Locrian Ensemble - St Patrick's Day 2009

Everyone’s invited to be Irish at St Martin-in-the-Fields this St Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2009. The candlelit church will resonate to the sounds of instruments ancient and modern in an imaginative and atmospheric programme with works for orchestra, choir, solo harp, solo cello, fiddle and flute. Solo harpist Jean Kelly and violinist Dermot Crehan who played the solos on the films of Lord of the Rings are featured in this concert.

Suites of Old Irish melodies for harp and strings by the national composer, Turlough O'Carolan, are followed by the St Patrick Singers singing the beautiful settings of Danny Boy and the Irish Blessing by John Rutter. A stunning Celtic homage for cello, harp and strings Cariad - meaning ‘beloved’ - leads into the St Patrick's suite by Paul Honey for Irish soloists - flute, violin, guitar, pipes and voice - with the full orchestra. This suite has just been recorded by the group in Dublin for Irish radio and cd, and the St Martin's concert marks the London premier of this important work. The evening concludes with a traditional, rousing Ceilidh band finale.

In keeping with the Irish theme, the Café in the Crypt will be serving fine bottled Guinness and authentic Irish fare before the concert and during the interval.

Bringing together some of the most prominent string soloists in London, the Locrian Ensemble was formed in 1995 and has established an enviable reputation for its recordings, broadcasts and live performances. The group frequently expands, and this provides a vehicle for concerto playing for the group’s key members.

Jean Kelly is clearly established as one of Ireland's foremost harpists, hailing from a family of several generations of professional musicians. One of her ancestors sang in the first performance of Handel's 'Messiah' given in 1753 in Dublin.

As well as being three times "All Ireland Fiddle Champion" Dermot Crehan has been successful at the top of London's music scene for over twenty five years. His extensive knowledge and experience gained over sixteen years in the fields of orchestral and operatic music in three top London orchestras, combined with his experience of commercial and Irish folk music as well as music from other diverse ethnic cultures, place him in a unique position amongst the elite of London's professional musicians.

Programme
O'Carolan - Suite of old Irish Melodies
Rutter - An Irish Blessing for Choir and Strings
Tunes from the Heart of Ireland including Danny Boy for choir and orchestra
Paul Honey - Suite of Irish Tunes for Irish Soloists and Orchestra
Celebrated Irish Melodies for Harp and Strings
Julie Cooper - Coriad for solo cello, harp and strings
Ceilidh Band Finale

St Patrick Singers
Locrian Ensemble of London
Jean Kelly Harp
Fiona Kelly Flute
Dermot Crehan Fiddle
Mick Sands Vocals
Clive Carroll Guitar
Bob White Pipes
Stephen Barlow Conductor

MORE TICKETS NOW RELEASED!

For directions click here »

Online booking is now closed for this concert, but tickets may be purchased by calling the box office on +44 (0)20 7766 1100 Monday to Saturday, 10 to 5pm.

For Bank Holiday Monday concerts, the Box Office is open for telephone and in-person bookings on the preceding Sunday from 12 to 5pm and on the Bank Holiday Monday from 12pm until the end of the interval of the concert.

Click here to email a friend about this concert