Previous Concerts

April 2024

Talamh // Evlana Sinfonietta at NMD // 28 April 2024

Opening the concert, inti figgis-vizueta’s groundbreaking Talamh and Ryan Molloy's vibrant Luasc evoke their own, unique memories and visions of Ireland. Swedish composer Karin Rehnqvist’s Taromirs Tid masterfully brings to mind imagery of slowed-down, dream-like time and light emerging from darkness—while Claud Vivier’s captivating Zipangu ventures further afield, taking its inspiration from the kabuki theatres in Tokyo. The programme is built around the centrepiece of an exciting new commission from acclaimed Dublin composer Rhona Clarke.

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This world premiere performance of Rhona Clarke’s Rough Beast II was commissioned by Evlana/NMD with funds from the Arts Council of Ireland.

March 2024

Water and Magic // Finding a Voice // Saturday 9 March 2024

Hear some of Ireland's most exciting and talented performers as they take us on a musical journey inspired by the themes of water and magic, with works by Siobhán Cleary, Lili Boulanger, Rebecca Clarke, Gemma Peacock and Jessie Montgomery. A highlight of the concert will be the world première of Judith Ring's The River Was Never Afraid, inspired by Clonmel's River Suir, as well as the winning piece in the Finding a Voice/Contemporary Music Centre competition for emerging composers by Cathy Purcell.

Isabelle O'Connell (piano), Sylvia O’ Brien (soprano), William Dowdall (flute), Paul Roe (clarinet), Keith Pascoe (violin), Yseult Cooper Stockdale (cello), Alex Petcu (percussion)

SoundCloud

November 2023

Ngarra Burria // A Programme of Indigenous Australian Works // 23 - 24 November 2024

Ngarra-Burria are Dharug words meaning ‘to hear, to sing’. Initiated in 2016 by Indigenous composer Christopher Sainsbury, the Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers programme exists to support and mentor emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander composers. This concert features highlight works produced through this important programme. The idea for this concert first came from Clair Butler, PhD student at UCC. Concerts taking place at St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork on the 24th of November and Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin on te 26th of Novmeber.

May 2023

Perfect Offering //The National Concert Hall, Dublin // 25 May 2023

A compelling musical journey of new music, featuring Jane O’ Leary’s beneath the dark blue waves. Also featuring Jessie Montgomery's lively "Strum", Jonathan Nangle's Granular Dusk and Cassandra Miller's poignant "Perfect Offering" which takes its title from Leonard Cohen in a concert spanning over a century of artistic expression.

soundcloud

April 2023

Méadú // Evlana at New Music Dublin // 22 April, 2023

Hot off the press, Jenn Kirby’s Surrounding received its world premiere at this performance, alongside Irish premieres from two of the most exciting composers on the New York scene today— Pamela Z and Missy Mazzoli. The ensemble also marked Seóirse Bodley's 90th birthday with his NCH-commissioned Earlsfort Suite, and performed George Crumb's enthralling display piece Apparition—a true celebration of music of our time.

October 2022

Ondine: Ravel and Beyond Tour // 07 - 15 Oct 2022

07 October, 2022| Triskel Arts Centre, Cork.
09 October, 2022| Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.
13 October, 2022| Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar.
15 October, 2022| The Dock, Carrick-on -Shannon.

Taking its inspiration from Ondine by Maurice Ravel, a landmark work for solo piano, Ondine: Ravel and Beyond, offered Irish audiences an opportunity to hear a rich palette of chamber works written in the years following the first performance of the composer’s tour de force in 1908, in addition to more recent works similarly inspired by composers Kaija Saariaho, Toru Takemitsu and Irish composer Siobhán Cleary.

June 2022

Enchantment // Evlana & Michael Harding // 30 June, 2022

An evening of music and readings with Evlana and Michael Harding in King House, Boyle. Featuring composers with a Roscommon connection, such as Turlough O’Carolan and Percy French as well as performances of works with an enchanted theme, such as Ravel's "Enchanted Flute", Richard Strauss's "At Sunset' and "Elfentanz" by Florence Price.

Funded by Roscommon County Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme

April 2021

Constellations 1, 2 & 3 // New Music Dublin // April, 2021

New Music Dublin present’s Evlana’s Constellations, A series of 3 concerts taking place in April 2021. “Constellations” highlights Irish chamber work over the last 40 years, showcasing some of Ireland’s most accomplished performers and composers. Throughout the series, members of Evlana perform pieces by Judith Ring, John McLachlan & Amanda Feery. Works by Deirdre McKay, John Buckley & Raymond Deane also feature in the programme which also includes a world premiere by Jane Deasy.

Programme notes

October 2018

Ondine // The National Gallery of Ireland // 18th October 2018

A span of a little over a century separates the first and last piece in this programme which share a title and a provenance in Aloysius Bertrand’s captivating poem, Ondine. Featuring music by Tailleferre, Lili Boulanger, Messiaen, Saariaho and Takemitsu and the Irish premiere of Siobhán Cleary’s Ondine.

With many thanks in particular to Ciara Higgins and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Also to the National Gallery and the Arts Council Ireland.

Parts of this concert were broadcast on Lyric Fm’s Sound Out in Dec 2018.

Event page

programme notes

September 2015

Evlana Sinfonietta // University Church Dublin // 29 September 2015

The concert featured several pieces which were performed in Ireland for the first time including; Kaija Saariaho’s Changing Light, Vivier’s Zipangu for string orchestra, Karin Rehnqvist’s Taromirs Tid. The concert also featured Benjamin Britten’s monumental setting of poet Rimbaud’s Les Illuminations and a world premiere Her Kind by Siobhán Cleary, a setting of the Anne Sexton poem.

This concert was broadcast on Lyric FM over 4 weeks in November in 2015.