THE FEWS ENSEMBLE
Director Joanne Quigley McParland
With Ciarán Hinds and Emily Ayers
Smock Alley Theatre | 31 May - 4 June
www.smockalley.com

Igor Stravinsky’s First World War music theatre piece tells the dark Faustian fable of a soldier who makes a trade with the devil on the promise of untold wealth and success… or so he is led to believe.

A unique opportunity to hear one of Ireland’s leading Chamber Music Ensembles bring this masterpiece to life alongside Oscar-nominated actor Ciarán Hinds and contemporary dancer Emily Ayers.

“You could just call it a successful melding of arts forms wonderfully presented. But that doesn’t do justice to the piece as offered in Kilkenny. Perhaps it’s best to say: it’s a cracker. And that’s whether your taste is for drama, poetry, modern music, jazz or dance. All the art forms are there, brilliantly delivered.” Emer O’Kelly, Sunday Independent.

Our story telling begins in the first half when we will transport you to Argentina for a musical depiction of the History of the Tango by Astor Piazzolla and we start the concert with 4 Spanish dances from Manuel de Falla’s ballet ‘The Three Cornered Hat”

The Three Cornered Hat Manuel de Falla arrangement for septet by Rick Robinson.
Histoire du Tango Astor Piazzolla
The Soldier’s Tale (L’histoire du Soldat)
Igor Stravinsky
Libretto by Charles Ferdinand Ramuz. Translation by Jermeny Sams

DIRECTED BY Joanne Quigley McParland
LIGHTING DESIGN BY Eoin McCartan

PERFORMED BY
Ciarán Hinds (Narrator)
Emily Ayers, (Dance/Choreography)
Joanne Quigley McParland (Violin)
Colm Byrne (Trumpet)
Dominic Dudley (Double Bass)
Steve Mathieson (Trombone)
Éanna Monaghan (Bassoon)
Ronan McKee (Percussion)
Macdara Ó Seireadáin (Clarinet)
Redmond O Toole (Guitar)

About the company…
The Fews Ensemble was founded in 2016 and is directed by leading Irish violinist and curator Joanne Quigley McParland. The ensemble brings together the finest musicians and artists from across Europe on a regular basis to present innovative and exciting concerts throughout Ireland. We pride ourselves on thinking outside the box and presenting audiences with fresh approaches to well know masterpieces and introducing them to new or lesser known works. Since 2020 the Fews Ensemble have commissioned 4 new works from living Irish composers and are passionate about collaborating with artists from all disciplines.
The Soldier’s Tale by arrangement of Chester Music Limited acting on behalf of Itself and Schott Music GmbH and Co KG.