The ninth annual Waterford New Music festival takes place from 3-8 February.

Running in three venues (Garter Lane Arts Centre, The Chapel, WIT and Christ Church Cathedral) the festival is to celebrate the music of Olivier Messiaen to mark the centenary in 2008 of his birth.

Among the works to be heard during the six-day event are Vingt Regards sur L’Enfant Jesus, to be performed in its entirety over two days by Simon Mawhinney, and Quartet for the End of Time played by the Fidelio Trio and Roger Heaton.

The festival will also include an organ recital by David Leigh, lunchtime concerts by the Fidelio Trio (to include music by Kevin Volans and Donnacha Dennehy) and guitarist John Feeley and flautist Bill Dowdall as well as performance programmes by WIT Music School students and staff.

Workshops, open rehearsals, lectures, jazz concerts, a schools outreach project and the Contemporary Music Centre's Art of Sound exhibition will also feature in the festival.

For details, see our calendar or visit www.waterfordnewmusicweek.com.

Posted: 7 January 2008