Originally penned for piano, Mozart’s tuneful Sonata No. 17 is beautifully suited to the quicksilver elegance of this more recent arrangement for flute and piano. 

The flute enjoyed something of a golden era in Mid-20th Century France, its ability to capture a certain je ne sais quoi atmosphere of the time winning the hearts of many accomplished composers. Among them were Francis Poulenc and his contemporary Germaine Tailleferre, the only woman in the important group of French composers known as “Les Six”.

“We all need some Gerald Barry in our lives: if you haven’t got any yet, you must do soon.” So said The Guardian’s Tom Service, and we couldn’t agree more. We’re honoured to bring you a new work from Gerald Barry to mark the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the Blessington Lakes (Poulaphouca Reservoir). Whilst the lakes today contribute to the exquisite beauty of West Wicklow, it is important to remember that for those who lost land, homes and livelihoods in the late 1930s, these lakes represent something very different. This work commemorates their considerable sacrifice.

While hard at work on his monumental film score for Ivan the Terrible, Prokofiev somehow managed to find the time to sketch out his Flute Sonata. By turns lyrical, playful and hugely expressive, it brings this opening concert of the Festival to a thrilling close.”

The West Wicklow Festival would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Thomas Dammann Junior Memorial Trust for their financing of Gerald Barry’s commission.