Friday October 31st: RTÉ lyric Live 'Against All Certainty: A Celebration of Michael D. Higgins'
This special event, recorded in September, was a celebration of not only President Higgins's rich legacy as a poet and cultural champion throughout his presidency, but also of the creative spirit he has inspired across the country. This concert was hosted by presenter Tommy Tiernan, with live performances of President Higgins's own poems, coinciding with the release of his debut spoken-word album. The National Symphony Orchestra Ireland conducted by David Brophy also included performances by acclaimed Irish singer/songwriters Mary Coughlan, Paul Brady, Imelda May, Andy Irvine & Brían Mac Gloinn (of Ye Vagabonds), musicians Myles O'Reilly and Rónán Ó Snodaigh, Martin Hayes, Niamh Bury, Muireann Bradley and Seán Boylan.
Friday November 7th: RTÉ lyric Live National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
Paul Herriott brings us Beethoven's Symphony No.3, an enchanting Ravel fantasy and the world premiere of Trembling Earth for cello and orchestra by National Concert Hall Artist-in-Residence, Bryce Dessner. André de Ridder conducts National Symphony Orchestra Ireland with guest cellist Anastasia Kobekina.
National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
André de Ridder (conductor
)Anastasia Kobekina (cello)
Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess)
Bryce Dessner: Trembling Earth (World Premiere - Co-commissioned by National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Konzerthaus Berlin and Borletti-Buitoni Trust)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica'
Friday November 14th: RTÉ lyric Live Dmitri Shostakovich
Composer Dmitri Shostakovich died 50 years ago and in this special three-hour programme Jon Tolansky commemorates Shostakovich's life and oeuvre with valuable recollections from artists who knew him and discussed his music with him. The programme includes a very rare archive-recording of Shostakovich himself speaking. In this survey of Shostakovich's output musical extracts include Symphonies Nos. 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15; his operas The Nose and Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District; his first Violin Concerto; his String Quartets No's 8 and 13; the Piano Quintet; the Piano Trio No 2; the oratorio The Song of the Forests; the song cycle Seven Romances on Verses by Alexander Blok; and his private satire Rayok.
