Pictured above: Angelina Jolie in Maria (photo credit: Pablo Larraín)
MOVIES AND MUSICALS WITH AEDÍN GORMLEY
Aedín talks to Angelina Jolie and director Pablo Larraín about their latest film, Maria, which reimagines the legendary soprano Maria Callas in her final days, as the diva reckons with her identity and life.
'You are born an artist, or you are not,' Maria Callas famously said. 'And you stay an artist, dear, even if your voice is less of a firework. The artist is always there.'
WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE
Maria, in cinemas this weekend, is a psychological drama about opera singer Maria Callas. It is the third and final film in Larraín's trilogy of 20th century 'iconic women', succeeding Jackie (2016) and Spencer (2021).
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 11th January, 1pm-4pm
OPERA NIGHT WITH PAUL HERRIOTT
The Metropolitan Opera New York presents Verdi's Rigoletto
Verdi's heartbreaking masterpiece returns, with Verdi baritone Luca Salsi, reprising his devastating portrayal of the hunchbacked court jester. Radiant soprano Erin Morley is his naïve daughter, Gilda, and debuting at the Met rising tenor Pene Pati is the rakish Duke of Mantua, with Maestro Maurizio Benini on the podium to conduct the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 11th January, 7pm-10pm
Photo: Ken Howard | Met Opera
THE LYRIC FEATURE
We Only Want the Earth
This two-part documentary series, presented by Jonathan Grimes of the Contemporary Music Centre, explores how Irish composers are responding to the climate and biodiversity crisis through their work. Can music inspire us to take ownership of what's happening and help us imagine and shape a better future for all? Journeying across Ireland by bike, Jonathan meets with composers to chat about how they are engaging with the climate emergency He hears how their music is seeking to sound the transformative changes we're witnessing and ultimately give voice to hope. The series was a gold award winner at the Association for International Broadcasting's International Media Excellence Awards in 2023 and also picked up an award in the sustainability category of the IMRO Irish Radio Awards.
Episode 1: Once Heard You Can't Unhear It
In episode one, Karen Power describes how recording the sounds of our changing world has shaped her music. 'I've been listening in the most remote places on our planet and been forever changed by them, and part of that change is in hearing the effects of humans and of industry - you can't unhear them. It changes everything'. Listening to the natural world is also at the heart of Robert Coleman's work and Jonathan takes a soundwalk with Robert in the woods of Belfast. Fellow sound artist and composer Natalia Beylis shares how the trauma of witnessing tree-felling in a commercial forest in Co. Leitrim, near her home, led to her composing new work.
By bike, Jonathan visits Ian Wilson in Cavan and Grainne Mulvey in Carlow to discover how profoundly climate change is affecting them and influencing their work. Jonathan explores whether music can move us to positive action with Judith Ring who says: 'music has always been and should always be political, it's a powerful platform to voice your opinion'. Other guests include musicologist Stephen Graham and composers Éna Brennan, Nick Roth and Jennifer Walshe.
(First broadcast - 17th March 2024)
A Contemporary Music Centre production for RTÉ lyric fm co-funded by Coimisiún na Meán, Sound & Vision Scheme and RTÉ Independent Radio Productions.
Presented by Jonathan Grimes, Contemporary Music Centre
Produced by Helen Shaw, Athena Media and Jonathan Grimes
Series Producer: Eoin O Kelly
Production Co-ordinator: Lily Collins
RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 12th January, 6pm-7pm
THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN
We travel to Galway today for today's Full Score concert as we enjoy works from Music For Galway's Cellisimo festival. Liz Nolan presents a showcase of unabridged musical masterworks, featuring live recordings of Irish and international performers, plus selections from the latest CD releases.
RTÉ lyric fm, Monday 13th January, 1pm-4pm
LORCAN MURRAY'S CLASSIC DRIVE
Classic Drive brings you the perfect musical soundtrack, including Lorcan's Pick of the Week: Études Mélodiques by Marie Awadis who says, 'it represents the constant change of feeling between joy and disappointment, hope and despair, the excitement of experiencing love and the doubt that it will be everlasting.' Plus, Culture File, news and sports.
RTÉ lyric fm, Tuesday 14th January, 4pm-7pm
NIALL CARROLL’S CLASSICAL DAYTIME
Niall Carroll plays music from the heart of the classical repertoire with Sounds on Screen a piece from either the big or the small screen at 11am, and at midday Five of a Kind. This week Niall chooses five pieces by the baroque composer Tomaso Albinoni.
RTÉ lyric fm, Wednesday 15th January, 10am-1pm
THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN
Join Liz Nolan for a very special concert today as we broadcast live from Studio 1 in the RTÉ Radio Centre for a concert with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Conductor Gavin Maloney says 'I wanted dynamism and beauty to be at the heart of the programme, as we face January anew. Mozart's 'Haffner' symphony is immensely powerful and succinct. Wagner's opera, Tannhäuser, is ostensibly about a legendary singing festival. So, it's fitting that we showcase some of Ireland's finest choristers in Elgar's exquisite wintertime ode The Snow.’
Mozart: Haffner Symphony
Elgar The Snow, Op. 26 No. 1 with Pro Cathedral choristers
Massenet: Méditation
Wagner: Tannhäuser Overture
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Conductor: Gavin Maloney
RTÉ lyric fm, Thursday 16th January 1pm-4pm
AEDÍN IN THE AFTERNOON
Aedín features the multi-award-winning Canadian jazz vocalist, pianist and composer Laila Biali and her latest album Wintersongs. Three Bach interpretations by three different artists and stunning orchestral music by Gabriel Fauré from a recent National Symphony Orchestra album. Plus, Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble, Tony Bennett and K.D. Lang duet, and film tunes by Alexandre Desplat and Bill Conti.
RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 17th January, 4pm-7pm
RTÉ LYRIC LIVE WITH PAUL HERRIOTT
Paul Herriott presents live from the stage of the National Concert Hall as the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Diego Matheuz mark Shostakovich 50 with his 7th Symphony. Piano star Lise de la Salle performs Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto which achieved cinematic immortality when it was featured in David Lean's 1948 film, Brief Encounter.
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7, Leningrad
National Symphony Orchestra
Diego Matheuz (conductor)
Lise de la Salle (piano)
RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 17th January, 7pm-10pm
