International Tours

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (Celtic Connections)

Featuring

Irish Chamber Orchestra
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh Vocalist


Programme
Róisín ReImagined

Description
With Kilkenny Arts Festival, we co-commissioned special arrangements from six leading Irish composers: Cormac McCarthy, Paul Campbell, Linda Buckley, Sam Perkin, Niamh Varian- Barry and Michael Keeney. The result was Roisin Reimagined - an exciting project pairing Muireann’s peerless vocals with fresh orchestral arrangements of sean nós songs.

“Nic Amhlaoibh and Irish Chamber Orchestra have found the sweetest of spots in which to collaborate, always letting the songs dictate the pace and mood, but opening them up to new horizons under the watchful eyes of these wisely chosen composers, and steered by producer Dónal O’Connor”

Siobhan Long – Irish Times

Wheaton College, Illinois
Carnegie Hall, New York
Library of Congress, Washington DC

Featuring
Irish Chamber Orchestra
Jörg Widmann Principal Conductor
Claron McFadden Soprano

Programme
Mendelssohn String Symphony No. 8
Widmann Attempt at a Fuge for Soprano & Orchestra
Mozart Adagio and Fuge in C Minor, K.546
Widmann 180 Beats per Minute
Weber Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, Op. 34

Description
A fresh, virtuoistic programme showcasing the best of Jorg Widmann and Claron McFadden. The programme included Widmann’s Attempt at a Fugue, a co-commission with Stuttgarter Kammerorchester.

“The enthusiasm with which musicians attack their craft can be infectious. The Irish Chamber Orchestra, a small group based around 18 string players, made a strong case for all the music they played in a vivacious concert…The last facet of the program featured sheer delight in rhythmic drive…This virtuosic display brought out whiffs of techno music in the pulsing bass line and folk music verve…With over-expressive cues and leaning gestures, Widmann shaped sectional contours in Felix Mendelssohn’s String Symphony No. 8.”

- Charles Downey, Washington Post

Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires
Sala, São Paulo

Featuring
Irish Chamber Orchestra
Jörg Widmann Principal Conductor

Programme
Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture Op.26 Fingal’s Cave
Widmann 180 beats Per Minute for Sextet
Mozart Concerto for Clarinet in A major, KV 622
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 Scottish
Widmann Con Brio
Mozart Concerto for Clarinet in A major, KV 622
Schumannn Symphony No. 2

Description
We brought Scotland to South America for this lively progamme - which afforded Widmann the opportunity to enchant with the instrument of his affection, the clarinet.

“Without baton or platform, the director produced an exhibition that in synthesis seemed very lively, colorful and vital”
La Prensa, Buenos Aires

“The justified ovation marked the end of the evening. Nobody needed more.”
Donato Decina, Criticos Musicales, Buenos Aires

“The music was powerful….. the Schumann Second Symphony excited and convinced in good hands.”
Pablo Bardin, para Música Clásica BA, Buenos Aires

Philharmonie, Essen
Heidelberger Fruhling Festival

Featuring
Irish Chamber Orchestra
Jörg Widmann Principal Conductor/Clarinet
Elisabeth Leonskaja Piano

Programme
Weber Concertino
Widmann Fieberfantasie
Mendelsohn Sypmhonie no 13
Mendelsohn- Widman Andante
Mendelsohn Symphonie 3

Description
We were the first Irish orchestra to achieve a residency at Heidelberger Fruhling Festival.

“The Irish Chamber Orchestra has spoiled the Heidelberger Frühling: with the beauty of their music and with the incredible enthusiasm in their music making. This would be unimaginable without their first guest principal conductor Jörg Widmann who again brought his clarinet with him”.

Rhein-Neckar, Zeitung

Erlangenhaus, Leverkusen

Featuring
Irish Chamber Orchestra
Jorg Widmann Principal Conductor
Fidget Feet Aerial Dance

Programme
Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Strauss Concertino for Bassoon or Clarinet
Mendelsohn – Widmann Andante
Mendelsohn – Sypmhonie no. 10
Prokofiev Trapeze (with Fidget Feet)

Description
We collaborated on an aerial duet with Fidget Feet using hoop, trapeze and an aerial spiral with called ‘Trapeze’ by Prokofiev, conducted by Jorg Widmann.