Celebrating the 350th anniversary of the blind Irish harp composer Turlough Carolan, Chamber Music on Valentia, an idyllic island festival off the west coast of Ireland, present the combined musical talents of members of Flook, Fidelio Trio, Carducci Quartet, Smith Quartet and Irish Chamber Orchestra in a unique programme of Carolan’s most popular works, and his poetry read by actor Adrian Dunbar.

Planxty’s, Carolans Concerto, Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór will be performed alongside the music of Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and Matthew Dubourg, (the Orchestral Leader in the premiere of Handel’s Messiah).

This year marks the 350th anniversary of the remarkable Irish harpist composer Turlough Carolan. Undoubtedly, the foremost composer of music of the Harper’s, a hybrid musical form combining elements of the Italian baroque, in vogue in Dublin at that time, with Irish traditional dance melodies. Carolan’s legacy and influence on Irish music over the past 350 years is unquestionable.

This special Kings Place performance sets his works in that hybrid musical world between baroque performance practice and Irish traditional music with key performers from Flook, Fidelio Trio, Carducci Quartet, Smith Quartet and Irish Chamber Orchestra. All enhanced by narration of Carolan’s own poetry read by Irish actor Adrian Dunbar.

Presented by Chamber Music on Valentia.
With generous support of Embassy of Ireland UK and a private donor.