So I’m down in the fair city of Cork lapping up some wonderful, diverse choral performances from choirs that have travelled from as far afield as Singapore and Japan and loving it.
I enjoyed the festival so much last year I decided to get stuck in and volunteer this year. If you can’t make it down to catch any of the live music you might like to keep track of things including results of the various national and international competitions via these channels:
Cork International Choral Festival page on Facebook
Here’s one of the most amazing performances I’ve seen so far – really looking forward to hearing them again later on this weekend. The University of Santo Tomas Singers from the Philippines:
Tomorrow afternoon I’m hitting the road to Cork for the choral festival. Yes I’ve been harping on about it here for a while but I love my choral music in all shapes and sizes and my ears will be completely spoiled this weekend.
I’ll be down there until Monday morning and getting as much of the festival in as possible. Thankfully, I have access to a much better camera than last year and will hopefully get some video clips up over the next few days as the performances roll on .
Earlier I got a lovely email from the fabulous THISISPOPBABY who are kicking off a fresh project at The Abbey Theatre on May 8th called WERK. It sounds like an interesting event so I’m sharing the info!
Here’s the spiel:
WERK // PERFORMANCE.ART.CLUB.
In a late-night haze of neon and performance, live art and discotheque, the belly of the Abbey Theatre is being put to WERK. Underground club and performance roulette – this new monthly cocktail of ideas is an epic night out in the making. Irreverent, bold and trashy; WERK is the house of outrageous investigation, abnormal talent and unnatural beauty. It’s a party. Clock in – WERK out.
Seems like an interesting and unique cultural mix for Dublin and it’s great to see the Abbey opening up for some late night entertainment.
The dates:
Saturday 8 May 10pm-2.30am
Saturday 12 June 10.30pm – 2.30am
Saturday 10 July 10.30pm – 2.30am
Tickets are €10 in advance or €12 on the door. You can grab some now at the Abbey Theatre website and find out some more about the event here. Hopefully see you there!
The best email subject line I’ve had greet me in my inbox in quite some time.
THEATREclub stole your CLOCK RADIO what the FUCK you gonna do about it? is the title of THEATREclub‘s upcoming production at The Project Arts Centre in Dublin on the first week of May and I’m egging to go. I had my first THEATREclub experience at Absolut Fringe 2009 with Group Therapy For One which I loved and wrote about over on Culch.ie.
The gist
THEATREclub are joining the masses in the dole queue.
We’re borrowing and worrying.
We’re thinking about leaving.
We’re trying to stay.
Just when we got to an age where we could start making something of ourselves, the whole country crashed down around us.
THEATREclub stole your CLOCK RADIO what the FUCK you gonna do about it? is a glance at how it feels to be young inside a nation in a state of collapse; looking out to a future you know nothing about.
YouTubery:
The important stuff:
It’s running at The Project Arts Centre from the 4th to the 8th of May. You can get your tickets online for €12/8 (concessions) or €6 for the preview on Tuesday 4th. See you there!
I can hardly believe that the May bank holiday and the Cork International Choral Festivalis upon us once again but it is and what a weekend it’s going to be!
The festival is in it’s 56th year and runs from Wednesday to Sunday next with a huge variety of choral styles and performances from all over the world taking part. A few weeks ago one or two people who were interested in going along this year asked me to give a heads up for what I think are the highlights and events worth going along to so now that the programme is out and tickets on sale here’s my quick guide to the cream of the crop for 2010:
Opening Gala Concert – A Tribute to Aloys Fleischmann
When: Wednesday 28th April 2010, 8pm, City Hall, Cork
Volalists from Cork (Fleischmann Choir) and Dachau (Liedertafel) join forces with the Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra for a spectacular performance at City Hall as part of the continuing Fleischmann Centenary celebrations. Read more about the programme here.
Scala
When: Thursday 29th April 2010, 8pm, City Hall
Scala are a 200-strong girls choir (ranging in age from 16 to 26) from Belgium who have gained huge popularity since their foundation by the Kolacny brothers in 1996. What started out as some vocal experimentation has given the choir a huge international reputation and fame as one of the world’s most popular “rock choirs”. The last time that Scala performed in Ireland was at the 2006 festival so don’t miss out on your opportunity to hear this wonderful contemporary, edgy and youthful sound!
The National Chamber Choir of Ireland : To Music
When: Friday 30th April 2010, 7.30pm, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork
One of the country’s most distinguished and highly regarded choirs The National Chamber Choir of Ireland are attending this year’s festival as the Choir in Residence. They will be performing ‘To Music’ – the first of two cathedral shows on the bill for Friday evening – in the beautiful surroundings of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral. The programme will also feature two world première performances. More information on the evening’s repertoire is available here.
Evocations: Anuna
When: Friday 30th April, 10.30pm at the Cathedral of St. Mary & St. Anne (North Cathedral), Cork
One of Ireland’s most celebrated and internationally successful choirs will be giving the second of the cathedral performances on Friday night when they perform ‘Evocations’ – a collection of medieval and Celtic song.
Fleischmann International Trophy Competition
Where: Saturday 1st May, 3pm & 8pm, City Hall, Cork
At the heart of the festival is the prestigious Fleischmann International TrophyCompetition which is held in two parts on Saturday. The competition this year will feature choirs from Norway, The Philippines, Finland, The Czech Republic, Germany, Singapore, Japan and Ireland! If that doesn’t guarantee a fantastic array of choral performances and styles I don’t know what will! The Choir in Residence (The National Chamber Choir of Ireland) will also be performing on the day along with other international choirs. You can hear samples of each choir in action as well as review the running order of both heats of the competition here.
Closing Gala Concert
Where: Sunday 2nd May 2010, 8pm, City Hall, Cork
This event is probably the most fun, entertaining and enjoyable of all the programme as the choirs and conductors relax and let their hair down after with competition now behind them. Last year’s closing concert featured some of the most jaw-dropping choral performances I have ever heard so fingers crossed that this year will be just as spectacular. Find out more about who is taking part here.
So there you have it – my recommendations for a busy choral weekend in Cork city. There’s absolutely loads of events including public performances, seminars and workshops on all over Cork city and the suburbs so take a look at the day by day guide here to see what’s on.
Go grab your tickets so you don’t end up disappointed & hopefully see you there!
