Tag Archives: ireland

2019 Irish Cello Retreat

Once again I am running the Irish cello Retreat here in Ireland, in the beautiful East Cork. If you get a chance to come over in June, we will be having a wonderful relaxing and inspiring four days of cello bliss. I have a video of a few happy cellists and feel free to email me about and questions you have. I’m happy to phone/Skype to chat if that is preferred.

Rachel Podger Concert

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

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

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