RTÉ Concert Orchestra January–March 2014 at the National Concert Hall
Below please find details of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra’s January to March season at the National Concert Hall, featuring:
– John Wilson’s début as Principal Conductor of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra with Hollywood Rhapsody (30 January), a massive hit for the John Wilson Orchestra in the BBC Proms 2013. He continues with Essential Classics (27 February) and That’s Entertainment! (19 March).
– The opening of a new RTÉ Concert Orchestra Signature Series, showcasing the world’s finest musicians and the orchestra’s own eclectism. The first three 2014 Signature Series concerts demonstrate the calibre and range: Lesley Garrett (Saturday 18 January), John Scofield & Vince Mendoza (12 March) and Hayley Westenra (28 March).
– The return of the team that has had audiences dancing in the aisles of the National Concert Hall: Andy O’Callaghan, Celebration Singers and the RTÉ CO bring back Super Troupers – The Music of Benny & Björn (5 March)
Lesley Garrett with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Robert Houlihan conductor
Part of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra Signature Series 2014
Saturday 18 January, 8pm
National Concert Hall
One of the world’s most radiant, charismatic singers joins the RTÉ Concert Orchestra for a gorgeous selection of popular and classical music.
Described as everything from ‘a singing whirlwind’ to ‘the Geri Halliwell of opera’, Garrett’s talents know no bounds. She has fronted countless TV shows including Lesley Garrett…Tonight and The Lesley Garrett Show, appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, conquered the West End, toured almost every continent, released 13 solo albums, won a Gramophone Award and a CBE New Year’s Honours List for Services to Music.
Her previous concerts with the RTÉ CO have brought packed houses to their feet and this evening promises to be no exception. A suitable opening to the RTÉ CO Signature Series 2014.
Tickets: €15–€49.50 (conc. €13.50–€44.50)
Booking: 01 417 0000, www.nch.ie or www.rte.ie/co
Hollywood Rhapsody
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
John Wilson conductor
Thursday 30 January, 8pm
National Concert Hall
‘the orchestral medley of Tom and Jerry cartoon soundtracks…made a thrilling ride. Wow!’ – The Financial Times
John Wilson makes his eagerly anticipated début as Principal Conductor of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Hollywood Rhapsody is a celebration of instrumental Hollywood film scores that we haven’t heard enough of, and a clever medley of theme songs from otherwise non-musical movies. This programme was a huge hit when the John Wilson Orchestra performed it at the 2013 BBC Proms and now Wilson and the RTÉ CO present it in Dublin for the first time.
The 20th Century Fox Fanfare provides a swaggering opening to an evening packed with amazing music from Robin Hood, Casablanca, Ben-Hur, Psycho, Citizen Kane and more, not least an exhilarating Tom and Jerry medley that raised the roof of the Royal Albert Hall.
With guest vocalists Matthew Ford and Venera Gimadieva.
Tickets: €19.50–€39.50 (conc. €17.50–€35.50)
Booking: 01 417 0000, www.nch.ie or www.rte.ie/co
RTÉ Concert Orchestra Valentine’s Concert
Friday 14 February, 8pm
National Concert Hall
Special guest to be announced in December.
RTÉ Concert Orchestra: John Wilson conducts Essential Classics
Thursday 27 February, 8pm
National Concert Hall
Join the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and conductor John Wilson for a journey through some of the best – and best-loved – classical music of the past 150 years. Featuring Rachmaninov’s powerfully romantic 2nd Piano Concerto, known from its use in Brief Encounter, Barber’s Adagio for Strings, used in Platoon, Stravinsky’s scintillating Firebird Suite, Rossini’s William Tell Overture and more.
Programme
Rossini William Tell Overture
Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2
Lehár Gold and Silver Waltz
Barber Adagio for Strings
Stravinsky The Firebird Suite (1919 version)
Tickets: €11–€38 (conc. €10–€35)
Booking: 01 417 0000, www.nch.ie or www.rte.ie/co
Super Troupers – The Music of Benny & Björn
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Celebration Singers
Andy O’Callaghan conductor
Wednesday 5 March, 8pm
National Concert Hall
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Andy O’Callaghan and Celebration Singers have been responsible for some of the rowdiest nights in the National Concert Hall in recent times, we are proud to say. This spring, we’re bringing back the ABBA concert that packed out the NCH last time around.
The insanely catchy music of Benny and Björn, in great arrangements by Andy, performed in style by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and a team of superb male and female vocalists, will once again have the audience singing along and dancing in the aisles.
Tickets: €11–€38 (conc. €10–€35)
Booking: 01 417 0000, www.nch.ie or www.rte.ie/co
John Scofield & Vince Mendoza with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra & Big Band
As part of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra Signature Series 2014
Wednesday 12 March, 8pm
National Concert Hall
John Scofield and Vince Mendoza’s Grammy-winning 54 project is performed for the first time in Ireland.
Scofield’s guitar work has influenced jazz since the late 1970s. Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, he is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk-edged jazz, and R&B.
One of the most versatile and prolific composer–arranger–conductors of the last two decades, multi-Grammy Award winner Vince Mendoza has written arrangements for everyone from Joni Mitchell to Björk.
Through this collaboration, drama is heightened, beauty is clarified and passions aroused without losing the fresh and personal expression that jazz is known for.
Tickets: €20–€45 (€18–€40.50)
Booking: 01 417 0000, www.nch.ie or www.rte.ie/co
That’s Entertainment! A Tribute to MGM Film Musicals
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
John Wilson conductor
Matthew Ford & Anna-Jane Casey guest vocalists
Wednesday 19 March, 8pm
National Concert Hall
What began as a labour of love for John Wilson has become a remarkable achievement – the tireless and faithful reconstruction of MGM film scores that had been destroyed in 1969.
The result is a spirited collection of the songs and instrumentals popularized in such beloved MGM film musicals as Singin’ in the Rain, The Band Wagon, Meet Me in St Louis, An American in Paris, High Society, Easter Parade, Brigadoon, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Girl Crazy and The New Moon.
Your chance to watch this impressive legacy of restoration and preservation brought to life by the man himself John Wilson with BBC Proms stars Matthew Ford and Anna-Jane Casey. Now That’s Entertainment!
Tickets: €15–€40 (conc. €13–€36)
Booking: 01 417 0000, www.nch.ie or www.rte.ie/co
Hayley Westenra with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
As part of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra Signature Series 2014
Friday 28 March, 8pm
National Concert Hall
Superstar Hayley Westenra is known for the striking beauty and purity of her voice. She was signed to Universal at the age of 14 and her first album, Pure, became the fastest-selling international début album in the history of the UK classical charts. Subsequent albums proved that early success was no fluke – to date, she has sold over four million albums worldwide. A recent album, Paradiso, took her status to a new level, when she recorded in Rome with legendary film composer Ennio Morricone and his orchestra.
Now, after a string of previous sold-out dates with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, she returns with a sublime collection of old and new.
Tickets: €15–€49.50 (conc. €13–€47)
Booking: 01 417 0000, www.nch.ie or www.rte.ie/co