Cheng²Duo
Bryan Cheng cello
Silvie Cheng piano
NCM are delighted to collaborate again with Music Network as they present the phenomenal Cheng² Duo.
Acclaimed for their electrifying chemistry and flawless performances, cellist Bryan Cheng and pianist Silvie Cheng share more than musical brilliance. As siblings, their deep bond and intuitive connection infuse every note with warmth, vitality and authenticity.
Performing an exquisite programme entitled A Hero’s Welcome, expect to hear the finest interpretations of sonatas by Brahms and Poulenc, an enchanting fairytale by Janáček and a gorgeous Music Network commission.
Prize-winners and rising stars on the international stage, Bryan and Silvie have been making music together their entire lives. Since forming Cheng² Duo in 2011 they have graced some of the world’s most prestigious venues, from Carnegie Hall and Flagey Brussels to Munich’s Künstlerhaus, their artistry leaving a lasting impression on audiences across the globe. Renowned for their imaginative programming and cross-disciplinary collaborations, Cheng² Duo continually push musical boundaries while celebrating the timeless beauty of the classical canon.
In Memory
This is a very special concert in memory of Joe Quigley, the true founder of Newry Chamber Music, who sadly passed away on 26 July this year.
Joe was the beloved father of NCM Artistic Director Joanne Quigley McParland and NCM Co-Founder David Quigley. Along with his wife, Kay, Joe was the driving force behind the musical journey that has brought year-round chamber music of international calibre to our area.
Joe and Kay dedicated so much of their lives to supporting their children’s love of music. For ten years, when there was no motorway, Joe drove Joanne and David to Dublin every Monday for piano lessons, and every Sunday to Ardee for violin lessons. From their earliest days in music, he organised concerts for them locally and was there every step of the way.
He was their manager, box office manager, marketing manager, stage manager, videographer and PR man. He was also sometimes their repertoire director, quietly sneaking in some of his own favourite pieces, and their constant moral booster. Above all, he was their devoted and immensely proud father.
Joe’s involvement in music did not stop with supporting his own family. His enthusiasm, generosity and tireless work behind the scenes helped to create something truly special here in Newry. He was instrumental in establishing a culture of chamber music that has grown and flourished over the years, bringing musicians of international calibre to audiences in our community.
So much of what we enjoy today has its roots in Joe’s dedication, his belief in his children, and his love of music.
This concert celebrates Joe through some of the music that meant so much to him throughout his life. It is a celebration of his life, his love of music, his family, and the remarkable legacy he leaves behind.
Musicians
Joanne Quigley McParland
David Quigley
Matt McGinn
Mary McCabe
Aaron O Hare
Miniatures
Welcome to our Season 26/27 Opening Concert. Newry Chamber Music and the Fews Ensemble warmly invite you to Our NCM Hub at the Quays, Newry for a concert of exquisite Single Movement Strings Quartets interspersed with beautiful readings and poetry. We are delighted to welcome back Soprano Mary McCabe fresh from her appearance at NI Opera's critically acclaimed production of Bizet's Carmen and BBC NI Broadcaster and Newry native John Toal who will provide the narration for the evening.
Mia Cooper/Joanne Quigley McParland: Violin
Paul Cassidy: Viola
Jonathan Aasgaard: Cello
Mary McCabe: Soprano
John Toal: Narrator
Programme
Jesse Montgomery: Strum
Ernest Hemingway Extract from Death in the Afternoon
Joaquin Turina: La Oracion del Torero
Percy Bysshe Shelley The Sunset
Ottorino Respighi: Il Tramunto
Roisin Kelly Oranges
Caroline Shaw: Valencia
INTERVAL
Emily Dickinson: By The Sea
Osvaldo Golijov: How Slow the Wind
Rainer Maria Rilke The Sonnets to Orpheus (Book II, No. 29)
Anton Webern: Langsamer Satz
Anton Chekhov:Letter to A. S. Suvorin
Tchaikovsky: Andante from String Quartet No 1
Daniel Kemper: The Tango Argentine
Astor Piazzolla: Four for Tango
From Old to New: Ulster Scots Song
Mezzo-soprano Carolyn Dobbin and pianist Tristan Russcher take us on a journey through the rich tradition of Ulster Scots song, tracing its evolution from ancient airs to contemporary arrangements. A rare opportunity to hear this distinctive musical heritage brought to life in an intimate setting
Contrasts
Join the Fews Ensemble for a dazzling season finale featuring guest Northern Irish soprano and rising star Mary McCabe. This expansive programme takes us on a journey from the lyrical beauty of Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock and the sumptuous romanticism of some of Rachmaninov’s most touching songs through to Bartók’s vibrant and folk inspired Contrasts and the expressive lyricism of John Ireland’s Piano Trio No. 3. A celebration of colour, emotion, folklore and musical brilliance to end our season.
Théo Ould, Accordian and Alison Langer, Soprano
NCM are delighted to partner with Music Network for a second time this season to bring you a fascinating concert which promises a fresh take on music from Bach to Kurt Weill. We warmly welcome French Accordion virtuoso Théo Ould and outstanding British-Irish Soprano Alison Langer to Warrenpoint for a early summer concert of exuberance, vitality, flair and artistry.
"Served by a masterly technique (an unbelievably supple left hand and an inexhaustible wealth of phrasing), Théo Ould’s interpretations show a personality expressing itself naturally … with all the enchanting freshness that word implies.”
The Piatti Quartet
Join the Internationally acclaimed Piatti Quartet as they journey through iconic string quartet scores, all of which has been used to add drama and emotion to some of our favourite movies!
GLASS: String Quartet No. 3 'Mishima'
GREENWOOD, Jonny: Prospector's quartet from There Will Be Blood
RAVEL: String Quartet
BARBER, S: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartet No. 8
Piano Masterclass with Steven Osborne
Internationally acclaimed pianist Steven Osborne joins us to lead a public masterclass for gifted young pianists. This is an amazing opportunity for the participants and piano teachers and enthusiasts alike.
Please email us at concerts@newrychambermusic.org if you would like to be considered to participate in the masterclass. Please note that performers should be of grade 8 level and above.
'Gather Around for Stories and Sound'
A Narrated Piano-Duet Concert for Children featuring Poulenc’s story of Babar the Elephant and Ravel’s magical Mother Goose Suite.
Finghin Collins and David Quigley piano
Séamus O Hara narrator
Piano Fest Opening Concert/ David Quigley and Finghin Collins
Newry Chamber Music launches its inaugural Piano Fest with a vibrant opening concert featuring David Quigley and Finghin Collins in their first-ever performance together — performing on two magnificent Steinway Model D concert grand pianos. The concert features two world premieres by leading Irish composers Philip Martin and Sam Perkin and culminates in a performance of Rachmaninov's electrifying Symphonic Dances which is sure to raise the roof of Newry's magnificent Town Hall. Be there for a first in this iconic building!
* The pianos for tonight's concert are kindly on loan from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Ulster Orchestra.