Programme Spring / Summer 2008

www.corkorchestralsociety.ie

Cork Orchestral Society70th Season

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A warm welcome to the second halfof our 70th season. Over the coming the months we have areal treasure trove of solo recitals, chamber and orchestralmusic.

The Irish Chamber Orchestra’s first-ever residency thisseason has been attracting large audiences and with verygood reason, bringing top quality music and very excitingsoloists to Cork - superstar cellist Steven Isserlis’performance with them in February is sure to be ahighlight. The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra will visitin March with stunning soloist Alina Pogostkina, playingthe Bruch’s sumptuous violin concerto.

We are spoilt for choice of chamber music this season. TheRTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet will perform in January andFebruary with two very contrasting programmes. IoanaPetcu-Colan will return to her home town with EnsembleAvalon in February and in April the hugely innovativeSmith Quartet will be joined by saxophonist GerardMcChrystal for a carefully chosen programme ofcontemporary favourites. At the heart of the season will bethe Easter Festival West Meets East, featuring two youngand dynamic quartets, Ireland’s all-female Callino Quartetand Singapore’s all-male T’ang Quartet – it promises to beelectric!

Soloists this season include John Williams, whose name issynonymous with guitar music across the globe (earlybooking strongly advised!) and the deeply musicalBulgarian pianist Vesselin Stanev who performs in March.

We are happy to launch a new website atwww.corkorchestralsociety.ie where you can keep updatedon our programme and to announce an innovativepromotion with Offquay Bistro – now there IS such a thingas a free lunch (and free music!). Every five concerts youattend entitles you to a Bistro voucher and every ten Bistroexperiences entitles you to attend a concert with Dinnerbefore hand. (Terms and conditions apply)

Bon appétit!1

Thursday 31 JanuaryThursday 31 January

RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet with guest Emer McDonough (flute)

8.00 p.m.Aula Maxima, UCC

Mozart Divertimento for strings in D, KV.136Boccherini Quintettino in d for two violins, flute,

viola and cello, Op 17/3 G421Faure (arr. Pascoe) Fantasie for flute and string quartetMarin Mara "Le Basque" from Five Old French(arr. Aspell Dances for flute and string quartetMozart Flute Quartet in D, KV.285Ravel String Quartet in FDebussy Syrinx for solo fluteWu Zu Qiang Of Soldiers and Civilians for flute(arr. Pascoe) and string quartetJ.S. Bach "Badinerie" from Suite No.2 in b for

flute and string quartet

One of Ireland’s finest young flautists joins the world-classRTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet for a programme that combines thequicksilver charm of Bach’s famous Badinerie, the classicalgrace and beauty of Boccherini and Mozart, and theirresistible solo flute music of Debussy.

Emer

McD

onough

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Thursday 7 FebruaryThursday 7 February

Ensemble AvalonIoana Petcu-Colan, violinGerald Peregrine, celloMichael McHale, piano

8.00 p.m.Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Haydn Piano Trio in Eb, Hob: XV30Bax Piano Trio in Bb

Beethoven Trio in D, Op. 70 No. 1 "Ghost" Bernstein Piano Trio, Op. 2 (1937)

Ioana-Petcu Colan makes a welcome visit to her home cityas one-third of what is already one of Ireland’s first-classchamber ensembles.

“…the Ensemble Avalon demonstrateda concentration and an ‘A-game’…which marks this fine young trio asone to watch.”

The Irish Times

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Ensemble Avalon

Friday 15 FebruaryFriday 15 February

Irish Chamber Orchestra – Orchestra-in-residence to CIT Cork School of Music

Steven Isserlis (cello / director)

8.00 p.m.Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

An unmissable opportunity to see world-famous cellistSteven Isserlis perform with this outstanding orchestra,directing from the soloist’s chair, the principal cello seatand the conductor’s podium - early booking is stronglyadvised.

Haydn Symphony No. 13 in DHaydn Cello Concerto in DHaydn Symphony No. 104 in D “London”

Valentines Bar – Friends & Subscribers are invited to theValentines bar that will be open from 7pm in all venues, withsnacks and special offers on champagne and cocktails.

ICO office number: 1890 923543

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Steven Isserlis

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The RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet treat us to 3 core works of therepertoire - renowned for their performance of his work,Beethoven's intensely emotive String Quartet in F (his lastsubstantial work) promises to be very moving. Programmedalongside are Janacek's lyrical Kreutzer sonata and anotherhugely affecting late quartet, Mendelssohn's String QuartetNo. 6.

Thursday 28 FebruaryThursday 28 February

RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet

8.00 p.m.Aula Maxima, UCC

Beethoven String Quartet in F, Op. 135Janáçek String Quartet No. 1, “The Kreutzer Sonata”Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 6 in f, Op. 80

Saturday 1 March 8.00 p.m. Saturday 1 March 8.00 p.m. Sunday 2 March 3.30 p.m.Sunday 2 March 3.30 p.m.

Fleischmann Choir & Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra

City Hall, Cork

Leader: Tom CrowleyConductor: Geoffrey Spratt

Mary Hegarty (soprano)Heather Shipp (contralto) Robert Craig (Tenor)Gordon Garde (bass)

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 in e, Op. 64Karl Jenkins The Armed Man:

A Mass for Peace(First performance in Cork)

Family tickets availableTickets available from:Pro Music, Oliver Plunkett Street, CorkCork School of Music Public Office, Union Quay

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City Hall, Cork

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Wednesday 5th MarchWednesday 5th March

Irish Chamber Orchestra – Orchestra-in-residence to CIT Cork School of MusicIrish Chamber Choir

8.00 p.m.City Hall, Cork

J.S. Bach St. John PassionBach’s timeless Easter celebration performed by the joinedforces of Ireland’s premier choir and orchestra as well asan extraordinary line-up of world-class soloists.

Stephen Layton (conductor)

Robin Tritschler (Evangelist)Grant Doyle (Christus),Olivia O' Brien (soprano),Wilke te Brommelstroete (mezzo soprano)Mark Wilde (tenor) Ben Bevan (bass) TBC (Pilate)

Easter Meal – A special pre-concert meal will be held at6.30pm before each concert, for Friends of the IrishChamber Orchestra, featuring a specially devised EasterMenu.

ICO office number: 1890 923543

Thursday 6 MarchThursday 6 March

Vesselin Stanev (piano)

8.00 p.m.Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Bach Partita No.2 in c, BWV826Beethoven Sonata No.11 in Bb, Op.22Chopin Allegro de concert in A, Op.46

Nocturne in Eb, Op.55 No.2Quatre Mazurkas, Op.24

Liszt Réminiscences de Don Juan, S418

Promoted in conjunction with Barra Ó Tuama Productions

The welcome return to Cork of a giant talent. "In a world ofoutstanding players, the Bulgarian pianist Vesselin Stanevis a rare master of the keyboard. His Wigmore Hallprogramme was truly memorable... This was playing ofoutstanding character and finesse, subtlety and virtuositybeing applied in equal measure." Robert Matthew-Walker,Musical Opinion, London

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Vesselin Stanev

Thursday 13 MarchThursday 13 March

RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra

8.00 p.m.City Hall, Cork

Alina Pogostkina (violin)Gerhard Markson (conductor)

Alina Pogostkina, brilliant young winner of the 2005Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki, makes her RTÉNSO début with an all-time favourite, Max Bruch's lyricaland much-loved G minor violin concerto. Also in this tourprogramme, Beethoven at his most genial in the 'Pastoral'Symphony and one of Wagner's greatest overtures -Tannhäuser - noble, majestic and expansive.

Wagner Overture TannhäuserBruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in g, Op. 26Beethoven Symphony No. 6 in F, Op. 68 “Pastoral”

Alina

Pogostkina

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West meets East

Cork Orchestral Society and CIT Cork School of Music aredelighted to host West Cork Music’s Easter celebrationwhen Ireland’s Callino Quartet will be joined by the T’angQuartet from Singapore, who created a real stir at the 2006West Cork Chamber Music Festival. The Quartets will bejoined by pianist Finghin Collins, who will play Schnittke’smesmerising Quintet with the Callino and Dohnanyi’sextrovert First Quintet with the T’ang.

The series will open with the Callino playing Haydn’s SevenLast Words as a Good Friday meditation. Other works to befeatured will be Mozart’s great G minor string quintet,Schumann’s First Quartet, Dvorák’s evergreen AmericanQuartet, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh’s Azerbaijani tale of forbiddenlove Mugam Sajahi and a celebration of Henryk Gorecki’s75th birthday with his Kronos-popularised Quasi unaFantasia.

The West meets East collaboration will be dramaticallybrought to life with Shostakovich’s highly charged youthfulOctet and, to bring the series to its final consummation, alittle-known but joyful Octet by the Norwegian Svendsen.

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T’ang Quartet

Callino

Quartet

Good Friday 21 MarchGood Friday 21 March

Callino QuartetA Good Friday Meditation

8.00 p.m.St Mary’s, Pope’s QuayFree Admission

Joseph HaydnSeven Last Words of our Saviour on the Cross

West meets East

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Callino Quartet

Saturday 22 MarchSaturday 22 March

12.00 p.m. Coffee ConcertCoffee ConcertCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Callino QuartetLionel Tan (viola) with Conor Palliser (horn) Mozart Horn Quintet K.407

Sophie CashellBeethoven Sonata No.17 in d, Op.31/2 “Tempest”Liszt Ballade No.2 in b, S.171

Saturday 22 MarchSaturday 22 March

8.00 p.m. Evening ConcertEvening ConcertCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Callino Quartet, T’ang QuartetShostakovich Two Pieces for String Octet, Op.11

Callino Quartet with Lionel Tan (viola)Mozart String Quintet in g, K.516

T’ang QuartetAli-Zadeh Mugam Sajahi

Callino QuartetSchumann Quartet No.1 in a, Op.41/1

West meets East

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Easter Sunday 23 MarchEaster Sunday 23 March

8.00 p.m. Evening ConcertEvening ConcertCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Callino QuartetHaydn Quartet in d, Op.76/2

T’ang QuartetDvorak Quartet in F, Op.96 “American”

T’ang Quartet with Finghin Collins (piano)Dohnanyi Piano Quintet No.1 in c, Op.1

10.30 p.m. Late Night ConcertLate Night ConcertCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

T’ang QuartetGorecki Quartet No.2 “Quasi una Fantasia”

West meets East

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T’ang Quartet

Monday 24 MarchMonday 24 March

12.00 p.m. Coffee ConcertCoffee ConcertCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Cashell Piano TrioDebussy Piano Trio in GDvorak Piano Trio in e, Op.90 “Dumky”

Monday 24 MarchMonday 24 March

8.00 p.m. Evening ConcertEvening ConcertCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

T’ang QuartetHaydn Quartet in b, Op.64/2

Callino Quartet with Finghin Collins (piano)Schnittke Piano Quintet

T’ang Quartet, Callino Quartet Svendsen String Octet in a, Op.3

West meets East

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FinghinC

ollins

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Friday 4 AprilFriday 4 April

Irish Chamber Orchestra – Orchestra-in-residence to CIT Cork School of Music

8.00 p.m. Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Anthony Marwood (director / violin)

Acclaimed Artistic Director Anthony Marwood makes hisfirst appearance of the year, presenting a programme ofexcitement, invention and audacity, with music from fourcenturies - Mendelssohn’s joyful concerto, Sibelius’beautiful Voces Intimae and a world premiere from Irishcomposer Deirdre McKay.

J.S.Bach from The Art of FugeDeirdre McKay New CommissionMendelssohn Concerto in d for Violin

and StringsSibelius/arr Marwood String Quartet in d, Op. 56

“Voces Intimae”

Meet Marwood – Friends and Subscribers are invited to areception after each concert, to meet and talk to AnthonyMarwood and the musicians of the Irish ChamberOrchestra. ‘You meet more interesting people when you’rea friend of the ICO’

ICO office number: 1890 923543

Anthony Marwood

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Thursday 10 AprilThursday 10 April

Gerard McChrystal (saxophone)The Smith Quartet

8.00 p.m. Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

An International leading light in contemporary music, theSmith Quartet have led the way forward in music for overtwenty years. They are joined by saxophonist GerardMcChrystal for an audience-friendly programme whichincludes music by Micheál Ó Suilleabháin, Michael Nymanand Chick Corea.

Kevin Volans Hunting GatheringMicheál Ó Suilleabháin Óiche NollaigMichael McGlynn Suite from InvocationDebussy SyrinxMichael Nyman Shaping The CurveDonnacha Dennehy Commission by Music NetworkRavel Piece en forme de HabaneraCiaran Farrell The Pilgrim's ReturnChick Corea Children's Songs

Smith Quartet

Gerard

McC

hrystal

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Thursday 24 AprilThursday 24 April

John Williams (guitar)

8.00 p.m.Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

We are excited to be welcoming the world’s most celebratedguitarist to Cork for what promises to be a musicalhighlight of 2008. Programme to be announced – earlybooking is strongly advised and tickets will be available inadvance from Pro Musica, 20 Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork.

John Williams

Thursday 8 MayThursday 8 May

Edward Beckett (flute)Martin Jones (piano)

8.00 p.m.Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Dutilleux SonatineRhené-Baton PassacailleIgnaz Moscheles Sonate ConcertanteAlbert Roussel Joueurs de FlûteReynaldo Hahn Variations sur un

thème de MozartBohuslav Martinu Sonata No. 1

Relax and enjoy this evening of flute music with renowned,Dublin trained flautist, Edward Beckett. The programmehas a French slant, but includes some treasured rarities.

Curtis Auditorium

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Image by Shove Media for MOLA

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Saturday 24 MaySaturday 24 May

Irish Chamber Orchestra – Orchestra-in-residence to CIT Cork School of Music

8.00 p.m. Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Douglas Boyd (conductor)Susan Tomes (piano)

Susan Tomes, one of the finest pianists of her generationjoins the ICO and conductor Douglas Boyd for one ofMozart’s most exquisite concertos. This will be followed byBeethoven’s stunning Symphony No.7 in A.

Beethoven himself called his Seventh symphony ‘one of mybest works’. These performances of the vivid, dynamicmasterpiece under the baton of Douglas Boyd will be un-missable. The first half includes Mozart’s sublime PianoConcerto No. 17 performed by one of Europe’s mostrespected chamber musicians.

Elgar Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47Mozart Piano concerto No.17 in G, K453Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A, Op. 92

ICO office number: 1890 923543

Douglas Boyd

The Venues

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Aula Maxima, UCCDescribed in 1849 by The Cork Examiner as 'one of the mostmagnificent rooms in Ireland', the Aula Maxima is in theheart of the University and is a truly superb setting forconcerts. A 10-minute walk up Washington Street from theGrand Parade, enjoy a leafy stroll up the picturesque pathfrom the main gates to the Aula in the old stone MainQuadrangle. Leave plenty of time for parking if you'rearriving by car (see map) and take a leisurely wanderthrough the picturesque campus.

Aula Maxima, UCC

The Venues

Curtis Auditorium

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City HallThe City Hall is situatedon the waterfrontoverlooking the Southchannel of the River Leeand is a fine venue forlarge-scale concerts,comfortably seating alarge audience.

Curtis AuditoriumThe magnificent Curtis Auditorium lies at the core of thenew state-of -the-art CIT Cork School of Music on UnionQuay. The Auditorium is fully equipped with a moveableceiling and adjustable walls to cater for different acousticalneeds. Enhance your evening by arriving early andenjoying the cuisine at the Offquay Bistro in the foyer ofthe school.

Image by Shove Media for MOLA

City Hall, Cork

eMEMBERSHIP September 2007 - August 2008

Ordinary Membership !20Concessionary Membership !12

Admission Prices for the 70th Season

Curtis AuditoriumAdmission to 8.00 p.m. recitals / concertsRaked seat:s !20 (!15 and !10)Flat-floor seats: !16 (!12 and !8)

Curtis AuditoriumAdmission to 3.00 & 6.00 p.m. recitals / concertsRaked seats: !15 (!12 and !8)Flat-floor seats: !12 (!10 and !7)

Lunch-time Recitals!10 (!8 and !5)

Irish Chamber OrchestraRaked seats: !25 (!20)Flat-floor seats: !20 (!15 and !10)ICO Office: 1890 923543

Aula Maxima!16 (!12 and !8)

City Hall Balcony !20 (no concessions)Front parterre !17 (!12)Back parterre !12 (!8)Family Tickets (available for CSMSO)!25 (Front Parterre) & !17 (Back Parterre) (2 adults + their children)

www.corkorchestralsociety.ie

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RTÉ Vanbrugh QuartetThursday 31 January Aula Maxima, UCC

Ensemble AvalonThursday 7 FebruaryCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Irish Chamber OrchestraFriday 15 February Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

RTÉ Vanbrugh QuartetThursday 28 February Aula Maxima, UCC

Fleischmann Choir & Cork School of Music Symphony OrchestraSaturday & Sunday 1 & 2 March City Hall

Vesselin Stanev (piano)Thursday 6 March Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Irish Chamber OrchestraWednesday 5 March City Hall

RTÉ National Symphony OrchestraThursday 13 March City Hall

West meets EastFriday-Monday 21-24 MarchCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Irish Chamber OrchestraFriday 4 April Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Gerard McChrystal (saxophone) & Smith QuartetThursday 10 AprilCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

John Williams (guitar)Thursday 24 AprilCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Edward Beckett (flute) & Martin Jones (piano)Thursday 8 MayCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

Irish Chamber OrchestraSaturday 24 MayCurtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music

www.corkorchestralsociety.ie