Rachel Podger Concert

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Beautiful concert at the Cork School of music last night, Rachel Podger on Baroque violin, Pamela Thorby on recorders with Malcolm Proud harpsichord. Rachel's violin playing is sublime. The smooth sound from her exquisitely controlled bow was wonderful to hear. The highlight was her rendition of Sonata No. 3 in E by J. S. Bach It's all in the bow, and keeping all the joints in the arm supple. Her arm was fluid and the sound was fluid. Flexible means you can change direction, speed, texture at any moment and can react to any musical impulse. Rachel says:

"If you're going to get anywhere in this business, you've got to have something special to sell, but if that's not the music, then I'm not interested."

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaUY8bU5XBI']

Ozmosis Concert

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OZmoSiS is a new ensemble that I formed with two other expat Australians living in Ireland.
We performed at the Cork School of Music and during the concert I played the premiere of an original work Blow by Blow

An Australian blow fly trapped in the window, the buzz, the irritation, the reminder of what is beyond the window
a reminder of what it is to be free, feelings of being being trapped, so near yet so far.
Working towards your goals blow by blow, a journey where there are all the elements of being a blowfly trapped, released
coming up against the invisible wall time and time again but still persevering,
still heading towards the light, the promise of freedom.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SaRFPU77Tk’]

Dido and Aeneas

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Having a great time preparing for this. Don’t miss!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I8aF_75Kq4′]

Cork Opera House presents
Cara O’Sullivan Majella Cullagh Mary Hegarty in Dido & Aeneas by Henry Purcell

Directed by John O’Brien

Arranged by and featuring Marja Gaynor (strings)
with Carolyn Goodwin (winds), Ilse De Ziah (strings) & Piia Pakarinen (accordian)

And with Brendan Collins as Aeneas

Choreography by Inma Moya Pavon
Costume Design by Lisa Zagone
Set Design by John O’Brien
Lighting Design by Michael Hurley

For the very first time Cork’s International Stars Cara O’Sullivan, Majella Cullagh and Mary Hegarty will perform on the operatic stage together in Henry Purcell’s exquisite masterpiece Dido and Aeneas.

The 1689 Baroque work is given a stunning new arrangement involving elements of jazz, gypsy and tango and is set in a fantastical gothic world.

This one-hour opera, based on the Roman poet Virgil’s tragic story of Queen Dido and her Trojan lover, Aeneas, was one of the first operas written and performed in English.

In this new production, each of the four singers also plays their principal character’s subconscious other self – a concept which heightens the emotional and sexual tension created by the passion of hidden desires.

The new orchestration will be created by Baroque and contemporary music specialist and violinist, Marja Gaynor for a quartet of multi-instrumentalist musicians.

Dido and Aeneas offers a top-quality, not to be missed artistic experience for adults and an engaging introduction to opera for teenage audiences.

Performance Schedule
Tues 8 Feb – 8pm
Wed 9 Feb – 8pm
Thurs 10 Feb – 1.30pm & 9pm

Tickets: €20
Concession Tickets Available: €15
School Group Tickets: €12
Limited Early Bird €15 Tickets Available

Recording with Jan Allain

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I’m playing on Jan Allain’s new album next week, after many years finally recording again with her! I’ve been arranging string parts and Cat O’Hora will be joining me in the studio to put down violin and viola parts. So far what I’ve heard sounds great!

pink-cd an early CD cover.

And another winner…always undressed!

CD cover

CD cover

at Liverpool st station…
head cut off

CD and Book Launch

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A great turnout on Thursday, Evelyn Grant gave a wonderful introduction and officially launched the CD and book. Tina Horan’s New Moon Company dancers gave a beautiful performance, starting with three dancers opening the evening to the mournful Cape Clear on cello. A gaggle of children sat on the floor mesmerized. Three more airs on my own, Buachaill On Eirne, Carrickfergus and Fanny Power, and then for the final piece, ten dancers joined me for a moving performance with my composition Inch Strand. Guests at the launch who were familiar with the Strand were very impressed by the evocation of the atmosphere of Inch that was achieved by the dance and music.

Thanks to all who made the evening a resounding success:

Tina Horan, Evelyn Grant, Ian Date, Marja Gaynor, Martin Iglody, the Glucksmann staff, the New Moon dancers, and the New Moon girls who helped to make the place buzz!

Some film footage of the night to come…