5 April 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cork International Choral Festival will bring a city to life with song
Almost 5,000 world class singers and 50,000 visitors from across Ireland, Europe and beyond will descend on Cork over the May Bank Holiday weekend from 26-30 April for the 63rd annual Cork International Choral Festival.
The Festival, which is the oldest in Cork and one of Europe’s most prestigious Choral Festivals, will bring Cork to life with song over the weekend with a series of gala concerts, national and international competitions, schools concerts, workshops, seminars, and free outdoor performances across over 90 venues in the city and county.
There are 114 performances and events scheduled, including 6 ticketed gala events and performances by 16 international groups from 13 different countries – Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Macedonia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and Wales.
There will also be dozens of other gatherings throughout the city as the event always spills out to the streets of Cork, including many impromptu performances in pubs, cafes, restaurants, churches and libraries – wherever you turn you will hear a harmony of voices.
2017 looks like it will be one of the most exciting years yet with something for everyone – choral and music lovers alike. Highlights include the Grammy® award winning acapella group, The Swingles, Verdi’s Requiem with the Cork Fleischmann Symphony Orchestra, ‘The Great Mystery’ by Chamber Choir Ireland, a performance by New Dublin Voices in Cork’s North Cathedral, the International Fleishmann Gala choir competition and everyone’s cherished Closing Gala Concert.
Three new works will be featured and given their world premières in Cork – a new composition by David Fennessy, Ne Reminicaris, jointly commissioned by Cork International Choral Festival and Chamber Choir Ireland and City Shower by John Lonergan, the winner of this year’s Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition (supported by the Ó Riada family), both of which will feature at the Gala performance on Friday evening.
Commenting, Sinéad Dunphy, Festival Manager, said, “Situated at the gateway to Ireland’s Ancient and the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork is unique in its position to be able to deliver an internationally acclaimed Festival. Each year the event attracts over 50,000 and packs out every hotel, restaurant and bar with singers and music lovers”.
“The event is one of the top festivals in the country and is the perfect chance for locals and visitors alike to enjoy a fantastic line-up of the best choirs and voices from around the world. We hope everyone joins in the fun.”
