RTÉ Concert Orchestra to open music festival in Offaly this weekend

By Pune Media On Apr 30, 2025

IT’S going to be a wonderful weekend this May Bank Holiday in Birr as the town’s 2025 festival season gets underway with Birr Festival of Music.

Taking place from May 1st-5th, it’s an expanded programme for the classical music festival which has been running annually since 2016, garnering a reputation for top-notch musicmaking and hugely enjoyable concerts.

The RTÉ Concert Orchestra will open this year’s festival at St Brendan’s RC Church on Wilmer Road with what will be a very special evening of Opera and Orchestral favourites. Conducted by Niall Kinsella, with internationally-acclaimed Irish soprano Ava Dodd and presenter Liz Nolan of RTÉ lyric fm, the concert will feature beloved pieces by Mozart, Donizetti, Ravel, Puccini, Bernstein, among others. The concert starts at 7.30pm on Friday evening.

Acclaimed singer (and one of the three members of the iconic, comedy singing group Fascinating Aïda) Liza Pulman will explore the Great American Songbook in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, starting with the genius of Harold Arlen and moving onto Rodgers & Hart, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and as many songs as she can squeeze into one evening! Liza will be accompanied by award-winning jazz pianist Gareth Williams, one of the most dynamic and exciting performers in the UK. An 8pm starton Saturday night.

In Myths & Magic, in St Brendan’s Church of Ireland on Monday May 5th, at 3.30pm, Birr Young Voices will perform songs inspired by folklore and legends from Celtic and European tales. They have been exploring the River Shannon through the legends of Sionnan, the River Goddess, and the River Monster, Cata, and also worked with animator Finn Nichol to create moving and still images to complement their music.

The Trench Award Gala Concert, the centrepiece of the festival, will showcase emerging singers and instrumentalists from the Midlands. This year’s finalists will each perform a 15-minute programme of their choice. All are pursuing professional careers in classical music and were selected by an international panel of music experts. Recipients of The Trench Award, Birr Lions Club Bursary, Canto Al Serchio Prize (for voice), the Connolly Award (new this year) and The Lumcloon Energy Award (new this year) will all be announced. The concert starts at 7.30pm on Sunday night.

There will also be a host of pop-up performances around the town and masterclasses in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre.

Niall Kinsella, who was appointed this year to be the Artistic Director of the Festival, told the Midland Tribune that this year’s event will be “a spectacular musical celebration, featuring a fantastic wealth of Irish and international talent. We are particularly excited to welcome the RTÉ Concert Orchestra to Birr for our Festival Opening Concert, which I know is guaranteed to be a memorable evening of music!”

To book your tickets go to www.birrfestivalofmusic.com .

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