RTÉ ConTempo string quartet present a new concert series in Dublin

The RTÉ ConTempo string quartet launch a new concert series this Sunday, which will see them bring their Father and Sons concept from Galway to Dublin.

ConTempo, as well as being recently appointed the RTÉ String Quartet in residence, have been The Galway Music Residency's ensemble-in-residence for the past eleven years. As part of their regular afternoon concerts at the Galway City Library, the quartet have been exploring the legacy of the great Classical master of the string quartet, Haydn, and his Irish 'disciples'. ConTempo are now launching a new facet of the Father and Sons concerts: a regular appearance as part of the Hugh Lane Gallery's Sundays@Noon events.

Taking place on the last Sunday of every month, the quartet will perform one Haydn string quartet, alongside at least one more by a 21st century Irish composer, who will also speak about their work. For each concert, they will be joined by an additional special guest musician, such as Zoe Conway (fiddle), Finghin Collins (pf), Cliona Doris (hrp) and William Dowdall (fl). The result is a wide-ranging showcase of Irish chamber music, and an examination of how contemporary Irish music fits into the historical classical canon.

The series is in association with the Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Dublin City Council, RTÉ and CMC.

Next month the ConTempo quartet will also perform a concert of music by emerging Irish composers at the Irish Composers' Collective's tenth anniversary celebrations.

September 28th

Joseph Haydn - Rider string quartet

Elaine Agnew - Ready, Steady...Go

Bill Whelan - Irish Suite for fiddle & string quartet

Guest Artist: Zoë Conway on fiddle

November 30th

Joseph Haydn - Birds string quartet

Poetry readings from Mountain Ash in Connemara album by Joan McBreen

Glen Austin - Irish Airs arranged for string quartet 

Guest artist: Joan McBreen, poet

January 25th

Joseph Haydn - Lark String Quartet

Jane O'Leary - Mystic play of shadows

Antonin Dvorak - Piano Quintet

Guest artist: Finghin Collins, piano

February 22nd

Joseph Haydn - Razor string quartet

Alec Roth - Klee Pictures

Robert Schumann - Piano Quintet

Guest artist: Hugh Tinney, piano

March 29th

Joseph Haydn - Opus 76 no 1, from Erdódy quartets

Ian Wilson - Her charms invited

Boccherini – Cello Quintet in C Major 

Guest artist: Christopher Marwood - cello

April 26th

Joseph Haydn - Compliments string quartet

Deirdre McKay - Mr. Shah stares to heavens

Menotti, Gian Carlo – Cantilena & Scherzo for harp and string quartet

Guest artist: Cliona Doris, harp

May 31st

Joseph Haydn - Emperor string quartet

John McLaghlan - Where we are/Planets

Handel & Corolan quintets for voice & string quartet / (TBC)

Guest artist: Deirdre Moynihan - soprano

June 28th

Joseph Haydn - Quinten/Fifths quartet

Donnacha Dennehy - Push-pulling

Mozart & Haydn - Flute quartets

Guest artist: William Dowdall, flute