Louth Contemporary Music Society announces a concert of music by Sofia Gubaidulina.

Sofia Gubaidulina is to visit Ireland for the first time for a concert as part of the Drogheda Arts Festival. The concert, A Composer Portrait of Sofia Gubaidulina – The Fire and The Rose takes place in St Peter’s Church, Drogheda , on 1 May 2010.

Over the past few years, Louth Contemporary Music Society has brought world renowned composers to Ireland including Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Terry Riley and Valentyn Silvestrov.

One of the composers whose works were forbidden performance in her own country for many years, Gubaidulina was subjected to the severest repression.  Almost unknown in the West until the Iron Curtain fell, her music is now in great demand by artists all over the world.

The performance will be a significant cultural event as it will be the first major performance of her music in Ireland. Gubaidulina has been commissioned and performed by, among others, the Louisville Orchestra (1989), the Kronos Quartet (New York, 1994), (Washington, DC, 1994), Yuri Bashmet with the Chicago Symphony conducted by Kent Nagano (1997), the New York Philharmonic conducted by Kurt Masur (1999), and Gidon Kremer.

The Fire and the Rose: the Music of Sofia Gubaidulina is presented by Louth Contemporary Music Society (LCMS) in association with Drogheda Arts Festival. The event is funded by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and financially supported by the Drogheda Arts Festival and supported by Louth County Council and Failte Ireland.

Tickets €15 from www.centralticketbureau.com + Highlanes Gallery, Laurence St, Drogheda Telephone: 041 980 7114. The Drogheda Arts Festival will run at various venues in Drogheda from 1-4 May. 
Further information: Eamonn Quinn 086 263 2408, email  exquinn@mac.com .