A Symphonic Life
John Kinsella is one of Ireland’s most distinguished composers and the country’s most prolific symphonist. In a creative career spanning over six decades, Kinsella has produced an incredible eleven symphonies, numerous concertos, quartets and instrumental chamber, vocal and choral works. This November, his eleventh symphony will have its world premiere at the National Concert Hall and John will receive the NCH Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 in recognition of his singular contribution to Irish art music.
In conversation with John Kinsella and with contributions from other composers and musicologists, this documentary ‘A Symphonic Life’ is an intimate portrait of a composer through an exploration of his process, the evolution of his compositions and his commitment to the art form. In the documentary we trace how like most composers of his time, his earlier compositions are marked by an attraction to the Avant Garde and serialism. But Kinsella, a self-taught composer, would turn away from strict serialism to refine an independent artistic vision that continues to play out. For John, the experience of a symphony is ‘a big adventure starting. I’ve never lost that excitement.’
A Symphonic Life is an IWR Media production for RTÉ lyric fm. It is produced by Neal Boyle for IWR Media and Eoin O Kelly for RTÉ lyric fm and presented by Mary Brophy
RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 24th November, 6pm-7pm