The Brendan Voyage, Granuaile with Liam O'Flynn, Rita Connolly and the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland
Cork City Hall - July 2010
Celebrating 40 years since the first meeting of the Irish Youth Orchestra (on July 17, 1970), 30 years since the premiere of the Brendan Voyage, and 25 years since the premiere of Granuaile, the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland (junior section, conducted by Gearóid Grant) joined forces with composer, Shaun Davey, and the original frontline soloists to perform these significant Irish crossover works at Cork City Hall.
Asking 86 youths from all over the island of Ireland, many of whom would never have experienced playing in an orchestra of this size, to accompany soloists such as Rita Connolly and Liam O’Flynn in performing such atmospheric music was risky.
Happily, they were almost faultless, and, at times, unbelievably professional. I recall with pleasure the evocative trumpet, horn, oboe, and cello solos that would test the nerves of professional players, the excellent ensemble playing from the winds, and the fine string tone, particularly leading into the joyous Newfoundland climax to the Brendan Voyage.
Shaun Davey wrote Granuaile for his wife, Rita Connolly. Her interpretation, sense of atmosphere, and, especially, diction in the song Death of Richard-an-Iarainn, was most impressive. The scoring is extremely cinematic and, with the backing of Jimmy Smith, Helen Davies, Liam O’Flynn, Noel Eccles, and anonymous vocalists, this was a genuine audience-pleasing performance.
Liam O’Flynn never fails to impress and, with percussionist Eccles in fine form, he brought the best out of these young players.
The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland is honoured to have as its Patron the President of Ireland,
Mary McAleese.
Members of the Board of the NYOI
John Dennehy (Chairman), Brian Gilsenan, Gabrielle Croke, Elaine Fallon, Angela Farrell, Prof. Gerard Gillen, Rebecca Gilmore, Gearoid Grant*, Prof.
Fiona Palmer, Gerard Kelly, Terence Loane, Bernard Clarke, Andy Rogers (*Executive director)
Registered in Ireland No 97049 The Irish Youth
Orchestra Ltd. CHY 6501. Registered Office: Suite 33, 2nd Floor, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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