The National Symphony Orchestra has announced that it will present a special concert this November to mark composer Bill Whelan’s 75th birthday. The event will feature the world premiere of a new orchestral work commissioned from Whelan along with a number of other compositions.

The concert, conducted by Gavin Maloney, coincides with the 30th anniversary of Riverdance and will include a performance of the Riverdance Symphonic Suite, which presents the score’s main melodies in full symphonic arrangement. Other works on the programme are music from the film Dancing at Lughnasa (1998), ‘Caraçena’ from The Seville Suite, and ‘An Chistin’ from The Connemara Suite.

Uilleann piper Tara Howley and accordion player Damien Mullane will appear as soloists on ‘Caraçena’; Séamus Ó Flatharta (voice, harp, whistle) and Zoë Conway (fiddle) will join the orchestra for ‘An Chistin’. 

Commenting on the new work and concert, Whelan said:

2025 is not only my 75th year on the planet, but it also marks the 30th year in the life of the most noted of my compositions, Riverdance. I am honoured that the National Symphony Orchestra is not only presenting this concert to mark these occasions, but that it has also commissioned a new piece from me to add to the repertoire. Events such as these provide opportunities to reflect on the arc of one’s work, and so the programme will include music from my earliest large scale orchestral composition, right up to the present…

He added:

The occasion of writing a new work is always significant. In acknowledgement of my relationship with and affection for the National Symphony Orchestra, the new work will focus on each section of the orchestra, highlighting individual solo instruments as well as ensemble passages and ending with a full orchestral finale.

The concert will take place on Friday 21 November and booking is now open. Visit www.nch.ie/all-events-listing/nso-bill-whelan-at-75.

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