Spring arrived in the Cooley Peninsula last weekend in a vibrant, virtuosi musical afternoon performance by two young masters in their respective arts, Pianist Michael McHale and Violinist Karl Sweeney, opening the 2017 edition of the Sundays in Spring series at the Carlingford Heritage Centre.
Carlingford Heritage Centre’s Artistic Director, Zoe Conway, and former fellow member of the Junior National Youth Orchestra of Ireland with both Karl and Michael, welcomed them and music lovers gathered from near, far and wide for the first concert of the series. Over the short hour that followed, Karl and Michael shared with us an exceptional programme that perfectly demonstrated so much more than simply their unquestionable skill and mastery but also an ability to communicate and draw the listener into a deeply lyrical, evocative and emotional journey.
Karl opened the session with Sonata no.3 Ballade for solo violin by Belgian composer, Eugène Ysaye, followed by a trio from Michael on the Centre grand piano, Schubert’s Impromptu in E flat opus 90 no 2; sixteenth century Irish composition, Cailin o cois (arranged by Michael), Liszt – Rigoletto concert Paraphrase. Both artists then came together to perform Cèsar Franck Violin Sonata in A major. To conclude, in encore, they played Meditation from Thais by Massenet. An occasion to remember as the days grow longer and later when the nights close in! While both Michael and Karl have played separately in the Heritage Centre before, this was the first ever occasion to hear these two world class local artists together. Let’s make it happen more often!
Next Sunday, April 9th, our musical and spoken word concert will bring together three outstanding young artists – from Dingle harpist Deirdre Granville, also from Kerry, award winning Irish poet, Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh and all the way from Dunleer, Co. Louth, uilleann piper and vocalist, Brendan McCreanor.
We promised to bring an exciting and eclectic repertoire of exceptional talent to celebrate the return of Spring to the Cooley Peninsula. We’re doing just that! Much more to come!
Our warm thanks to artistic co-directors, Zoe Conway and John McIntyre, and to Create Louth (The Arts Service Louth County Council), for their support in making it happen.
Carlingford Heritage Centre has a new website and tickets (€12 and concessions €10) can be purchased on-line: Tickets for Poet, Piper and the Harpist April 9th
Or by phone at
+353429373454
+353 42 9373888.