Classical, Folk, Trad & Jazz To Start Your Festival
Thomas Dunford, performs at The Parade Tower on Sunday 8th August
It's far from classical music I was raised, unless you count the Bach CD that used to linger in the kitchen for the odd Sunday dinner, but last year's experience of the strand has me hungry for more.
On the opening night for the 2009 Kilkenny Arts Festival, I made the trip to see Alexsandar Madzar perform in St. Canice's Cathedral. One man and the piano, in what can only be described as a stellar venue for music, captivated the entire audience for what could have been two hours worth of a performance. I was in, I was hooked and I'm looking forward to the strand again this year.
As a taste of what's coming up for the opening weekend, we start things off with 31-year old Finnish pianist, Antti Siirala (see the video above). You've got to go and see something in St. Canice's Cathedral this year - whatever the event, whatever the strand. If you can start off on the Friday with the sounds of some of the most challenging pieces in the piano repertoire (courtesy of Chopin), you won't be disappointed. The music is one thing, but with the music and the venue combined you've got a very special atmosphere and experience that you won't find anywhere else. At time of writing this morning, it looks like the show is heading to be a sell-out, and based on what I had experienced myself last year, I'm not surprised.
On the Saturday afternoon, the RTE Concert Orchestra return once more, this time under the watchful eye of conductor John Wilson along with Irish mezzo-soprano Anne Marie Gibbons. It's a 2pm start at St. Canice's and could be a nice way to introduce the family to some familiar pieces with works from Franz Von Suppé, Maurice Ravel, Jules Messenet, Émile Waldteurfel, Camille Sant-Saens and Charles-Francois Gounod (Ballet music from Faust).
Each year of their involvement, the RTE Concert Orchestra have shown themselves to be a real highlight and this year should be no different.
The Black Abbey get its turn to host some music with The Cardinall's Musick, a seriously powerful vocal ensemble, making an appearance for 8pm. They'll be performing masterpieces from two great friends and composers of the Tudor era, Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. Close your eyes, take a listen to this, and you'll hear what's on offer. (Though you may want to click the link, start the video and THEN close your eyes, just in case.)
Curator Susan Proud (who I'll have a conversation with here on the blog during the week) has described Antti Siirala's opening night recital as simply unmissable. The same was said of Thomas Dunford's in the Parade Tower on Sunday. I think this one should be for arts lovers from all walks. The music is a given, but it should also provide a visual spectacle with lutenist Dunford's recital delivered on a theorbo (you've got to see it to believe it). It's an 11am start as well and there might be no better way to start your Sunday morning!
Moving from classical to JWT (that'll be Jazz, World, Traditional - or the music strand), Gerry Godley has put together a fine programme of events that kicks off with the Ale Moller Band at Set Theatre at 10pm on the opening Friday. Looking these guys up online, there's the potential there to lift the roof off Set with Stockholm's answer to Donal Lunny leading a world-music-folk-fused troupe of musicians from Asia, Africa, Greece and beyond through a 90-minute performance.
The trad continues on Saturday night with Sligo natives, The Inisfree Céilí Band. One half of my own family tree has its roots firmly planted in Sligo so this is one show I'll certainly be trying to catch. They were crowned All-Ireland Senior Céilí Band Competition winners two years ago and the eleven-strong ensemble should have everyone on their feet for the Saturday night.
If jazz is your thing, it looks like we'll see Set Theatre transformed into a jazz club for Sunday night with Michael Buckley's Dublin Standard Time (comprising Buckley, Myles Drennan on Piano, Michael Coady on bass and drummer Sean Carpio). Buckley is widely regarded as one of the country's top - if not the top - saxophone players and Set and its surrounds should be the ideal performance venue for a night of jazz.
I just about have my route planned for the opening weekend of the festival, and it's certainly going to contain a lot of music, which puts me in heaven. Though trying to squeeze in everything might be a real challenge! If you need any help picking out events to go and see, don't be afraid to ask a question or leave a comment whether here on the blog or on Facebook. I'll be looking at more on the classical strand and music strand over the next two weeks, with some more video chats from the curators due to drop soon as well. Keep the eye's peeled, as they say.
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