Irish baritone Seán Boylan to sing Christus in the Irish premiere of James MacMillan St. John Passion on Good Friday afternoon at the National Concert Hall

Friday 18 April 2025, 3.30pm, National Concert Hall  

The National Symphony Orchestra wishes to announce that the Irish baritone Seán Boylan, praised as "already the perfect young baritone" (The Arts Desk) and for singing of ‘flair and charisma’ (The Times, London), will sing the role of Christus in the Irish premiere of James MacMillan’s St. John Passion at the National Concert Hall on Good Friday, 18 April 2025. In this, he is replacing David Kravitz who has withdrawn due to unforeseen circumstances. 

James MacMillan’s St. John Passion has been hailed by Rowan Williams as ‘a landmark for contemporary music’. Echoes of Latin motets, Gregorian chant and Bach chorales can be heard alongside Scottish folk accents in this striking, modern re-telling.  

One principal soloist, a baritone, portrays Christ. In this performance, presented as part of the National Symphony Orchestra Season at the National Concert Hall, Chamber Choir Ireland sings the part of the Evangelist with the National Symphony Chorus giving voice to other roles in this dramatic story. 

This performance is presented in association with Chamber Choir Ireland.  

Seán Boylan is one of the most exciting Irish baritones of his generation. 

In the 2024-2025 season Seán makes his Electric Picnic debut and reprises the role of Alcandro (L’Olimpiade) in concert, with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Irish National Opera in his Italian debut at the Teatro Tino di Lorenzo in Sicily. He returns to the Abbey Theatre, Dublin for Lady Augusta Gregory’s Grania, and sings Marullo (Rigoletto) and Frank (Die Fledermaus) with INO in Dublin and on an Irish tour, respectively.  

Recent operatic roles include debuts with Royal Opera Covent Garden and in Switzerland; Guglielmo (Così fan tutte, Garsington Opera); Tarquinius (The Rape of Lucretia, Potsdam Winteroper); Moralès (Carmen, INO), title role in Don Giovanni (Nevill Holt Opera), and Pluto/Aristaeus (cover) Orpheus in the Underworld with English National Opera.  

For full biography and full concert listings, see NOTES TO EDITORS below. 

Media Queries 

Assumpta Lawless, Marketing & Communications Manager, National Symphony Orchestra. 

Email: assumpta.lawless@nch.ie 

Mobile: 087 290 4168  

 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

Friday 18 April 2025, 3.30pm 

National Concert Hall 

 

JAMES MACMILLAN’S ST. JOHN PASSION 

Irish Premiere 

National Symphony Orchestra 

David Hill conductor 

Seán Boylan baritone (replacing David Kravitz) 

National Symphony Chorus  

Chamber Choir Ireland  

 
James MacMillan St. John Passion Irish Premiere  

Presented in association with Chamber Choir Ireland.  

 

Biography: Seán Boylan baritone 

Irish baritone Seán Boylan graduated with Distinction from the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied with Robert Dean.  

In the 2024-2025 season Seán makes his Electric Picnic debut and reprises the role of Alcandro (L’Olimpiade) in concert, with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Irish National Opera in his Italian debut at the Teatro Tino di Lorenzo in Sicily. He returns to the Abbey Theatre, Dublin for Lady Augusta Gregory’s Grania, and sings Marullo (Rigoletto) and Frank (Die Fledermaus) with INO in Dublin and on an Irish tour, respectively.  

Recent operatic roles include debuts with Royal Opera Covent Garden and in Switzerland; Guglielmo (Così fan tutte, Garsington Opera); Tarquinius (The Rape of Lucretia, Potsdam Winteroper); Moralès (Carmen, INO), title role in Don Giovanni (Nevill Holt Opera), and Pluto/Aristaeus (cover) Orpheus in the Underworld with English National Opera.  

Winner of the 2014 NI Opera Festival of Voice, he was a semi-finalist in the 2024 International Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition in Latvia.  

As a member of Garsington Opera’s Alvarez Young Artist Programme he covered the role of Don Giovanni, receiving the Helen Clark Award. Other operatic roles include Novice’s Friend (Billy Budd, St Endellion Festival); Silvio (Pagliacci), Frank (Die Fledermaus), Olivier (Capriccio), Dandini (La Cenerentola), Assan (The Consul), and title role in Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet (GSMD).  

In recital, he has performed at Song in the City, LSO St Luke’s, Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin, Clifden Arts Festival, in Ennis and Belfast. He has performed with the Cambridge Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra, Drogheda Classical Music Series, and a live broadcast with INO and mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy in Kilkenny Castle. He collaborated with pianist Iain Burnside on Drums & Guns, a project commemorating the centenary of World War I and Easter 1916 Rising, which was performed in Dublin, London and New York’s Lincoln Center.  

Previous theatre productions include Pygmalion (Abbey Theatre) and Hand Me Down the Moon (Dublin Fringe Festival).  

He has participated in masterclasses with Dame Ann Murray, Elly Ameling, Robert Holl, Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake, and Graham Johnson.  

Boylan studied piano, organ and voice at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (where his singing teacher was Virginia Kerr), receiving many regional and national prizes before focusing on singing. He has been invited to perform for presidents of Ireland, HM King Charles III and at festivals across Ireland, the UK and Europe. 

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About the National Concert Hall 

The National Concert Hall (NCH) is Ireland’s national cultural institution for music, proudly serving the Irish public since it opened in 1981 through live music performances and significant educational and cultural programmes. Based in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, next door to the picturesque Iveagh Gardens, the NCH is proud home to our National Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Chorus, Cór Linn and Cór na nÓg, as well as providing residence for a range of other music organisations including Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Music Network, Crash Ensemble and Music Generation. It is currently planning for a major redevelopment of all its facilities as part of the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040. 

  

 

Preasráiteas 

Déardaoin, an 10 Aibreán 2025 

Baritone Éireannach Seán Boylan ag canadh Christus sa chéad taibhiú Éireannach de James MacMillan St. John Passion ar thráthnóna Aoine an Chéasta sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta 

Dé hAoine, an 18 Aibreán 2025, 3.30pm, an Ceoláras Náisiúnta  

Is mian leis an gCeolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta a fhógairt go mbeidh an baratón Éireannach Seán Boylan, a bhfuil moladh faighte aige mar “bharatón óg foirfe cheana féin” (The Arts Desk) agus as amhránaíocht le “bua agus mealltacht” (The Times, Londain), ag canadh ról Christus sa chéad taibhiú Éireannach de St. John Passion le James MacMillan sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta Aoine an Chéasta, an 18 Aibreán 2025. Sa chás seo, tá sé ag teacht in ionad David Kravitz a tharraing siar mar gheall ar chúinsí gan choinne. 

Mhol Rowan Williams St. John Passion de chuid James MacMillan mar ‘sainchomhartha don cheol comhaimseartha’. Is féidir macallaí de mhóitéiteanna Laidine, cantaireachtGregorian agus córálacha Bach a chloisteáil in éineacht le haicinn tíre na hAlban san athinsint nua-aimseartha, shuntasach seo.  

Tá ról Chríost déanta ag príomh-amhránaí aonair amháin, baratón. Sa taibhiú seo, a chuirtear i láthair mar chuid de Shéasúr Náisiúnta na Ceolfhoirne Siansa sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta, canann Cór Aireagail na hÉireann an páirt den Soiscéalaí leis an gCór Náisiúnta Siansa a thugann guth do róil eile sa scéal drámatúil seo. 

Cuirtear an léiriú seo i láthair i gcomhar le Cór Aireagail na hÉireann.  

Tá Seán Boylan ar cheann de na baratón Éireannach is corraithí dá ghlúin. 

Sa séasúr 2024-2025 déanann Seán a chéad Electric Picnic agus athchruthaíonn sé ról Alcandro (L’Olimpiade) i gceolchoirm, le Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann agus Ceoldráma Náisiúnta na hÉireann ina chéad uair san Iodáil ag Teatro Tino di Lorenzo sa tSicil. Filleann sé ar Amharclann na Mainistreach, Baile Átha Cliath do Graniaan Bhantiarna Augusta Gregory, agus canann sé Marullo (Rigoletto) agus Frank (Die Fledermaus) le INO i mBaile Átha Cliath agus ar chamchuairt Éireannach, faoi seach.  

I measc na ról ceoldrámaíochta le déanaí tá tús le Royal Opera Covent Garden agus san Eilvéis; Guglielmo (Così fan tutte, Garsington Opera); Tarquinius (Éigniú Lucretia, Potsdam Winteroper); Moralès (Carmen, INO), ról teidil i Don Giovanni (Nevill Holt Opera), agus Plútón/Aristaeus (clúdach) Orpheus sa Underworld le Opera Náisiúnta Béarla.  

Le haghaidh beathaisnéis iomlán agus liostaí ceolchoirmeacha iomlána, féach NÓTAÍ DON EAGARTHÓIRÍ thíos. 

 

Ceisteanna ó na Meáin 

Assumpta Lawless, Bainisteoir Margaíochta & Cumarsáide, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta. 

Ríomhphost: assumpta.lawless@nch.ie 

Uimhir fóin: 087 290 4168  

 

NÓTAÍ DO NA HEAGARTHÓIRÍ 

Dé hAoine, an 18 Aibreán 2025, 3.30pm 

An Ceoláras Náisiúnta 

 

ST. JOHN PASSION LE JAMES MACMILLAN’S  

An Chéad Taibhiú Éireannach 

 

Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta 

David Hill Stiúrthóir 

Seán Boylan Baratón (in ionad David Kravitz) 

Cór Siansach Náisiúnta  

Cór Aireagail na hÉireann 

 

An Chéad Taibhiú Éireannach James MacMillan St. John Passion 

Á chur i láthair i gcomhar le Cór Aireagail Éireann.  

 

Beathaisnéis: Seán Boylan baratón 

Bhain Seán Boylan céim amach ón gCúrsa Ceoldrámaíochta i Scoil Cheoil agus Drámaíochta Guildhall, áit a ndearna sé staidéar le Robert Dean.  

Sa séasúr 2024-2025 déanann Seán a chéad Electric Picnic agus athchruthaíonn sé ról Alcandro (L’Olimpiade) i gceolchoirm, le Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann agus Ceoldráma Náisiúnta na hÉireann ina chéad uair san Iodáil ag Teatro Tino di Lorenzo sa tSicil. Filleann sé ar Amharclann na Mainistreach, Baile Átha Cliath do Graniaan Bhantiarna Augusta Gregory, agus canann sé Marullo (Rigoletto) agus Frank (Die Fledermaus) le INO i mBaile Átha Cliath agus ar chamchuairt Éireannach, faoi seach.  

I measc na ról ceoldrámaíochta le déanaí tá tús le Royal Opera Covent Garden agus san Eilvéis; Guglielmo (Così fan tutte, Garsington Opera); Tarquinius (Éigniú Lucretia, Potsdam Winteroper); Moralès (Carmen, INO), ról teidil i Don Giovanni (Nevill Holt Opera), agus Plútón/Aristaeus (clúdach) Orpheus sa Underworld le Opera Náisiúnta Béarla.  

Buaiteoir Fhéile Ceoldrámaíochta Guth NI 2014, bhí sé ina bhabhta leathcheannais i gComórtas Idirnáisiúnta Hans Gabor Belvedere 2024 sa Laitvia.  

Mar bhall de Chlár Ealaíontóirí Ceoldráma Óga Garsington, chlúdaigh sé ról Don Giovanni, agus bronnadh Gradam Helen Clark air. I measc na ról ceoldrámaíochta eile tá Novice’s Friend (Billy Budd, Féile St Endellion); Silvio (Pagliacci), Frank (Die Fledermaus), Olivier (Capriccio), Dandini (La Cenerentola), Assan (AnConsal), agus ról teidil i Hamlet le Ambroise Thomas (GSMD).  

I gceadal, sheinn sé ag Song in the City, LSO St Luke’s, Hugh Lane Gallery, Baile Átha Cliath, Féile Ealaíon an Chlocháin, in Inis agus i mBéal Feirste. Sheinn sé le Cambridge Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra, Drogheda Classical Music Series, agus craoladh beo le INO agus meánsoprán Paula Murrihy i gCaisleán Chill Chainnigh. Chomhoibrigh sé leis an bpianódóir Iain Burnside ar Drums & Guns, tionscadal a rinne comóradh ar chothrom céad bliain ón gCéad Chogadh Domhanda agus ó Éirí Amach na Cásca 1916, a léiríodh i mBaile Átha Cliath, i Londain agus in Ionad Lincoln i Nua-Eabhrac.  

I measc na léiriúchán amharclainne roimhe seo tá Pygmalion (Amharclann na Mainistreach) agus Hand Me Down the Moon (Féile Imeallach Bhaile Átha Cliath).  

Ghlac sé páirt i máistir-ranganna le Dame Ann Murray, Elly Ameling, Robert Holl, Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake, agus Graham Johnson.  

Rinne Boylan staidéar ar an bpianó, ar an orgán agus ar an nguth in Acadamh Ríoga Ceoil na hÉireann (áit arbh é Virginia Kerr a mhúinteoir amhránaíochta), agus bronnadh go leor duaiseanna réigiúnacha agus náisiúnta air sular dhírigh sé ar an amhránaíocht. Tugadh cuireadh dó seinm d’uachtaráin na hÉireann, a Shoilse Rí Séarlas III agus ag féilte ar fud na hÉireann, na Ríochta Aontaithe agus na hEorpa.  

(Críoch)

Faoi an Ceoláras Náisiúnta 

Is institiúid chultúrtha náisiúnta na hÉireann don cheol é an Ceoláras Náisiúnta, a fhreastalaíonn go bródúil ar phobal na hÉireann ó osclaíodh é i 1981 trí thaibhithe ceoil beo agus cláir shuntasacha oideachais agus chultúrtha. Lonnaithe i gcroílár Bhaile Átha Cliath, agus béal dorais le Gairdíní Uíbh Eachach, tá an Ceoláras Náisiúnta bródúil as ár gCeolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta, Cór Siansach Náisiúnta, Cór Linn agus Cór na nÓg chomh maith le háit chónaithe a chur ar fáil do réimse eagraíochtaí ceoil eile lena n-áirítear Cór Aireagail Éireann, Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann, Music Network, Crash Ensemble agus Music Generation. Tá sé i gceist faoi láthair athfhorbairt mór á dhéanamh ar na háiseanna go léir mar chuid den Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta agus de Thionscadal Éireann 2040. 

 

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