At the launch of the 2015–16 Music for Galway season on 24 August, it was announced that the concert promoter, now in its 35th season, has grown its sponsorship to present 24 concerts this season including four orchestral concerts. 

The Irish Chamber Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Irish Baroque Orchestra and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra will all perform in Galway between October 2015 and April 2016. The sponsor is the building company Stewart.

The theme of this year is ‘the human voice’ and the season was officially launched at Hotel Meyrick by Liz Nolan of RTÉ Lyric FM. Soprano Rachel Croash, who will perform a programme of Dvořák, Poulenc and Chopin as part of the season’s new lunchtime series, was there to perform Mendelssohn’s ‘Auf Flügeln des Gesanges’ (‘On Wings of Song’) and Rachmaninov’s ‘Vocalise’ accompanied by Artistic Director Finghin Collins (pictured).

Collins will also perform during the season, with the Irish Chamber Orchestra in October, and as part of the Decoda ensemble in the January Midwinter Festival, which is titled ‘Captive: Music from the Abyss’ and presents music written in captivity or inspired by the theme of incarceration. The Midwinter Festival also includes a work commissioned by Music for Galway,  Michel Galante’s C.T.W.

Other season highlights include a recital by mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught accompanied by Dearbhla Collins; a piano recital by Philippe Cassard; a 20th anniversary concert by Con Tempo Quartet featuring Hugh Tinney (piano) and Emma Johnson (clarinet); the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra with soprano Orla Boylan; and soprano Sharon Carty performing baroque operatic works.

Artists in the lunchtime series include the Musici Ireland trio with Helena Wood (violin), leader of the RTÉ NSO, Beth McNinch (viola) and Gráinne Hope (cello). They perform on 11 February.

For full details of the season, download the brochure below. Tickets are now available at www.musicforgalway.ie