To mark the 400th anniversary of John Dowland’s death in 1626, this four-part concert series – curated by countertenor Mark Chambers – charts the extraordinary life of Europe’s first musical superstar.
Long before the concept of a pan-European artist existed, Dowland crossed political, religious and geographic borders, carrying his lute and his notebook from the courtly chambers of London and Dublin to the glittering hubs of Paris, Kassel, Venice, Florence and the Danish royal courts.
This series traces that restless itinerary, beginning with Mr Dowland’s Midday, where lutenist Eamon Sweeney, viola da gamba player Norah O’Leary and countertenor Mark Chambers explore the peak of Dowland’s popularity through the intimate domestic lute books of Great Britain and Ireland, which feature masterworks including ‘Flow My Tears’ and ‘Fortune My Foe’.
The second concert explores Dowland’s spiritual side through his late, experimental sacred anthems, while in the third and fourth concerts The Earls of Ormond and guests join Dowland on the road from France to Denmark, mixing iconic tunes such as ‘Can she excuse my wrongs’ and ‘If my complaints’ with works by his European contemporaries including Pierre Guédron and Adriano Banchieri, as well as that of elite Irish harpers like Charles O’Reilly. Together these four programmes celebrate the legacy of the composer who harmonised a continent.
The Earls of Ormond
Caoimhe de Paor recorder
Norah O’Leary & Sarah Groser viols
Malcolm Proud chamber organ
Siobhán Armstrong harp
Mark Chambers countertenor
Book Tickets
| Wed 12 Aug, 3.00p.m. | €23 | Book Now |
