Rising Stars Concert

RISING STARS CONCERT Rising Stars Concert Thursday 29th April 2021 Bringing Gifted, Young Irish Classical Artists to a New Audience! 1 RISING STARS CONCERT Programme WELCOME Rising Stars Concert 2021 I am delighted to welcome you, together with our five exceptional young artists, to our annual Rising Stars Concert. John Rousseau Percussion As always, the aim of this concert is to bring gifted, young classical artists to new audiences, to showcase their considerable talents, Mark Glentworth Blues for Gilbert (Vibraphone) through musical programmes of their own choosing, and to provide Alexej Gerassimez Asventuras (Snare Drum) them with a platform to progress further into their musical careers. Katie Richardson McCrea Mezzo-soprano This year’s five selected artists, Conor Prendiville, John Rousseau, Katie Accompanied by Dearbhla Collins Richardson McCrea, Matthew Mannion and Molly O’Shea, have been Franz Schubert Ganymed put forward by various renowned institutions including Royal Irish Academy of Music, Irish Amilcare Ponchielli Voce Di Donna - La Gioconda National Opera, TU Dublin and CIT Cork School of Music, and bring a wealth of talent and learning to this year’s concert. Hamilton Harty Sea Wrack It gives me great pleasure to welcome back Dearbhla Collins as our accompanist this Matthew Mannion Bass-baritone evening. Regarded as one of Ireland’s finest and most versatile musicians, Dearbhla is Accompanied by Dearbhla Collins a prize-winning solo pianist with a distinguished performing career both nationally and Giacomo Puccini Vecchia zimarra, senti (La Bohème) internationally. Vaughan Williams Silent Noon Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Tutto è disposto...Aprite un po (Le Nozze di Figaro) On behalf of the Board and Management team of UCH I would like to take this opportunity to thank tenor Owen Gilhooly and Lorcan Murray for their ongoing support of this concert. I would also like to thank the Friends of University Concert Hall for their continued support Molly O’Shea Violin which has allowed us to continue to bring an exciting programme of events (virtually) to Accompanied by Dearbhla Collins homes around the world during these challenging times. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Adagio in E Major, Opus 125 No. 2 Igor Stravinsky Danse Russe I am sure you will join me in wishing all of this evening’s performers the very best in their future music careers! Conor Prendiville Tenor Accompanied by Dearbhla Collins Director Giuseppe Verdi Lunga da lei (La Traviata) University Concert Hall Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Kuda, kuda vï udalilis (Eugene Onegin) Charles Gounod Salut! demeure chaste et pure (Faust) Dearbhla Collins Accompanist Owen Gilhooly Presenter 2 3 RISING STARS CONCERT RISING STARS CONCERT John Rousseau Katie Richardson McCrea Blues for Gilbert - Mark Glentworth Ganymed - Franz Schubert ‘Blues for Gilbert’ is a written-down version of Mark Glentworth’s improvisation. It is a Schubert’s bright and energetic setting of Goethe’s poem tells the story of a handsome gentle piece, using the jazz colours that the vibraphone evokes. It opens with a slow rubato young boy brought up to the heavens by Zeus to be the cupbearer of the gods. The piece section followed by a blues swing feel. There is a sense of loss and great tenderness in flows through composed, never returning to any material, with exciting twists and turns its glimmering chords and melodies. It is, of course, dedicated to the memory of Gilbert musically. Webster. Voce Di Donna - La Gioconda - Amilcare Ponchielli Asventuras - Alexej Gerassimez This aria is sung by La Cieca, a blind woman and La Gioconda’s mother, set in the courtyard ‘Adventure’, by the young percussionist Alexej Gerassimez, is a snare drum ‘tour de force’, of the Duke’s Palace Venice. After La Cieca is accused of witchcraft by Barnaba, the crowd displaying the wide range of techniques and sounds available on the drum. Various timbres begins to threaten the old woman’s life. She is saved in the nick of time by Laura and her are effortlessly blended with use of many different sticks, mallets and even the performers husband Duke Alvise. Grateful, La Cieca gives Laura a rosary along with her blessing. hands. The performance involves numerous extended techniques, improvisation, and enormous dynamic control as the performer adventures through the various sounds Sea Wrack - Hamilton Harty Programme Notes produced by the drum. This dramatic song tells the story of two lovers who often escape to the sea together, spending hours in each other company in peaceful and calm waters. The story, narrated by the woman, takes a tumultuous turn, with waves and drama rising as they desperately try John Rousseau is a George Moore Scholar and recipient of the Jones to stay afloat in the wild ocean. Engineering Exceptional Graduating Student Scholarship, John is an ambitious young percussionist. As a solo performer, John achieved success in 2018 in the Freemasons Young Musician of The Year, being awarded the third-place prize. More recently John was also named Katie Richardson McCrea, Mezzo-soprano, is a graduate of the as one of the University Concert Hall’s Rising Stars and granted an Royal Irish Academy of Music and will begin her masters studies at The opportunity to perform a solo recital in April 2021. John has often Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London this coming September. featured on RTÉ lyric fm, both in solo and ensemble performances. In RIAM opera productions, Katie played several roles, including A regular on the professional freelance circuit, John often performs Madge in ‘Banished’ by Stephen McNeff in Kilmainham and Venus in with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Dublin Concert Orchestra, Orchestra Monteverdi’s il Ballo delle ingrate at the Peacock Theatre. As a soloist of Ireland, and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, John also performed with with RIAM chorale, Katie has sang Handel’s Messiah, Bernstein’s the Wexford Festival Opera orchestra, one of Europe’s most prestigious opera festivals. Chichester Psalms and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb. Notable conductors John has worked under include Michael Giacchino, Eimear Noone, David In Oratorio, Katie sang Handel’s Messiah with The Dublin Bach Singers Brophy, Gavin Maloney, Timothy Myers, and Stephen Bell. John is currently undertaking an and Marlborough Baroque Orchestra, Mrs Noah in Benjamin Britten’s Noye Fludde in Dublin advanced entry Master of Music Performance at the TU Dublin Conservatoire under his and Carlow, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo with Wicklow Choral society, teacher, Noel Eccles. Mozart Spatzenmesse and ‘Book of changes’ by Georgia Johnson with Diva Voces. At the In 2021 John was offered a financial award by the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to National Concert Hall, Katie sang as a soloist with Culwick Choral society, and at The Great study an ‘Orchestral Artistry’ Masters. John is very grateful to the Guildhall School, Jones Christmas concert with the Lassus scholars. Katie has sang as Part of Dublin song series Engineering, and the George Moore Foundation for their contributions towards funding his in Hugh lane Gallery, Ina Boyle’s Gaelic Hymns with the Goethe Choir,and in Kilruddery studies. This funding will allow John to continue his postgraduate studies in the Guildhall house with the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition. Katie is a prize winner in School. the Feis Ceoil, winning the Dermot Troy for Oratorio, the Contralto competition, and in 2021 the Lieder Prize and Mahler award. This year, Katie has been studying with Mary Brennan “John Rousseau had, in fact, given a terrific display of explosive drumming.” and Dearbhla Collins and working regularly as part of Irish National Opera’s chorus in their live-streamed productions. – Business Post (2018) 4 5 RISING STARS CONCERT RISING STARS CONCERT Matthew Mannion Molly O’Shea Vecchia Zimarra, Senti - Giacomo Puccini Adagio in E Major, Opus 125 No. 2 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The aria ‘Vecchia zimarra, senti’ comes in the final act of Puccini’s timeless tragedy, La Bohème. After Mimi falls very ill, her friends and lover Rudolpho gather around her in an Mozart’s Adagio in E Major was composed in 1776 and is thought to have been written as a attempt to comfort and rouse her. Realizing she needs medicine, Colline sacrifices one of replacement for the slow movement of his 5th violin concerto. Now, this beautiful work is a the few worldly possessions he has, his coat. This aria is his parting with the beloved coat stand-alone piece, treasured by violinists for its elegant simplicity. The Adagio is a piece of for the betterment of his friends. serene beauty opening with a lyrical theme given first by the pianist and then repeated and embellished by the violinist. Written in sonata form, the second theme emerges, bringing Silent Noon - Vaughan Williams a sense of playfulness to this melodic work before the development section’s darker, more Silent Noon by Raugh Vaughan Williams is from his cycle The House of Life with poems melancholy minor theme is introduced. The piece ends with a return to the opening theme’s by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. This classic song is a pastoral description of a rapturous day in soaring melody, highlighting Mozart’s ability to find beauty in simplicity. the countryside. The narrator of the song is looking back on perfect love filled moments, cherishing the memories with that lover. Danse Russe - Igor Stravinsky Aprite Un Po - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Stravinsky’s Danse Russe for violin and piano was one of a number of transcriptions that Aprite un po is Figaro’s final aria from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. In the previous acts, Stravinsky made for violin and piano with the help of violinist Samuel Dushkin in the early the Count has died to seduce Figaro’s loving wife Susanna to no avail.

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