St Nicholas’ Collegiate church will be filled with fantastic music later this month when Galway Choral Association, with an orchestra led by Galway-based ConTempo String Quartet, present one of Beethoven’s finest works.
The choir and orchestra will present Beethoven’s Mass in C major, Op. 86, with soloists Sarah Skerritt, Joyce Byrne, Eoin Hynes and Rory Dunne – under the baton of musical director Norman Duffy. ConTempo will open the concert with performance of Benjamin Britten's String Quartet No. 3 in G Major Op. 94.
“We’re delighted be performing with ConTempo String Quartet again” says Carol Duffy, Chairperson of Galway Choral Association. Several of the choir’s early concerts were joint performances, and these links were re-kindled at our 20th anniversary celebration last year.
“I’ve had a fabulous time preparing for this concert” says Norman Duffy. Beethoven’s Mass in C is a long-underrated masterpiece and has a directness and emotional content which makes it exciting to conduct. The orchestra we have assembled for this concert includes some of Ireland’s finest musicians and it’s an honour to work with them. Our soloists are professional singers, many of whom have worked with the choir previously. And ConTempo are one of the most exciting and vibrant chamber ensembles performing today, having won 14 International Prizes in Chamber Music competitions and performed in concerts around the world. Recently, they were conferred honorary Doctors in Music by the National University of Ireland recognising their achievements since moving to Ireland in 2003.
The concert is at 8pm on Saturday 26 January in St. Nicholas’ Collegiate church in Lombard St. Tickets are €22 / €20, available from Eventbrite, Opus II in High St (091 500 300), choir members or at the door. Further information is available from admin@GalwayChoral.ie or via Facebook.
