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Ireland’s most distinguished choral ensemble, the National Chamber Choir (NCC), makes a welcome return to the Cork International Choral Festival this year with their Conductor and Artistic Director Paul Hillier.
The concert presents an exciting programme of choral works that span the centuries and include troped motets, tongue-twisters and sound poems. Among these works is the world premiere of a work by acclaimed Irish composer Siobhán Cleary, entitled ‘Theophilus Thistle & The Myth of Miss Muffet’ and specially commissioned for the Seminar on New Choral Music, as well as the premiere performance of the winning composition of this year’s Seán Ó Riada Competition. The choir will also perform a major choral work by the distinguished American composer Shulamit Ran, featuring texts that recall the holocaust of WWII and the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.
The NCC, together with conductor Paul Hillier and the two composers, will once again co-present the Cork International Choral Festival Seminar on New Choral Music, at which the new commissions will be analysed and discussed. The Seminar takes place on Saturday 30th April in CIT Cork School of Music.
For more information on the Seminar on New Choral Music and the Seán Ó Riada competition, as well as the composers and new commissions which will be performed at this concert, please click here.
Programme
Gloria ad modem Tubae Guillaume Dufay (c. 1397 – 1474)
Ave Regina (à 3) Guillaume Dufay (c. 1397 – 1474)
Ave Regina (à 4) Guillaume Dufay (c. 1397 – 1474)
Credo-Ani-Ma’amin Shulamit Ran (1949 - ) European Premiere
Galgenlieder Erik Bergman (1911 - 2006)
*Winning work of the 2011 Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition - World Premiere
Das G’läuten zu Speyer Ludwig Senfl (c.1486 - 1543)
Mein Herz in Steten treuen Anonymous
Faulte d’argent Josquin Desprez (c.1440 - 1521)
Mein Herz in Steten treuen Arnold Schönberg (1874 - 1951)
El grillo Josquin Desprez (c.1440 - 1521)
Theophilus Thistle & The Myth of Miss Muffet Siobhán Cleary (b. 1970) World Premiere
National Chamber Choir of Ireland
Artistic Director: Paul Hillier
The National Chamber Choir of Ireland is made up of vocalists drawn from the ranks of Ireland’s leading choral singers. Founded in 1991 by Colin Mawby, the choir continued under his artistic direction until handing over to Brazilian conductor Celso Antunes in 2002. In 2008, the National Chamber Choir welcomed internationally celebrated and multi-award winning conductor Paul Hillier into its ranks as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.
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Through its dedication to performing the finest vocal music both old and new, and its collaboration with some of the world’s leading conductors, the National Chamber Choir of Ireland stands at the pinnacle of vocal performance, both in Ireland and internationally.
The choir has collaborated with numerous international guest conductors, regularly commissioning new pioneering vocal works by composers such as Gerald Barry, Andrew Hamilton, Siobhan Cleary, Kevin Volans and Tarik O’Regan. The choir also frequently works with Irish conductor David Brophy.
Given its strong commitment to touring in Ireland, the National Chamber Choir is keen to keep developing its touring network in order to present high quality choral concerts to audiences all around the country. The Choir has toured internationally in Europe, Asia and South America and plans to make its début in the US in October 2011, with an extensive tour conducted by Paul Hillier.
Major funding for the National Chamber Choir of Ireland comes from the Arts Council (An Chomhairle Ealaíon), The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and major in-kind support from Dublin City University, where the ensemble has been in residence since 1996.
www.nationalchamberchoir.com
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Paul Hillier
Dorset native Paul Hillier studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. His illustrious career has embraced many musical fields, from singing and conducting to composition, and more recently literary success as an author with works on Arvo Pärt and Steve Reich. From a successful early career as Founding Director of the Hilliard Ensemble, Paul moved on to found the Theatre of Voices. He has taught at the University of California and resided as Director of The Early Music Institute at Indiana University from 1996-2003. Chief Conductor of Ars Nova Copenhagen since 2003, Paul was also the Principal Conductor of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir from 2001 to 2007.
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His recordings - over a hundred CDs, including seven solo recitals - have earned worldwide acclaim and won numerous prizes. Paul has received many accolades and honours for his contribution to music, including an OBE for services to choral music in 2006, the Order of the White Star of Estonia in 2007, and a Grammy for Best Choral Recording also in 2007.
The year 2008 saw Paul take up the position of Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, and in 2009 he was invited to form the new Coro Casa da Musica in Porto, Portugal. More Grammy success came in 2010 with an award for Theatre of Voices' recording of David Lang's 'The Little Match Girl Passion'.
Tickets: €20 + Booking Fee
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