An Enchanted Evening @ Birr Festival of Music 2023

An Enchanted Evening @ Birr Festival of Music 2023

Saturday, 29 April 2023, 8.00pm

Birr Festival of Music
incorporating The Trench Award
27 April– 1 May 2023
Birr, Co. Offaly

Tickets: www.birrfestivalofmusic.com
Box Office: (057) 91 2291 

Birr Festival of Music 2023 takes place for five days across the May Bank Holiday Weekend from Thursday 27 April to Monday 1 May.

The festival incorporates the annual Trench Award, which is now in its 10th year and awards a bursary to a midlands student entering full-time classical music studies.

The programme also includes an Opening Night Gala on Friday evening marking 10 years of the award with past award winners returning to Birr for this celebration concert, curated by Niall Kinsella.

On Saturday there will be a lunchtime concert in the Chestnut Garden featuring Heather Fogarty (mezzo-soprano), Philip Keegan (tenor), Matthew Mannion (baritone) and Peter Regan (piano).

Saturday evening will feature duo Bruno Caproni (baritone) and Julian Evans (piano) and special guest Sandra Oman (soprano) at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre.

On Sunday there will be music at Birr Castle at 3pm with Carolyn Holt, Matthew Mannion, Martina Rosaria O’Connell, Ben Gannon, Mollie Wrafter, Aoibhin Keogh Daly, Aidan Chan and Niall Kinsella.

The 2023 Trench Award concert will take place at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Sunday at 7.30pm, with six singers and musicians competing.

There will also be a performance by Caponi and Evans for local schools, a performance by young local musicians at the Birr Community Nursing Unit, and, on Monday, masterclasses and two themed concerts ‘Exploring The Planets & Stars’ (a collaboration with Birr School of Music) and ‘Musical Time Travellers’ (with newly composed music by Claire Meehan).

For further details on all events see below, or visit www.birrfestivalofmusic.com.

***

Festival programme

Thursday 27 April
Music For Life

St Brendan’s Community School, Birr Gallen Community School, Ferbane Coláiste Naomh Cormac, Kilcormac.
Senior music students gain an insight into what it means to be a successful professional musician. Acclaimed baritone Bruno Caproni and concert pianist Julian Evans present music and stories from their international careers. Past Trench Award recipients now developing their careers in concert, opera, orchestra and other ensembles, will also give performances followed by Q&A sessions.

Friday 28 April, 2pm
Memories In Music
Birr Community Nursing Unit
Young musicians perform classic songs and melodies, bringing musical memories to residents, day-care clients and staff.T

Friday 28 April, 8pm
Opening Night Gala
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre | 8pm | €20/18
An exciting performance of quartets, trios, duets and solos showcasing the immense talent of past Trench Award recipients. Including music by Mozart, Purcell, Massenet, Strauss.
Featuring Sarah Brady (soprano), Carolyn Holt (mezzo- soprano), Martina Rosaria O’Connell (flute), Ben Gannon (oboe), Mollie Wrafter (violin), Philip Keegan (viola), Aoibhin Keogh Daly (cello), Aidan Chan (piano) and Peter Regan (piano).
Tickets

Saturday 29 April, 1pm
A Lunchtime of Song
The Chestnut Garden | €16 (including light lunch)
A plethora of music from the worlds of movies, musicals and jazz - a concert that really has something for everyone.
Featuring Heather Fogarty (mezzo-soprano), Philip Keegan (tenor), Matthew Mannion (baritone) and Peter Regan (piano).
Tickets

Saturday 29 April, 8pm
An Enchanted Evening
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre | 8pm | €20/18
Internationally-acclaimed duo, Bruno Caproni and Julian Evans are joined by special guest soprano Sandra Oman, long considered one of the finest singers of her generation. Featuring the music of Rossini, Verdi, Bizet, Liszt, Ravel, Lerner & Loewe, Rodgers & Hammerstein. A great programme of popular operatic solos, duets, piano solos and beloved Broadway musicals.
Tickets

Sunday 30 April, 3pm
Music in Birr Castle
For Festival Patrons & Sponsors | 3pm
In the historic Music Room of Birr Castle, a celebration of music by female composers including Nadia & Lili Boulanger, Lisa Lehmann and Madeleine Dring.
Featuring Carolyn Holt, Matthew Mannion, Martina Rosaria O’Connell, Ben Gannon, Mollie Wrafter, Aoibhin Keogh Daly, Aidan Chan and Niall Kinsella.

Sunday 30 April, 7.30pm
The Trench Award 2023
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre | 7.30pm | €18/€16*
Six singers and musicians of the future each perform a 15-minute programme of their choice. All are pursuing professional careers in performance and were selected by an international panel. Recipients of The Trench Award, Birr Lions Club Bursary, the Canto Al Serchio Prize (for voice), the Audrey Chisholm Award (for instrument) will be announced. An Audience Choice and Musical Futures Bursary may also be awarded. Accompanist | Dearbhla Brosnan.
Tickets

Monday 1 May, 11am
Masterclasses
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre | 11.00am - 1.30pm | FREE
Observe the Trench Award finalists in vocal and piano masterclasses given by Bruno Caproni and Julian Evans. Open to all; music students and teachers are especially welcome.
Tickets

Monday 1 May, 1.30pm
Exploring The Planets & Stars

Church of Ireland, Oxmantown Mall | FREE
Inspired by the rich astrological heritage of Birr Castle & Science Centre, children present songs, art and poetry created over the past fourteen weeks. A collaboration with Birr School of Music. Gregory Ward (choral director), Sophie Ward (accompanist) and Emma Behan (visual artist).
Tickets

Monday 1 May, 3pm
Musical Time Travellers

Church of Ireland, Oxmantown Mall | €14/12
Moving through centuries of composers to the present day and including newly-commissioned music by composer Claire Meehan, inspired by lines from the poem, BIRR, by Rita Kelly: ‘This place, this Birr, peopled by those who still consider the stars’. Featuring Arthur Greene (organ) and Kevin Meehan (violin).
Tickets

Plus classical buskers in cafés, courtyards and on streets. See festival social media for times & locations.

For further details on all events download the programme below, or visit www.birrfestivalofmusic.com.

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Published by Journal of Music on 18 April 2023

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