RTE National Symphony Orchestra Soundings and Pipeworks

National 2017 RTÉ 2018 Symphony Orchestra

FREE Pre-concert events LINKED TO RTÉ NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MAIN SEASON CONCERTS

PIPEWORKS Organ recitals at 6pm

SOUNDINGS Pre-concert talks at 6.30pm

PRESENTED BY THE RTÉ NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, PIPEWORKS AND THE NATIONAL CONCERT HALL

National 2017 RTÉ 2018 Symphony Orchestra

SOUNDINGS FREE PRE-CONCERT TALKS* *Free with concert ticket

FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2017 SOUNDINGS 6.30pm Conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto and pianist Jorge Federico Osorio in conversation MAIN CONCERT 7.30pm FALLA Nights in the Gardens of Spain RAVEL Piano Concerto in D, “Left Hand” NIELSEN Symphony No. 5 Carlos Miguel Prieto conductor Jorge Federico Osorio piano

FRIDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2017 SOUNDINGS 6.30pm Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann and RTÉ NSO General Manager Anthony Long in conversation with Ellen Cranitch, RTÉ lyric fm MAIN CONCERT 7.30pm BRAHMS Violin Concerto in D BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1 in C PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 1 ‘Classical’ Nathalie Stutzmann conductor Veronika Eberle violin

FRIDAY 19 JANUARY 2018 SOUNDINGS 6.30pm Conductor Olari Elts and viola player Brett Dean in conversation with Ciara Higgins, Royal Irish Academy of Music MAIN CONCERT 7.30pm RACHMANINOFF The Isle of the Dead BRETT DEAN Viola Concerto STRAVINSKY Funeral Song STRAVINSKY Petrushka (1947) Olari Elts conductor Brett Dean viola

FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER 2017 SOUNDINGS 6.30pm Conductor Jaime Martín in conversation with Royal Irish Academy of Music Director Deborah Kelleher MAIN CONCERT 7.30pm BACH (Arr. Benjamin) Canon and Fugue (The Art of Fugue) TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor BRAHMS (Arr. Schoenberg) Piano Quartet in G minor Jaime Martín conductor Boris Giltburg piano

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FRIDAY 26 JANUARY 2018 SOUNDINGS 6.30pm Conductor Daniele Rustioni and pianist Alexander Toradze in conversation with Ellen Cranitch, RTÉ lyric fm MAIN CONCERT 7.30pm PETRASSI Ritratto di Don Quixote (Suite) SHOSTAKOVICH Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 in F minor Daniele Rustioni conductor Alexander Toradze piano

FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018

FRIDAY 11 MAY 2018

SOUNDINGS 6.30pm Conductor Duncan Ward and pianists Alexander Bernstein and Fiachra Garvey in conversation with Paul Herriott, RTÉ lyric fm

SOUNDINGS 6.30pm Conductor Christian Vásquez and cellist Narek Hakhanazaryan in conversation with DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama Head of Conservatory, Dr Orla McDonagh

MAIN CONCERT 7.30pm DEBUSSY Jeux; poème dansé POULENC Concerto for 2 Pianos in D minor PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 5 in B flat Duncan Ward conductor Alexander Bernstein piano Fiachra Garvey piano

MAIN CONCERT 7.30pm SHOSTAKOVICH Festive Overture SHOSTAKOVICH Cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat R. STRAUSS Ein Heldenleben Christian Vásquez conductor Narek Hakhnazaryan cello

FRIDAY 9 MARCH 2018 SOUNDINGS 6.30pm Conductor Jaime Martín and pianist Javier Perianes in conversation with RTÉ NSO Flute Section Principal Catríona Ryan MAIN CONCERT 7.30pm NIELSEN 7 Pieces from Aladdin RAVEL Piano Concerto in G SIBELIUS Symphony No. 5 in E flat Jaime Martín conductor Javier Perianes piano FRIDAY 20 APRIL 2018 SOUNDINGS 6.30pm Pianist Vyacheslav Gryaznov in conversation with pianist Dearbhla Collins MAIN CONCERT 7.30pm RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor BRAHMS Symphony No. 1 in C minor

FRIDAY 18 MAY 2018 SOUNDINGS 6.30pm Pianist Nathalia Milstein in conversation with Eamonn Lawlor, RTÉ lyric fm MAIN CONCERT 7.30pm MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23 in A MAHLER Symphony No. 6 in A minor Tragic John Storgårds conductor Nathalia Milstein piano

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Nathalie Stutzmann conductor Vyacheslav Gryaznov piano

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PIPEWORKS CONCERT FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER, 6pm DAVID ADAMS

CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD (1852-1924) Verdun from Sonata Eroica, Organ Sonata No. 2, Op. 151 / 8’ ANTONIN DVORÁK (1841-1904) Canon and Poco allegro from Bagatelles Op. 47 / 9’ JEAN LANGLAIS (1907-91) Chant Héroique from Neuf pièces Op. 40 / 4’ JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833-97) Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, Op. 122/5 / 3’ LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Finale from The Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43 / 4’ CÉSAR FRANCK (1822-90) Pièce héroïque from Trois pièces pour grand orgue / 8’ David Adams organ

All three composers from the RTÉ NSO’s 7.30pm concert are represented here: a serene prelude by Brahms; bagatelles by Dvorák; and the Finale of Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus, on whose theme the fourth movement of the Eroica symphony is based. Beethoven’s hero was Napoleon, and the remaining pieces also focus on the heroic. While Stanford pays tribute to the French army that suffered incalculable losses at the battle of Verdun (1917), and Langlais to Jehan Alain, slain in the Second World War, César Franck’s Pièce héroïque explores the battle between major and minor, and good and evil, ending in glorious triumph. v

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ELDBJØRG HEMSING

MAIN SEASON CONCERT FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER, 7.30pm BRAHMS Academic Festival Overture / 10’

Music that stirs the emotions and draws on the full resources of the orchestra.

DVORÁK Violin Concerto in A minor / 32’

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 in E flat / 47’

Brahms’ ‘jolly pot-pourri’ of student drinking songs – familiar to many who studied Leaving Certificate Music during certain years - Dvorák’s thrilling Violin Concerto and an historic turning point of epic proportions for the symphony in Beethoven’s Eroica. v

Miguel Harth-Bedoya conductor Eldbjørg Hemsing violin

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PIPEWORKS CONCERT FRIDAY 12 JANUARY, 6pm PETER BARLEY

BEDRICH ANTONIN WIEDERMANN (1883-1951) Impetuoso (1933) / 7’ JEHAN ALAIN (1911-40) Aria (1938) / 7’ CÉSAR FRANCK (1822-90) Fantaisie in A (1878) / 12’ JEHAN ALAIN (1911-40) Postlude pour L’Office de Complies (1930) / 5’ JEHAN ALAIN (1911-40) Litanies / 5’ Peter Barley organ This recital features a key ‘father-figure’ to the French tradition of organistcomposers, César Franck. As Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatoire, Franck was influential on a whole generation of French composers; Paul Dukas’ music shows the influence not only of Franck, but also Berlioz and Debussy. In turn, Dukas taught composition to Jehan Alain who, had he lived beyond 1940, would surely have gained a place in history alongside that giant of twentieth century classical music, Oliver Messiaen.

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VALERIY SOKOLOV

MAIN SEASON CONCERT FRIDAY 12 JANUARY, 7.30pm DEBUSSY Prélude a L’apres-midi d’un faune / 10’

BARTÓK Violin Concerto No. 2 / 36’

BERLIOZ Symphonie Fantastique / 49’ Stanislav Kochanovsky conductor Valeriy Sokolov violin

The startling masterpiece that awakened modern music, a rhapsodic concerto that bends the new to its own dazzlingly discrete ends, and an orchestral showpiece that exorcises unrequited love for an Irish actress.

Stanislav Kochanovsky – ‘technical proficiency, clarity and much musicality’ Bachtrack

Valeriy Sokolov – ‘the sheer eloquence of his playing is a joy’ ClassicFM

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PIPEWORKS CONCERT FRIDAY 2 FEBRUARY, 6pm CAROLE O’CONNOR

FRANZ LISZT (1811-86) Évocation à la Chapelle Sixtine, S658 / 14’

JEAN LANGLAIS (1907-91) Hommage à Rameau, Op. 134 / 22’ Carole O’Connor organ

This programme pays homage to Mozart and Rameau, the featured composers in the RTÉ NSO’s 7.30pm concert. Liszt’s Évocation à la Chapelle Sixtine is based on two works: Allegri’s Miserere and Mozart’s Ave Verum. Although restricted to performance by the Sistine Chapel Choir, Allegri’s Miserere was copied down from memory by fourteen-year-old Mozart following a visit to the chapel. Langlais’ Hommage à Rameau originally comprised six movements, titled to form an acrostic on Rameau’s name, two of which appear in the published version alongside Ostinato.

It was completed in 1964 to mark the bicentennial of Rameau’s death.

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ANNA DEVIN

MAIN SEASON CONCERT FRIDAY 2 FEBRUARY, 7.30pm

RAMEAU Platée: Suite des Danses / 8’

MOZART Voi avete un cor fedele / 6’

A bunch of brilliant ballet suites

by Rameau frame a programme of ravishing, coloratura-laced arias

by Mozart.

MOZART Oh temerario Arbace! Per quel paterno amplesso / 7’

MOZART Anna Devin – ‘a voice as liquid and sparkling as the best champagne’

Ah se in ciel, benigne stelle / 8’

The Times

Serenata Notturna in D major / 13’

Harry Bicket ‘flawless and uplifting’

RAMEAU

MOZART

Suite from Les Boréades / 31’

The Independent

Harry Bicket conductor Anna Devin soprano

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PIPEWORKS CONCERT FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 6pm FERGAL CAULFIELD

EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934) Vesper Voluntaries, Op. 14 / 18’

EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934) Organ Sonata No. 2, Op. 87a (1933 - arranged from the Severn Suite by Ivor Atkins) / 15’ Fergal Caulfield organ

This programme presents organ music from the chronological extremes of Elgar’s career, pre-and post-dating his cello concerto, to be heard in the RTÉ NSO’s 7.30pm concert. One of the watersheds in Elgar’s life, the concerto introduced a final fallow decade in which he completed few pieces of significance. An exception is the Severn Suite, originally commissioned as a brass band test piece, though it soon appeared in an approved organ arrangement by his friend Ivor Atkins, which retains much of its original exuberance. By contrast, in the early Vesper Voluntaries, from a period when he was still active as an organist, the composer skilfully creates a satisfying cycle of intimate miniatures.

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ALBAN GERHARDT

MAIN SEASON CONCERT FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 7.30pm LALO Le roi d’Ys Overture / 11’

ELGAR Cello Concerto in E minor / 30’

A stirring legend of love, sacrifice, war and a fabled drowned city, and a symphony of heroic dimensions in which fate came knocking at the door. The RTÉ NSO’s Principal Guest Conductor Nathalie Stutzman returns to the podium, with Alban Gerhardt stepping into the spotlight for Elgar’s unforgettable Cello Concerto.

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 in C minor / 31’ Nathalie Stutzmann conductor Alban Gerhardt cello

‘You have an amazing orchestra here in Dublin. You just have to come to the concert and be proud of them.’

Nathalie Stutzmann, RTÉ NSO Principal Guest Conductor

Alban Gerhardt – ‘one of the finest cellists around’ The Guardian

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PIPEWORKS CONCERT FRIDAY 23 MARCH, 6pm DAVID LEIGH

SAMUEL BARBER (1910-81) Wondrous Love (Variations on a shape note hymn), Op. 34 / 7’

JEAN LANGLAIS (1907-91) Symphony No. 1 / 33’ David Leigh organ

This evening’s organ recital reflects two strands of the RTÉ NSO’s 7.30pm concert – an American composer’s use of a Shaker melody, here seen in a rare solo organ work by Samuel Barber, and a twentieth century composer’s reimagining of the traditional four movement symphonic structure. Like Shostakovich’s First Symphony, Langlais’ work, one of the very few postVierne works to bear the name Symphony, adopts the traditional pattern, but as with Shostakovich’s student work, heavily inspired as it was by the neoclassical works of Stravinsky, Langlais draws on new harmonic and textual language within the established structure.

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ALINA POGOSTKINA

MAIN SEASON CONCERT FRIDAY 23 MARCH, 7.30pm COPLAND Appalachian Spring Suite / 23’

KHACHATURIAN Violin Concerto in D minor / 35’

SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 1 in F minor / 28’

Clemens Schuldt conductor Alina Pogostkina violin

A trio of masterpieces boasting exalting lyricism, bewitching beauty and adrenalized drama from the father of American classical music, Aaron Copland, and two giants of 20th-century Russian music: Aram Khachaturian and Dmitri Shostakovich with rising violin star Alina Pogostkina.

Alina Pogostkina – ‘a stunning display of virtuosity that could only be described as electrifying’ San Diego Reader

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PIPEWORKS CONCERT FRIDAY 27 APRIL, 6pm SIMON HARDEN

FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797–1828) Fugue in E minor D952 / 4’

PETR EBEN (1929–2007) Four Biblical Dances / 32’ Simon Harden organ

This colourful programme, like the RTÉ NSO’s symphonic concert that follows, is characterised by musical innovation, dance, the exploration of exotic timbres, and the contrast of darkness and light.

Eben’s dances explore the rhythmic, even percussive possibilities of the organ while remaining within the traditional ecclesiastical domain.

As Schubert’s eighth symphony occupies a unique position in his compositional corpus, so his fugue gives us a rare glimpse of his potential to write for the organ.

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STORM LARGE

MAIN SEASON CONCERT FRIDAY 27 APRIL, 7.30pm NARONG PRANGCHAROEN Phenomenon / 9'

WEILL The Seven Deadly Sins / 39'

SCHUBERT Symphony in B minor, Unfinished

RAVEL La valse / 12’ Carlos Kalmar conductor Storm Large singer

Music for the head and the heart with the sensational Pink Martini solo artist and vocal superstar Storm Large and conductor Carlos Kalmar – ‘one of those rare podium leaders who never seems to have an off night’ (The Classical Review).

/ 25’

Get set for a remarkable modern voice, a compelling caustic commentary on the divided self, a tantalising symphonic ‘What if?’ and a waltz of glamour and grandeur that satirises the very thing it celebrates.

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National 2017 RTÉ 2018 Symphony Orchestra

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