Pipeworks 2022
Celebrating the Organ in all its guises, Pipeworks Festival joyfully returns to Dublin this June 15th - 19th and looks forward to welcoming audiences back in person to experience some of the best Organ music in beautiful and historic settings across the city.
The opening concert will feature the renowned RTÉ Concert Orchestra, conducted by the Festival’s Artistic Director David Leigh, in a programme with organ soloist Peter Barley playing the magnificent Willis organ in St Patrick’s Cathedral. This concert marks a significant musical anniversary, that of the 150th year since the birth of leading British symphonist Ralph Vaughan Williams. The programme includes the rarely performed cantata Willow Wood with leading young Irish baritone Eoghan Desmond who will be joined by the Festival Chorus drawn from choirs all over Dublin in the performance of the Five Mystical Songs.
Recognised as of the most remarkable organ virtuosos of our time Ben van Oosten is especially lauded as an interpreter of French Symphonic repertoire. In this 200th anniversary year of César Franck’s birth, Pipeworks is thrilled that the distinguished Dutch organist will present a programme celebrating Franck’s music and that of his pupils in the splendid surroundings of St Mary’s Pro Cathedral.
Pipeworks is delighted to welcome multiple international prizewinning young American recitalist Amanda Mole whose varied programme will pay homage to two further composer anniversaries significant to the organ repertoire. Mole’s programme on the versatile instrument in St Batholomew’s Church, Ballsbridge, features music by Nicholas de Grigny, whose birth occurred 350 years ago this year, and William Byrd, whose death occurred 400 years ago.
The medieval surroundings of Christ Church Cathedral offer a perfect setting for Stile Antico whose reputation for vocal excellence combined with innovative programming promises this concert will be a memorable event. The concert charts a musical course from twilight to sunrise, and features Allegri’s famous Miserere and Gentle Sleep by Nico Muhly, which was written especially for the group.
Other Festival highlights include concerts by two former organ scholars of Dublin’s two Anglican cathedrals:
an improvised accompaniment to the silent film “Phantom of the Opera” by David Baskeyfield who enjoys an international reputation as a recitalist and improviser; and a performance by Dublin native Martina Smyth, who will perform a varied programme on the recently restored organ in Sandford Parish Church as part of a collaboration with Sandford Summer Recitals.
