Guest Director 2015 – Andreas Helm, oboe

Andreas Helm, baroque oboe

Andreas Helm studied recorder, oboe and methodology with Carin van Heerden at the Bruckner Konservatorium in Linz, where he completed his degree in 1999. Subsequently he studied baroque oboe with Alfredo Bernardini at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam graduating in 2002.

From 2001 to 2003 he was principal oboe and solo recorder player with the European Union Baroque Orchestra.

He is a member of Rossi Piceno, and Schikaneders Jugend, a trio performing Alpine folk music from the 1800s. Together with the conductor Heinz Ferlesch he found the period instrument group Barucco. In addition he plays both oboe and recorder with a large number of European orchestras and Ensembles including Freiburger Barockorchester, Concerto Köln, Irish Baroque Orchestra Les Musicien de Louvre, Barocksolisten München, Hofkappelle München and Concentus Musicus Wien. He has toured extensively all over Europe, USA, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa and the Far East. He is the recipient of several international prizes and awards including the Bonporti Prize in Rovereto, Italy and the Gradus ad Parnassum award in Eisenstadt, Austria.

Andreas Helm is the artistic director of the Aestas Musica Summer School of Baroque Music in Varazdin, Croatia and teaches at the Trigonale Coaching in Ossiach, Carinthia.

He is professor for period oboe at the Kunstuniversität Graz and at the Konservatorium Wien Privatuniversität.

Choral Festival Gala Concert Memories

We had a wonderful time playing for the opening of the 2015 Cork International Choral Festival, with choir Madrigal 75!

Cork International Choral Festival Opening Gala Concert
‘Music of the Baroque’ with Madrigal ’75 and Cork Baroque Orchestra
Wednesday 29th April 2015, 8pm
Cork City Hall

Programme

Gloria RV589 – Antonio Vivaldi (1678 -1741)
Violin Concerto in A major ‘Die Relinge’ TWV51: A4– Georg Philip Telemann (1681-1767)
Beatus vir SV268– Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

– Interval –

Chacony in G minor Z.730
If music be the food of love Z.379C
Evening hymn Z.193
Chaconne in C major Z.629 – Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Dixit Dominus HWV232 – Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)

Conductor/Harpsichord: James Taylor

Soloists: Deirdre Moynihan, soprano; Bridget Knowles, alto; Marja Gaynor, violin

Violins                                      Violas
Claire Duff                                 Cian Ó Dúill
Marja Gaynor                            Lisa Dowdall
Claire Fahy
Áine O’Halloran                          Cellos
Caitríona O’Mahony                   Aoife Nic Athlaoich
Sarah Walsh                               Eimear Reidy
Laure Giersch
                                                   Violone
Oboe                                          Sarah Groser
Diego Nadra
                                                   Harpsichord
Trumpet                                     Kieran Finnegan
Viv Johnston

Cork International Choral Festival 2015

Cork International Choral Festival Opening Gala Concert
‘Music of the Baroque’ with Madrigal ’75 and Cork Baroque Orchestra
Wednesday 29th April, 8pm
Cork City Hall

Tickets: €30/€25/€15

Cork Baroque Orchestra are thrilled to be collaborating with vocal ensemble Madrigal ’75 in the Opening Gala of the Cork International Choral Festival. The concert celebrates the 40^th Anniversary of the founding of Cork’s internationally renowned Madrigal ’75 (Director James Taylor). Madrigal ’75 accompanied by the Cork Baroque Orchestra will present vocal and instrumental music from the Baroque and feature works by Handel, Telemann, Purcell, Monteverdi with the well-known Gloria by Vivaldi providing a popular opening to the Festival. Concert features acclaimed soloists Deirdre Moynihan (soprano) and Bridget Knowles (alto). 

Programme

Gloria RV589 – Antonio Vivaldi (1678 -1741)
Violin Concerto in A major ‘Die Relinge’ TWV51: A4– Georg Philip Telemann (1681-1767)
Beatus vir SV268– Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

– Interval –

Chacony in G minor Z.730
If music be the food of love Z.379C
Evening hymn Z.193
Chaconne in C major Z.629 – Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Dixit Dominus HWV232 – Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)

 

 

Further information on the Cork International Choral Festival website

 

Deirdre Moynihan, soprano

Deirdre Moynihan’s CD of Vivaldi Cantatas was released by Naxos in 2014 to widespread critical acclaim. Her voice was described as “unfailingly beautiful in tone” (International Record Review) and “perfectly suited to baroque music” (Music Web International). A second 2014 release, ‘From The Olive Tree’, with classical guitarist Alec O’ Leary, received praise for the  “striking clarity” of Deirdre’s vocal performance. She has sung as a soloist with, amongst others, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and Crash Ensemble. 2014 included performances at Kilkenny Arts Festival, Ardee Baroque and a series of concerts in Japan. 2015 includes performances with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra & RTÉ ConTempo quartet in addition to a recital at KBC Great Music in Irish Houses Festival.  Deirdre holds an MA in Vocal Performance from the Cork School of Music. She is also the Programmes Manager for Music Network.

www.deirdremoynihan.com

 

Bridget Knowles, mezzo-soprano

Mezzo-soprano Bridget Knowles studied at UCC, Cork School of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester and the National Opera Studio, London. She has appeared as soloist on many top national and international stages including the  National Concert Hall, Dublin; the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London and the Händel-Halle, Leipzig. She has performed with Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Welsh National Opera, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Irish Baroque Orchestra; and has worked with conductors such as Charles Mackerras, William Christie, Alessandro Anissimov and Prionnsias O’Duinn. She is a lecturer in the Department of Creative and Performing Arts, WIT.

Madrigal ’75

 

Madrigal ‘75 is a vocal ensemble based in Cork City. Founded in 1975 by university students, the choir now comprises of a diverse combination of singers from all walks of life. Madrigal ‘75 has developed a reputation as a vocal ensemble of great skill and beauty, performing repertoire from the 14th century to contemporary choral works, both sacred and secular, including first performances of new commissions. In 2005 Madrigal ‘75 was a prominent participant in the Cork European Capital of Culture events and toured France as cultural ambassadors for the city. Madrigal ‘75 is also the winner of the Carols for Christmas 2006 and 2012 competitions on RTE Lyric FM. Other successes include Best Choir at the Montreux Festival, several Best Performances and First Prize awards at successive Cork International Choral Festivals, and the Irish Choir of the Year award. In 2013, Madrigal ‘75 returned to Montreux and was the highest placed choir in the mixed-voice category as well as being a Grand Prix Finalist. In its 40 year history, the choir has performed with several of Ireland’s leading ensembles, including the RTE Vanbrugh String Quartet and the Orchestra of St Cecilia. In 2008 and 2011, the choir presented the closing and opening concerts respectively of the East Cork Early Music Festival, followed by the highlight of 2014 when the choir was invited to present the atmospheric Evocations concert for the Cork International Choral Festival. 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Madrigal ‘75, and to celebrate this occasion, the choir has a busy year of concerts planned as well as a tour to Europe later in the year. The choir is delighted to be performing the opening Concert of the 2015 Cork International Choral Festival. Since January 2007, Madrigal ‘75 has been directed by James Taylor, organist and harpsichordist, who, having held posts in the UK, New Zealand and Canada now lectures at CIT Cork School of Music. James has performed concerts in Canada and the USA, across Europe and New Zealand as well as participating in numerous television and radio broadcasts as a soloist and accompanist. His latest project is a recording of organ works on the newly restored organ in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral. The vocal ensemble Madrigal ‘75, together with Barry Douglas (piano), Alex Petcu-Colan (percussion), and the Chiral Quartet, are Artistsin- Residence to the CIT Cork School of Music.

Madrigal ‘75:

Sopranos: Aiveen Kearney, Deirdre Long, Eileen McMahon, Gemma Magner, Lorna Moore, Muirgen O’Mahony, Emma Power, Mary Shorten, Catalina Suarez, Veronica Tadman

Altos:Catherine Frost, Hilary Lennon, Claire McSweeney, Áine Ní Shé, Amy O’Connell

Tenors: Conor Brassil, Brian Callinan, Tim Fouhy, Aonghus Joyce, Mark Milford, Tomás Ó Drisceoil

Basses: Gordon Garde, Ben Jacob, Rob Kennedy, Frank McCann, Fearghal O’Connor, Robbie Pender

 

East Cork Early Music 2014

East Cork Early Music Festival 2014

On the Friday 10th October, 2015, the Cork Baroque Orchestra returned to the Curtis Auditorium of the Cork School of Music for its second concert under the East Cork Early Music Festival. The orchestra welcomed the brilliant Elizabeth Wallfisch as guest director and soloist in a programme including the wonderful Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi, as well as works by Telemann and Schemelzer. The concert also saw the premiere of a brand new work for baroque strings, by Clonakilty-based composer Justin Grounds, who was the winner of the East Cork Early Music Festival’s composition competition for 2014, with his piece Passacaglia Apis. The Irish Examiner commented that the concert ‘was memorable for the energy, sense of phrasing, dynamic contrasts and brilliance of violinist Elizabeth Wallfisch’.

Programme

G.P.H. Telemann – Overture-Suite TWV 55:D14
Johann Schmelzer – Lamento sopra la morte di Ferdinando III
Justin Grounds – Passacaglia Apis
Antonio Vivaldi – The Four Seasons

The Orchestra 2014

Director/Soloist: Elizabeth Wallfisch, baroque violin

Violins                                                 Violas

Aoife Ni Dhurnin                                  Lisa Dowdall
Claire Fahy                                          Caitriona O’Mahony
Aine O’Halloran
Sarah Walsh                                        Cellos
Tom Crowley                                       Aoife Nic Athlaoich
Leonie Curtin                                       Eimear Reidy
Elaine Sexton
Aingela de Búrca                                 Violone
Laure Giersch                                      Sarah Groser

Harpsichord                                        Theorbo/guitar
James Taylor                                         Nina Treadwell

Guest Director 2014 – Elizabeth Wallfisch

 The Cork Baroque Orchestra is delighted to welcome Elizabeth Wallfisch as guest director and soloist for the East Cork Early Music Festival 2014.

Renowned not only as a prominent interpreter of 17th, 18th and 19th century violin music, Elizabeth Wallfisch is also a Concertmaster and Music Director. Elizabeth Wallfisch has been a Guest Director/Leader on the violin with many of the world’s orchestras, both ‘modern’ and ‘period instrument’, for example: Tafelmusik – Canada, the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Philharmonia Baroque – Berkeley, Vancouver and Melbourne Symphony orchestras, and many others, and of course Concertmaster of the Carmel Bach Festival orchestra for 18 years.
Her impressive, and extensive discography offers a window onto her expansive musical world from the Early to Late Baroque Italian, French German, Bohemian and English violinist-composers such as Cima, Marini, Uccellini, Vivaldi, Corelli, Bach, Biber, Schmelzer, Walther, Leclair, Francoeur, Locatelli, Tartini, Purcell, Playford, and the Classical and early Romantic composers from Mozart, Thomas Linley the Younger, James Shaw, James Brooks, to Kreutzer, Rode, Spohr, Viotti and Schubert.
IN 2007, and 2013 Elizabeth had the great privilege to be Music Director of National Music Camp Australia, under the Australian Youth Orchestra Umbrella
She has recently completed a recording of the Beethoven piano and violin sonatas for Nimbus records.
She is a member of the outstanding Oberlin Fortepiano Trio.
Elizabeth is Artistic Director of The Wallfisch Band, a unique international period-instrument orchestra in which highly talented younger players, either still studying or on the threshold of their careers, play alongside Elizabeth and her ‘seasoned’ colleagues-all players at the very top of the profession.

Debut Concert, 2013

Cork Baroque Orchestra Debut Concert

The Cork Baroque Orchestra made its very well-received debut as part of the East Cork Early Music Festival 2013, under the direction of Finnish harpsichordist Aapo Hakkinen, and featuring soloists Ioana Petcu-Colan, Leonie Curtin, Marja Gaynor and Elaine Sexton.

Cork School of Music Curtis Auditorium

11th October 2013, 8pm

Programme

Arcangelo Corelli – Concerto Grosso in F Op. 6, No 12.
Georg Friedric Handel – Concerto Grosso in b Op. 6. No. 12
Johann Sebastian Bach – Harpsichord Concerto in D Major BWV 1054
Arcangelo Corelli – Concerto Grosso in D Op. 6, No 4.
George Muffat – Passcaglia from Sonata No. 5 in G
Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto in b for 4 violins, strings and basso continuo

The Orchestra 2013

Director/Harpsichord: Aapo Hakkinen

Violins                                                 Violas

Ioana Petcu-Colan                              Aidan McWatt
Marja Gaynor                                      Greg Campbell
Aine O’Halloran
Aoife Ni Dhornain                                Cellos
Leonie Curtin                                       Eimear Reidy
Elaine Sexton                                       Ilse de Ziah
Aingeala de Burca                               
Caitriona O’Mahony                             Violone
                                                             Sarah Groser                      
                                                             

 

 

The Orchestra – Aoife Ni Dhornain, Violin

Aoife Ni Dhornain, Violin

Aoife Ni Dhornain began her violin studies in 1983 with Suzuki method. She attended conferences in Cork in 1985 and in Berlin in 1987. In 1989 she continued her studies with Brian McNamara in The College of Music. Aoife graduated from UCD with a 1st class honours Bachelor of Music in 1998 and went on to complete a Masters in Music Performance in University of Limerick studying with Hugh Maguire, Mauritzio Fuchs, Georg Pauk and Katherine Hunka. She directed the chamber orchestra in UCD to great acclaim, and returned to play as soloist with the Baroque orchestra in 2000. Aoife was chosen to play with the Viennese Youth orchestra in 1999 and after being invited to play with the Jeunesse Musical Orchestre in Switzerland in1997 she was asked to lead the Orchestra in a Swiss tour. She performs regularly as soloist and chamber musician throughout Ireland and has toured extensively across Europe and the United States. Aoife has been a member of IBO since 1998 and has played a number of Baroque projects with the Opera Theatre Company including a memorable rendition of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater in a Grotto on Valencia Island in collaboration with visual artist Dorothy Cross. Since graduating she has studied Baroque Violin with Maya Homburger and Elizabeth Wallfisch. She has performed throughout Ireland with Andrew Manze, Lucy van Dael, Elizabeth Wallfisch, Maya Homburger, Emma Kirkby and Monica Huggett.