The Ceiliuradh Chamber Choir held its annual summer concert on Saturday 6th June. It took place in St. Mary’s Church of Ireland Church on Anglesea Road in Ballsbridge. It was quite a varied programme performed in just under two hours.
The Ceiliuradh Chamber Choir opened proceedings with about twenty minutes’ of songs unaccompanied by instruments, with many songs from the 16th century such as ‘Though Philomena lost her Love’. This was composed in 1593 and according to Breda O Shea, the choir’s musical director, Philomena means Nightingale.
The most sparkling part of the evening was a performance from DIT Conservatory of music student Hannah Macaulay. Hannah, pictured right, has already performed a range of solo soprano roles, including the Conservatory’s production of Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ and also performed in the Feis Ceol last March.
She is going to the Yorke Trust Opera course this summer, singing a small solo piece for them in ‘Castor et Pollux’ by Jean Philipe Rameau. Accompanied by organist John Shera, Hannah sang pieces by Beethoven, Mahler and Thomas Moore as well as the hauntingly beautiful ‘La Wally’ by Catalani. Hannah’s singing voice carries the power and range you might expect of a future opera diva.
Then a trio comprising Niamh Kerley, Clare Nolan and Cliona Anderson sang with a fine melodic sound. They were accompanied by John Shera on the organ through ‘A Gaelic Blessing’ and ‘Gershwin for Girls’, a medley of songs by George Gershwin that included ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’. They are first years at the DIT Conservatory and surely have a promising future.
The second part of the night again began with the Choir, though with shorter performances. ‘The Salley Gardens’, Tchaikovsky’s ‘Crown of Roses’ and ‘The Lamb’ by Sir John Tavener.
Hannah came on stage again for about 20 minutes followed by the choir singing a ‘Canticle for Evensong’ by Henry Purcell, who was court musician at Westminster Cathedral over 300 years ago. This was accompanied with the organ and there certainly was a hallowed feel to the music.
The night was wrapped up with a few glasses of wine for audience and performers alike. Anyone interested in becoming a chorister should contact Breda O’Shea at bredaoshea6@gmail.com
