winging her way across the Atlantic following her US tour but Julie duly arrives hotfoot from the airport  ready to perform at the monthly gathering of Clare  poets at Glór Foyer in Ennis  .  The procedings kick off with guest poet Kevin Higgins reading from his new collection .  His satirical  poems have a wry humour and there is an AA Milne ring to a poem dedicated to protesting students with its recurring lines  'who made their point politely and then went home'  probably to watch Countdown (my words not the poet's).

With the MC's lack of familiarity with the guest artist's work I am called upon to give a late  introduction. If only I had known I would have prepared better. 

 Julie, looking every  inch the star performer in high heeled red patent leather shoes which doubled as  percussion instrument and her trademark quirky millinery, punctuated procedings with a selection of numbers from her Pages and 13 Songs albums to her own piano accompaniment. With no trace of jet lag in her voice she performed for the select gathering with as much intensity  as if it had been a packed auditorium ; a consummate professional  .  The late Brecan Mooney was  remembered and  Brian Mooney his father,  read a poem dedicated to his son's memory.

The open mic follows with  MC Patrick Stack, Johhny Culliney , Jean Kavanagh, Noel Mulqueen , Fred Johnston (accompanied by his dog) and Arthur Watson contributing . I loved Arthur's performance of the Karaoke Blues . I must look up the Portsmouth Sinfonia  he referred to in his introduction. It sounds like my kind of band .

A very special afternoon in Ennis with the Clare Poets .

Julie's selection

Mr Rovin Eye Guy

Scots Gallic number

You take the Wind Out of My sails

You're Impossibly  Beautiful

With Innocent Hearts and Expectant Faces/Knock Knock

Grace

Gadding about during the Ennis Trad Festival 2010

Ennis Trad Festival brought a welcome  influx of musicians  and punters to the town last weekend. 



On Friday, I looked in to the Old Gound were there was a pleasant buzz of anticpation with visitors toting instruments of various shapes were checking in. On Saturday ,  I had lunch in the packed  Rowan Tree with my cousins Anne and Helen White   We  met chanteuse, Siofra Brock daughter of Paul  and   star of the West End  , Helen Ball, dining with husband Lorcan and baby.   Looking into Queens Bar there is a flurry of flautists and other assorted musicians  tootling  merrily away . On O Connell Street  dodging the heavy showers, I meet  travelling poet James Anthony Kelly and buy a copy of his poetry volume Porter and Emotion described as 'A vast diverse and varied collection'  . How could you resist.  I find it  somehow reassuring  that we still have travelling bards in Ireland .





Travelling Bard James A Kelly

  

 In Glór, I am just in time  to watch  the hapless presenter attempting to round up representatives of the runner ups who seemed reluctant to  collect their prizes and eventually  the winners ,  the Tulla Road  Ceili Band (not to be confused with the Tulla Ceili Band) are  eventually  shepherded  on stage to perform their valedictory set.  While some of the punters in my vicinity had selected them, there was quite a few who felt Corofin Ceili Band also deserved the crown but there was a spirit of general good humour generally about the procedings  and no one seemed to feel too hard done by.

Mass for Bereaved at Ennis Cathedral

The annual  Mass for bereaved families was offered last night in Ennis Cathedral.  The sense grief is palpable and it is a very important liturgical event and one I have been priviliged to be invited to contribute to in ther last two years .  Fr. Tom Hogan somehow finds words to add balm to sorrow and  on such occasions I reach no further than our slow air tradition and my selection included  Ag Chriost an Siol, Airdi Cuan, My Lagan love, Sliabh na mBan, An Coolin, Mo Gile Mear and Ban Chnoic Eirinn O.  Cantor was Tony Murray and organist Mary Curley,

Sandy Kelly /Patsy Cline at Glór

Sandy Kelly brought a bit of sparkle to the Glor last Thursday with her homage to Patsy Cline. Her outfits were stunning and she looked fabulous . I loved the fiddle player who looked liked he was really enjoying himself and made it look effortless.

Phil Coulter at the West County Ennis

I am listening to Phil Coulter being interviewed by Ivan Yates on the radio and I am reminded that I saw him back in July at the West County Hotel, Ennis.