RTÉ will mark Culture Night 2020 with a range of special broadcasts, commissioned performances and live concerts across television, radio and online.
Here on RTÉ Culture, we'll be celebrating the occasion with a choice selection of highlights from the Culture Night programme...
RTÉ Culture will present the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra live in concert from the National Concert Hall, Dublin, performing a gorgeous Culture Night programme that includes Mozart’s hauntingly beautiful Clarinet Concerto, with RTÉ NSO former Principal Clarinet John Finucane as soloist, and that which can perhaps be called an orchestral love song to all things Italian, Mendelssohn’s Fourth Symphony, commonly known as the 'Italian’! Also on the programme: Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, vibrant miniatures tapping into rich traditions and melodies from deep within the high mountains and forests of Transylvania. Watch it live here on RTÉ Culture from 7.00 pm, or tune in live on RTÉ lyric fm.
At the centre of Culture Night with RTÉ will be an RTÉ Nationwide special on RTÉ One at 7.00 pm. This special programme will showcase an RTÉ-commissioned film featuring an original contemporary dance piece from award-winning choreographer, Emma Martin (and her company, United Fall), featuring both professional dancers and diverse community dance groups, filmed in the State Apartments and Upper Courtyard of Dublin Castle. The piece will be accompanied by a specially commissioned arrangement of live traditional music inspired by the work of Sean O'Riada with vocals from Irish RnB artist, Soulé. In addition, five specially-produced local film projects will showcase a range of the cultural activities from across the country which celebrate diversity.
Culture Night highlights here on RTÉ Culture also include the world premiere of Ebb, a new music video from acclaimed ambient pianist Una Keane, as well as work by visual artist Aoife Dunne, a video conversation between 2020 Culture Night International Trailblazer Maeve Higgins and author Caelainn Hogan, an audio walk of the River Liffey created by Tom Lane and narrated by actress Olwen Fouéré and a quick masterclass in Irish dancing from world champion Irish dancers and Riverdance stars Michael and Matthew Gardiner AKA The Gardiner Brothers... plus much more.
Culture Night with RTÉ is kindly supported by the Arts Council - find out more about the Culture Night programme here.
