Cork International Choral Festival

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[edit] Introduction

The Cork International Choral Festival[1] is one of Europe's premier Choral Festivals. Held annually in Cork, Ireland over the May Bank Holiday Weekend, it features choirs from all over the world.

May 2nd - 6th 2007

[edit] History

Founded in 1954 to be a dynamic force in developing choral music in Ireland, the Cork International Choral Festival is held annually over the four days preceding the first Monday in May in Cork's City Hall (capacity 1,000) - one of the most attractive and acoustically superb venues in Ireland. It is one of Europe's premier international choral festivals and is noted for its high competitive standards, excellent organisation, and the friendliness of its welcome. Each year some of the finest amateur international choirs are selected to compete for the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy. The selected choirs also have an opportunity to perform non-competitively in a range of Festival activities presented over the weekend, including Fringe concerts, church and informal performances. Their presence gives audiences and Irish choirs the unique opportunity of attending a diverse range of concerts and competitive sessions while in Cork. As well as foreign choirs, the Festival annually features up to 100 Adult, Youth and School choirs who participate in National Competitions. Overall the Festival attracts some 5000 participants. The festival continues to ensure that choral music, representative of many historical and cultural traditions, is brought to the people of Cork and the many visitors who travel to the city for the event.

[edit] Programme of Major Events 2007

• Wednesday 2nd May 2007 The Swingle Singers 8pm, City HallThis year’s festival will open with ‘Bach to Beatles’, a concert performance by one of the leading groups in the world of a cappella. The Swingle Singers have to be experienced live, where the combination of startling arrangements, thrilling choreography and skilful vocal percussion really do create the illusion that you're hearing a lot more than just the eight people onstage! www.swinglesingers.com

• Thursday 3rd May 2007 ‘Ethnic Voices’ 8pm, City Hall This concert combines the utterly unique and compelling sounds of two very distinct vocal traditions. On their return visit to Cork, don’t miss the opportunity to hear Huun-Huur-Tu’s astonishing throat-singing, as they perform ‘old and forgotten songs’ from their native Tuva, near the Mongolian border. The second half of this programme features the haunting and inimitable voice of Dona Rosa performing her own special brand of Portuguese Fado, with traditional accompaniment. http://www.huunhuurtu.com/ & http://www.myspace.com/rosadona

• Friday 4th May 2007 ‘Cross-Overs’, 7.30pm St Fin Barre’s CathedralCois Cladaigh Chamber Choir (Ireland) together with special guests Sarah Grealish (Sean-Nós singer) and accompanying Jazz Saxophonist present ‘Cross-Overs’; a concert interweaving main-stream choral repertoire with jazz and traditional music (à la Hilliard Ensemble and Jan Garbarek). http://www.coiscladaigh.net/

• Friday 4th May 2007 ‘Evocations’, 10.30pm, North CathedralFollowing on the major success of previous ‘Evocations’ concerts, this year gives Cork audiences the opportunity to hear one of Europe’s most outstanding young vocal quintets, The Calmus Ensemble, this exciting young vocal group from Leipzig are at home in all styles but add their own personal touch as well and their Cork concert will present vocal music spanning 3 centuries. http://www.calmus.de/

• Saturday 5th May 2007Fleischmann International Trophy Competition, 3pm, City Hall Visiting choirs compete for the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy Competition.

Cantus Albarutenicae BELARUS Bohemiachor CZECH REPUBLIC New Dublin Voices IRELAND The Chamber Choir of the Music Academy in Bydgoszcz POLAND Kongl. Teknologkőren SWEDEN

• Saturday 5th May 2007Fleischmann International Trophy Competition, 8pm, City Hall

Belle Canto CANADA Florakören Vid Åbo Akademi FINLAND Coro Polofonico di Ruda ITALY Nidaros Cathedral Choir NORWAY Wayne State University Concert Chorale USA

Sunday 6th May 2007: Closing Gala, 7.30pm, City HallCelebratory music and farewell performances from international groups.

• National Competitions: Thursday May 3rd – Sunday May 6th; City Hall, Cork and St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork National choirs compete in: Premier National Competitions, National Open Competition, National Competition for Youth Choirs, National Competition for Light, Jazz and Popular Music, National Competition for Church Music

• Composer in the Classroom SchemeSaturday 5th May, Venue TBC Composer in residence scheme organised in partnership with Cork City Council & Cork County Council. Participating schools: Bishopstown Community School, St. Aidan’s Community College, Loreto Secondary School, Coláiste Choilm (Ballincollig) –This scheme will culminate in a Seminar on Saturday 5th May 2007 Composers in Residence: John Spillane, Irene Buckley, Louise McCarthy and Ann Cleare.

• Fringe Concert Series: Friday 4th and Saturday 5th AprilFringe Performances by both Irish and International choirs in city venues

• County Outreach programmeFeaturing Performances in County Towns (Cobh, Clonakilty Macroom, etc.) by our visiting competitive International Choirs.

• Public Choral Performances Public free of charge performances throughout Cork City & County by visiting international & national choirs throughout the Festival