Mayo Strings in Ballina and Ballintubber Abbey
The Mayo Strings make their annual appearance in Ballina ( St. Michael's Church ) on Thursday 7th of December at 8:30pm. and in Ballintubber Abbey on Sunday the 10th of December at 8:30pm.
As in past years, on the night in question we will expect to see the church's come alive with the soft flicker of candlight, and feel the old building quicken to the music of the ages-the glorious string music of Handel, Vivaldi and Purcell, or the melodies of Schubert and Mozart, besides many an old Christmas favourite.
The Mayo Strings is by now a well-established orchestra of stringed instruments, having appeared regularly around the county and in Sligo and Dublin. It consists of more or less equal parts of experienced adults and some of the county's talented youngesters. Their Musical Director, Philip Dunlop, began his training as a cathedral chorister in England at the age of 8 and after mounting several neglected operas with the Oxford University Opera Club, has been conducting a wide variety of choral and instrumental groups ever since.
For this concert the strings are joined by three outstanding young wind players and guest soprano Sandra Schalks
Sandra trained with Veronica Dunne and Patricia Lillis and has appeared in a wide range of opera and musical, achieving three National AIMS nominations and reaching the finals of the John McCormack Golden Voice competition. She has appeared in concerts all around the country and among others, performed with the Galway Concert Orchestra and the Moy Singers.
The main works presented by the orchestra will be Handel's popular Concerto Grosso in G major, part of Schubert's tuneful 5th Symphony, Two Rondos by Henry Purcell and a performance of the Largo from Vivaldi's " Winter " with gifted young soloist Tommy O'Hora. These will be varied by solo numbers from Sandra Schalks, who sings Mozart's moving " Porgi Amor ", " The Last Rose of Summer ", " Tchaikovsky's Legend " and in the final section of the programme devoted entirely to Christmas music, the ever-loved " O Holy Night ".
Don't miss this occasion. The programme is not overlong and you will leave the church with glorious ringing in your ears and in the middle of this dark and wintry weather with your heart warmed in preparation for the Christmas season.
Two Rondos - from " Abdelazar " and " The Fairy Queen " - Henry Purcell
Largo - from " Winter " - Antonio Vivaldi
Solo Violin: Tommy O'Hora
Concerto Grosso in G major, op.6, no.1 - George Frideric Handel
Tempo Giusto - Allegro - Adagio - Allegro - Allegro
Solo Violins: Patrick Early, Sarah McHugh.
Solo Celo - Marie Farrell.
" Porgi Amor " - from " The Marriage of Figaro" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
" The Last Rose of Summer " - Traditional/Thomas Moore
Soprano - Sandra Schalks
Minuet and Trio - from Symphony no.5 in B minor - Franz Schubert
Pastoral Symphony - from " Messiah " - George Frederic Handel
The Kings - Peter Cornelius
Tenor - Philip Dunlop
The Crown of Roses - " Tchaikovsky's Legend " - Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky
Soprano - Sandra Schalks
Three Traditional Carols arr. for Strings by Philip Dunlop
Sussex Carol, Coventry Carol, My Dancing Day.
" O Holy Night " - Adolphe Adam
Soprano - Sandra Schalks
" Adeste Fideles "