Celebrating human voice – and nightclub culture

Arts Week with Judy Murphy

Success brings its own challenges – and these are challenges Music for Galway is only too happy to embrace as the group builds on its 2014-15 season, which saw audiences double and sponsorship increase significantly.

Only three years ago, Music for Galway, which was set up in 1981 to nurture classical music in Galway, was fearful for its very survival.

Its 2015-16 season, launched this week, sees an expanded programme with several new strands – something members could have only dreamed about a couple of years ago when pianist Finghin Collins took over as Artistic Director.

This year’s season, On wings of song is dedicated to the human voice, in a similar manner to last year’s successful Cellisimo season, which brought the cello centre stage.

“On wings of song will show the variety of the human voice in a variety of contexts,” says Finghin Collins, adding that different concerts will feature singers performing with a string quartet, with a piano, in oratorios, in opera and with orchestras.

“This will show the richness of poetry that comes with the voice, moving and touching us in a unique way,” he says. “We have an amazing vocal tradition in Ireland and a special relationship with the voice, through sean-nós and traditional singing.”

More recently, Ireland has produced world-class opera singers such as Anne Murray, Cara O’Sullivan and Celine Byrne.

As an acclaimed pianist, Finghin performs at events and festivals all over the world and many of the singers in this year’s programme are people he has met and been impressed with on his travels. They include Dutch baritone Henk Neven, accompanied by Han Eijsakers on piano, both of whom who will make will make their Irish debut in Galway in February

“I want to bring new names to Galway and to Ireland,” explains Finghin.

He’s also working to attract new audiences. Music for Galway Goes Clubbing, being staged in the City’s trendy Electric Garden venue will feature German soprano Salome Kammer singing songs by Kurt Weill, accompanied by the Vogler Quartet who will also perform music from Hayden and Schulhoff. That show, in April, will also include late-night dancing, with music from guest DJs.

This year’s Music for Galway season begins on Thursday, September 10, with Handel’s Agrippina, one of his earlier operas. The Irish Youth Orchestra production, in English, will be at the Black Box in a co-production with Northern Irish Opera and Irish Chamber Orchestra.

Irish talent will be to the fore again on November 4, when mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught, accompanied by pianist Dearbhla Collins, will perform songs by Dvorak, Brahms, Wolf, Copland, Mahler and Britten at the Aula Maxima, NUIG.

Music for Galway expanded programme this year includes two new strands, the Orchestral Series and the Lunchtime Series. These have been made possible thanks to sponsorship from Stewart Construction and the software company SAP.

There will be six concerts in Lunchtime Series, taking place throughout the year at Hotel Meyrick.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.