National Symphony Orchestra announces 2023–2024 Season

Media Release: Monday 14 August 2023 

33 concerts | Family and Education events |
Live screenings in concert | World, Irish and European premieres | Choral blockbusters |
Chief Conductor Jaime Martín conducting composers including Berlioz, Verdi, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Gerald Barry, Brian Byrne and Siobhán Cleary 

Artists including Elīna Garanča, Maxim Vengerov, Marin Alsop, Danielle de Niese, Leonard Slatkin, Wayne Marshall and Ray Chen 

The National Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce its 2023-24 season presenting 33 concerts and a series of family and education events at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, as well as concerts in Limerick, Wexford and Waterford. Booking for National Concert Hall concerts opens on Tuesday 15 August at 10am.  

Some of the world’s greatest stars and most exciting new talent perform. Spanning five centuries and three continents, the season includes core orchestral repertoire by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Dvořák and Stravinsky, world premieres by Brian Byrne and Shaun Davey, an Irish premiere from Gerald Barry, a European premiere from Joe Chindamo, choral blockbusters, a celebration of the Royal Irish Academy of Music’s 175th anniversary, and a three-concert tribute to Dublin-born Charles Villiers-Stanford in the centenary year of his death, together with live screenings in concert of three classic movies. 

There are also events for families and schools including ASD-friendly performances, performances for primary and second level students, and a week-long International Conducting Course led by the internationally acclaimed Marin Alsop for young conductors. 

Visiting superstars include debuts by mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča, hailed by New York Classical Review as ‘one of the most sought-after singers on earth’, on International Women’s Day (Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns, Gounod and more); Sheku Kanneh-Mason, ‘a cellist so talented it is simply outrageous’ (The Courier), (Elgar’s Cello Concerto); and ‘nothing short of a phenomenon’ (Seen and Heard International) pianist Wayne Marshall (Gershwin’s Piano Concerto). 

Returning are some of the finest musicians of our time: Maxim Vengerov, setting aside his violin to conduct (Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Seventh Symphony, and Haydn’s London Symphony); conductors Marin Alsop (Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3, Rouse Concerto for Flute, Stravinsky The Rite of Spring), Leonard Slatkin making three appearances with symphonies by Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland and Vaughan Williams alongside Mendelssohn and Britten, Mihhail Gerts (Wagner’s Prelude & Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, Stanford’s Clarinet Concerto and Brahms Fourth Symphony), Anja Bihlmaier (Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony); soprano Danielle de Niese (Mozart concert arias); pianists Gabriela Montero (Mozart’s Elvira Madigan Piano Concerto) and Barry Douglas (Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto); and violinist Ray Chen (Korngold Violin Concerto).  

Making their NSO debuts are three extraordinary young musicians: violinists Karen Gomyo (Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1) and Leia Zhu (Mendelssohn Violin Concerto), and conductor Julio García-Vico (Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 and Dvořák’s From the New World symphony. 

Chief Conductor Jaime Martín conducts nine concerts, including the season’s curtain raiser, Berlioz’s spectacular Symphonie fantastique, and its finale, Verdi’s towering Requiem. A season highlight promises to be his reuniting with flamenco virtuoso Rebeca Sanchez for Falla’s flamenco-infused El amor brujo which made such a powerful impact when streamed live during lockdown. Other outings will see him conduct Stravinsky’s The Firebird, Richard Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra, Elgar’s Cello Concerto, Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony, and Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony. 

Highlights with Irish artists will include soprano Ailish Tynan and mezzo-sopranos Niamh O’Sullivan (Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony); mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy (Verdi Requiem); tenor Gavan Ring (the Evangelist in Bach’s St Matthew Passion); baritone Benjamin Russell (Fauré Requiem); pianist Finghin Collins (Stanford’s Second Piano Concerto); clarinettist Carol McGonnell (Stanford’s Clarinet Concerto); flautists Catriona Ryan (Fauré’s Fantaisie for flute and orchestra) and Emer McDonough (Christopher Rouse’s Concerto for Flute); and conductors David Brophy (including Shaun Davey’s Granuaile with singer Rita Connolly) and Killian Farrell (Ina Boyle’s The Magic Harp, Stanford’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 5). 

Irish composers feature prominently, with music by Irene Buckley and Linda Buckley, Siobhán Cleary and Ina Boyle, in two NSO-commissioned world premieres – Brian Byrne’s The NSO’s Bus Journey Through Scotland (That May Or May Not Have Happened) featuring uilleann piper Mark Redmond as soloist, and Shaun Davey’s St Patrick’s Overture – and the Irish premiere of Gerald Barry’s double bass concerto, Aus Die bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant with the Berlin Philharmonic’s Matthew McDonald as soloist.  The season’s other premiere is the first performance in Europe of leading Australian composer Joe Chindamo’s ‘highly energetic – even quite wild at times – and virtuosic’ trombone concerto, Ligeia. 

Choral blockbusters with the National Symphony Chorus include Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Verdi’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Mass in C. The National Symphony Chorus teams up with the RIAM Chorale for Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, and, in a performance which marks the first time for all three National Concert Hall-affiliated choirs to sing together, with Cór na nÓg and Cór Linn, for Fauré’s Requiem. 

For film buffs, there are screenings of three classic films with the NSO providing live accompaniment – Raiders of the Lost Ark, Home Alone, and Taxi Driver – with scores by legendary figures John Williams and Bernard Herrmann. 

Family and education events are once again a focus. A new initiative is Symphony Shorts, ASD-friendly performances offering reduced, interactive versions of classic works by Stravinsky, Mendelssohn and Britten led by Jaime Martín, Leonard Slatkin and presenter Jessie Grimes. Music in the Classroom returns with bespoke concert presentations for primary school children aged 8-12 and for Junior and Leaving Certificate music students. A one-off special event for young conductors is The Rite with Marin Alsop, an International Conducting Course presented by And Other Duties in association with Marin Alsop and the National Concert Hall. 

Four programmes will tour to venues outside of Dublin. In association with University Concert Hall, Limerick, Jessica Cottis will conduct Matthew Hindson’s Speed, Berg’s Seven Early Songs with Claire Booth as soloist, and Brahms’s Symphony No. 2 at University Concert Hall, Limerick on Friday 3 November; in association with the National Opera House, Wexford, the Christmas Gala with Claudia Boyle will take place at the National Opera House on Friday 15 December; in association with Symphony Club of Waterford, SETU Arena will present Home Alone in Concert on Sunday 10 December, and Killian Farrell conducting Ina Boyle’s The Magic Harp, Stanford’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Finghin Collins as soloist, and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 5 on Saturday 17 February. 

The NSO’s close relationship with RTÉ will continue with Main Season concerts broadcast live on RTÉ lyric Live on RTÉ lyric fm. 

Tickets for performances at the National Concert Hall start at €15 with discounts available, ranging from 25% discount for Full Season to reductions for three or more concerts, group booking discounts and a €10 Student ticket.  

BOOKING 

National Concert Hall: Booking opens, Tuesday 15 August at 10am. 01 417 0000 or nch.ie  

On sale dates for performances outside of Dublin to be announced by local promoters. 

Limerick: https://www.uch.ie 

Wexford: www.nationaloperahouse.ie 

Waterford: www.garterlane.ie 

 
NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2023-2024 SEASON BROCHURE 

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FURTHER INFORMATION   

Assumpta Lawless, Marketing & Communications Manager, National Symphony Orchestra /M: 087 290 4168