New festival strikes a chord
When it comes to music festivals, Westport is fast becoming a go-to hub – with bluegrass, folk, trad, rock and pop lovers all catered for with a variety of events. The latest colourful feather in the town’s cap is the newly announced Westport Festival of Chamber Music, the first of which will be held on September 6-8.
Spread across two venues, Westport House and Holy Trinity Church – both perfect for classical music performances – this first festival will feature Irish musicians who are highly successful on the international stage, performing in various small ensemble arrangements.
Violinist Catherine Leonard and pianist Hugh Tinney, the festival’s artistic directors, will be joined by the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet and guitarist Redmond O’Toole.
Starting on the Friday night, the Leonard and Tinney Duo will open the festival with Beethoven’s Spring Sonata, the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet will play Boccherini’s Guitar Quintet with Redmond O’Toole and Cesar Franck’s Piano Quintet with Hugh Tinney. In Holy Trinity Church on Saturday evening, the Duo will perform Sonatas by Beethoven and Brahms and the second half of the concert will be devoted to a tribute to Fritz Kreisler including many of the musicians’ favourites.
On Sunday afternoon members of the Quartet will join the Duo in duos and trios by Mozart and Brahms. There will be an annual Invitation Concert for young musicians, and this year violinist Mairéad Hickey and pianist Gary Beecher from Cork have been selected by the artistic directors. They will play works by Schumann, Sarasate and Debussy in Holy Trinity Church on Saturday at noon.
Catherine Leonard and Hugh Tinney have given recitals in Holy Trinity Church over the past few years and are delighted with the prospect of being joined by their guest musicians in such an appropriate venue for music, as well as in the majestic Westport House. They are regarded as Ireland’s foremost violin and piano duo, performing together in Ireland and internationally since 1999.
Catherine has been Principal Artist of Camerata Pacifica in California for the past nine years as well as performing as soloist with many top orchestras. Pianist Hugh Tinney says: “I’m looking forward hugely to this opportunity to bring wonderful chamber music to the beautiful settings of Westport, where the entrancing sounds of Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms in live performances can add to the wide range of arts and activities available to residents and visitors alike”. Since winning major international piano competitions in Italy and Spain, Hugh has performed in more than 40 countries.
Also winners of a major competition, the London International String Quartet Competition in 1988, the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet perform around the world as well as being resident quartet for RTÉ and in University College Cork. Redmond O’Toole is an unusual classical guitarist, playing eight-string guitar in the cello position.
Neil Mooney, Festival Chair, says “The committee is enjoying great support and encouragement from other Westport arts organisations, and we anticipate a big welcome from music lovers for this addition to the music calendar in Ireland.”
The festival is grant-aided by The Arts Council and Westport Town Council. Patronage and donations will play a significant part in establishing and continuing a world-class chamber music festival. Full details and on-line booking are available on www.classicallinks.ie or from the Festival Manager, Madeleine Flanagan, at madeleine@classicallinks.ie. Tickets will be available to personal callers in the Clew Bay Hotel.
