The Flowering Branch - Songs for Tenor and Guitar (Dublin & Limerick)

Recently returned from a tour of New Zealand and Serbia, Christopher Bowen and Matthew Marshall connect Ireland, Elizabethan London and a high country farm in New Zealand through songs for tenor and guitar.

'Eden Rock' by Irish composer Stephen Mc Neff is the centre piece in this recital that starts in the aftermath of the 9 years war with Britten’s Second Lute Song of the Earl of Essex. Dowland, Williamson and New Zealand composers Douglas Lilburn, Anthony Ritchie and Louise Matthews complete this searching and beautiful collection of art song.

Tenor Christopher Bowen has been immersed in the Irish classical music scene since moving from London in 2020 where he was a member of the BBC Singers. Active on the opera and concert stage he appears with Irish National Opera, Opera Collective Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir Ireland. He created the role of James Joyce in Old Ghosts, played Bill in Flight, Fr. Brendan in The Ballybruff Trilogy and Samuel Beckett in Blue Electric. His diverse concert appearances include Britten's Serenade with the Hibernian Orchestra, a world premiere of Ina Boyle's Lament for Bion with conTempo Quartet.

Matthew Marshall is one of NZ’s leading classical guitarists having given over 2000 performances on four continents, from Royal Festival Hall London to Iceland, Siberia and on to Easter Island! He has appeared as concerto soloist with the Berlin Chamber Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic, the Guanajuato Symphony Mexico, the NZSO and many others, and his solo album Fragments was a finalist in the Best Classical Artist category of the 2020 Aotearoa New Zealand Music Awards.

Programme

Benjamin Britten - Second Lute Song of the Earl of Essex from Gloriana
Douglas Lilburn - Sings Harry
John Dowland - Time Stands Still
* Stephen McNeff  - Eden Rock (2017)
* Malcolm Williamson - Shakespeare Songs (1974)
* Anthony Ritchie - Five Dunedin Songs (1996)
* Louise Matthews - South Island Songs (2022)

* Irish premiere

Dates, Venues & Tickets

3 August, 12.45 | St Ann's Church, Dublin | Booking TBA
5th August 1.15pm | St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick | Booking TBA
6 August, 7.30pm | United Arts Club, Dublin | Tickets: €20-25 on Eventbrite.