Line-up confirmed for Limerick International Music Festival

The Irish Chamber Orchestra has unveiled an eclectic mix for this year’s Limerick International Music Festival, running from May 24 to 29.

This year’s highlights include a Hungarian night and a gala fundraiser for the ICO’s Sing Out With Strings Programme. The second orchestral performance sees the welcome return of Dastardly Dr Darkpants with an X Factor music extravaganza for all the family. St Mary’s Cathedral provides the atmospheric backdrop for two recitals, one showcasing the music of Chopin while the other, features two concerts in one, a choral recital followed by a piano recital.
Irish Chamber Orchestra chief executive John Kelly commented, “This year, our festival offers four days of music-making for all the family.”
The festival is one of the cultural calendar highlights in the Mid-West Region. It’s a national and international platform not only for the Irish Chamber Orchestra but also for world-renowned artists.
Among the events for this year’s festival, on Thursday, May 26 at St Mary’s Cathedral, pianist Una Hunt along with actor Sean McDonagh will present  a theatrical concert, a dramatic portrait Chopin in Paris, which features some of his most popular music. Written by award-winning playwright Miriam Gallagher, the show gives dimension to Chopin’s life in Paris and is directed by Kate Minogue. 
On Friday, May 27, there is a concert of two halves at St Mary’s Cathedral at 9pm. In the first performance, the ICO Chorus take centre-stage with an exciting array of South American sacred music. The second performance features the return of internationally renowned tenor Paul McNamara to his hometown, accompanied by well known Irish pianist, Dearbhla Collins.
At University Concert on Saturday, May 28, the Irish Chamber Orchestra under conductor Gabor Takacs-Nagy performs a Hungarian night in what has to be the highlight of this year’s festival. Gabor is renowned not just in Hungary but the world over and has performed with Solti, Menuhin, Rostropovitch and more. Guest soloist Antal Szalai is one of Hungary’s most exciting and expressive young violinists.
For booking information for the festival, call 1890 923543 or visit www.irishchamberorchestra.com