MUSIC: MATILDA LLOYD & ALEXANDRA WHITTINGHAM
Music Network's April tour features rising stars Matilda Lloyd on trumpet and Alexandra Whittingham on guitar, two exciting young artists currently taking the classical world by storm - their programme includes the premiere of Caprice, a MN commission by Dr. Greg Caffrey written specially for these musicians. Find a date near you here (Various venues nationwide, 20th-27th April)
EVENT: GRANARD BOOKTOWN FESTIVAL
Following a successful debut last year, Ireland's newest literary festival returns to the Longford town with a line-up that includes Booker prize winner Paul Lynch, Hagstone author Sinead Gleeson and BBC foreign correspondent (and author) Fergal Keane, alongside Patrick deWitt, Lisa McInerney, Manchán Magan, Jessica Traynor and legendary video game designer John Romero (Various venues, Granard, Co. Longford, April 19th - 21st)
OPERA: L'OLIMPIADE
Irish National Opera (INO) continues its award-winning exploration of Vivaldi's operas with a fast and furious new production of L'Olimpiade, for a national tour that kicks off in Tralee's Siamsa Tíre, followed by performances in Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Letterkenny, Navan and Dún Laoghaire. INO Artistic Director Fergus Sheil says "Vivaldi's operas push the boundaries of vocal artistry, and L'Olimpiade is no exception. It's a thrilling journey through passion and perseverance." (Siamsa Tíre, Tralee, Saturday 20th April, followed by dates nationwide)
EVENT: POETRY DAY IRELAND
The annual island-wide celebration of poetry returns, inviting the nation to read, write, and share a poem - the theme for this year is 'Good Sports', celebrating the good sport in all of us, the drive to give it a go or to have a crack at it. Find out more here (Nationwide, Thursday 25th April)
VISUAL ARTS: ROMANTIC IRELAND
Artist Eimear Walshe is representing Ireland at this year's Venice Biennale - arguably the biggest art event in the world - with a multi-channel video installation and an operatic soundtrack housed in an immersive sculpture. Curated by Sara Greavu and Project Arts Centre, ROMANTIC IRELAND explores the complex politics of collective building through the Irish tradition of the 'meitheal': a gang of workers, neighbours, kith and kin who come together to build, harvest and cooperate in mutual aid. start planning that trip to Venice now (Irish Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, 20th April to 24th November, 2024)
Hear the Culture 5 every Friday on Aedín in the Afternoon on RTÉ lyric fm, from 1pm - listen back here.
