EVENTS in 2011

Watch out for further announcements regarding special performances, services and tours by Dublin’s premier liturgical choir: some very exciting developments are ahead. Its many supporters - and all of Ireland’s choral aficionados - will be excited about what is on offer as we head towards the celebration of Easter and beyond.

Bach St John Passion on Passion Sunday, 10 April 2011

 

The Palestrina Choir

Jacek Wislocki – Evangelist

Orchestra of St Cecilia

Blánaid Murphy – Conductor

 

April 10 at 8 p.m.sees a very special performance of J S Bach’s brooding setting of the Passion according to St John.

First performed in 1724 – and perhaps marking the end of a difficult period in Bach’s personal and professional life – the St John Passion is an evocation of the darkest nature of the Passion story. Bach brings all his considerable skills to bear upon this work – with arias of astonishing beauty and choruses of arresting energy – all achieved alongside a remarkable orchestral force of richly blended yet muted colours of strings and winds that constantly delight the listener while provoking sincere compassion and an emotional engagement with the Passion.

One of Ireland’s leading conductors of Bach’s choral works, and Palestrina Choir Director of Music, Blánaid Murphy presents the St John Passion – as Bach did in his day – with an intimate orchestra consisting of some of Dublin’s best musicians, the boys and men of the famed Palestrina Choir, with soloists – sourced from within the ranks of the choir (including boy trebles singing the soprano solos as was originally done in Bach’s first performances) – led by the highly-regarded tenor Jacek Wislocki in the pivotal role of The Evangelist, the Passion’s narrator.

As with all performances where the Palestrina Choir is involved – whether it is during masses times or at the National Concert Hall or on it regular tours overseas – this is a certainly a concert not to be missed.

Palestrina Choir sings all twenty of Victoria's Mass settings in 2011

To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the death of the wonderful, passionate and quintessentially Catholic composer Tomás Luis de Victoria, the Palestrina Choir will perform all of his Mass settings at 11am Mass at the Pro-Cathedral in 2011.

The next Mass in this series is the Missa Quam Pulchri Sunt which will be sung by the Gentlemen of the Choir on Sunday 27th February.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other events to watch out for

In May the Boy Choristers will go on a short tour of Belfast, Armagh and Newry. In Belfast they will sing a concert with the Schola Cantorum of St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast.

On 26th June the Choir will premier a new work commissioned from Colin Mawby to celebrate the Eucharist in the year leading up to the International Eucharistic Congress.

Past Events

Flor Peeters Recital

As part of the Pro-Cathedral Concert Series, the Palestrina Choir is joined by Gerard Gillen (a former organ student of Flor Peeters) in a recital of music by the Belgian Composer Flor Peeters.

The Choir will sing Missa in Honorem Sancti Josephi and Missa Festiva

Gerard Gillen will play

Gentlemen of the Palestrina Choir

The Gentlemen of the Palestrina, under the direction of David V Russell, gave a recital motets and masses by Tudor Renaissance composers Byrd, Tallis, Victoria and Palestrina.

Children singing for Chilrdren

in aid of Temple Street Children's Hospital

"It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here this evening to this special concert – “Children singing for Children”.

Over eighty children will be performing and supporting Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

This is cause for great rejoicing and celebration.

Thank you to all the children and their families who have supported this project and to the on-going support of Fr Damian O’Reilly and Fr Pat O’Donoghue.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and all the very best for 2011"

Blánaid Murphy

Artistic Director

Pro-Cathedral Concert Series

Christmas with the Palestrina Choir

Luckily many peopled battled in to the National Concert Hall on Thursday 2nd December despite the blizzarding snow to share in the warmth of Christmas with the heavenly sound of the Boys and Gentlemen of the Palestrina Choir.
This festive programme ranged from the Bach Magnificat to a selection
of traditional and much-loved carols.

Johann Sebastian Bach

The Palestrina Choir senior boys, a selection of Palestrina Gentlemen and the Orchestra of St Cecilia - all under the direction of Blánaid Murphy - performed the Bach cantata 'Jesu, der du meine Seele...' BVW78 in the Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall at 12:00 on 11 & 12 October 2010. This continued the Palestrina Choir's commitment to the works of Bach, a commitment which will culminate in a December performance that - like all the Bach performances from the choir this year - is not to be missed. Details on that National Concert Hall performance will follow shortly.

Tour to Ghent [Belgium]

17-19 September, 2010

The Palestrina Choir gave two concerts as part of the opening celebrations for the Flanders Festival, Ghent. Held in the imposing St Bavo's Cathedral, at the centre of this ancient and artistically vibrant city, the choir performed to capacity audiences - in excess of 1500 people at each Saturday concert - and presented a sample of their Renaissance repertoire - Palestrina, Byrd and Tallis - alongside arrangements of Irish melodies by Grainger and Mooney as well as contemporary works by Britten, Mawby and McCann.

Boys and men acquitted themselves with calm professionalism, drawing from this most discerning of audiences generous and sustained applause. While the time there was short, marked success was undoubtedly had. One suspects this might not be the last time the Palestrina Choir is seen and heard in the cathedrals of Ghent.

Tour to the United States

June 2010

The Palestrina Choir, invited by the New Haven International Festival of Arts and Ideas toured the East Coast of the United States, 20-28 June.

Johann Sebastian Bach St Matthew Passion

Sunday, 21 March 2010, St Mary's Pro-Cathedral

A dazzling array of soloist, choirs and instrumentalists presented a monumental achievement - “the cornerstone of Western Classical Music” – Bach's setting of the Passion according to Saint Matthew. Sung in the original German – and assisted by the sublime acoustics of the intimate space of St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral - this concert was a triumph for performers and audiences alike, and one of Dublin’s 2010 musical highlights.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Bach Cantata Series 2010

Sunday, 14 February, St Ann’s Church, Dublin 2

BWV28 ‘Gottlob! Nun geht das Jahr zu Ende…’

BWV90 ‘Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende…’

BWV121 ‘Christum wir sollen loben schon…’

BWV140 ‘Wachet auch, ruft uns die Stimme…’

This concert featured three lesser known cantatas but was crowned by one of Bach’s masterpieces and perhaps his best-loved cantata: BWV140 – 'Wachet auf, ruft uns dei Stimme...' The performance drew strong reviews and audience plaudits with particular mention made of the four soloists - Lynda Lee (soprano), Alison Browner (alto), Jacek Wislocki (tenor) and Geoffrey Ledwidge (bass) as well as the tenor of the Palestrina Choir, all under the direction of acknowledged Bach expert, Blánaid Murphy.