Orchestra Formed in Response to Good Friday Agreement - Camerata Ireland - to Celebrate 25th Anniversary with Three Concerts at the National Concert Hall in 2024

Camerata Ireland, under the artistic leadership of founder and pianist Barry Douglas, CBE, will mark their 25th anniversary with three specially curated concerts at the National Concert Hall in February, May and October next year, 2024. With guests' soloists, the orchestra perform classical favourites to include Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 & 2 and Symphony No. 5, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 as well as works by Mercadante, Krzysztof Penderecki, John Field and more. 

In addition to the NCH concert, the orchestra will mark their 25-year musical legacy with an exciting tour to the USA in March 2024 which will include a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. 

Founded in 1999 in response to the Good Friday Agreement, the orchestra’s genesis was to bring together the finest musicians from Ireland and Northern Ireland to perform at home and abroad. Some 25 years later the orchestra continues to make their mark on the Irish musical landscape performing regularly at home at the NCH and at their annual Clandeboye Festival in Co. Down as well as performing abroad, completing successful tours across Europe, North and South American and China. Among its many highlights are their Carnegie Hall debut in 2011, the BBC Proms in Summer 2013, and in May 2011 the orchestra was honoured to be invited to perform for the (former) President of Ireland, Mary McAleese and Her Majesty the Queen, as part of the latter’s historic State visit to Ireland.  

Robert Read, CEO National Concert Hall  

“The National Concert Hall is delighted to host these celebratory concerts by Camerata Ireland and Barry Douglas to mark this special anniversary. Over the course of their 25-year history, Camerata Ireland has held a very special place in Ireland’s musical landscape as an all-Ireland ensemble who have achieved extraordinary success in nurturing and celebrating home grown musical talent as well as the promoting Ireland’s rich musical heritage through its many performances, international tours and recordings. We look forward to celebrating this special anniversary with them and with our audiences and wish them every success for the next 25 years and beyond”.  

Barry Douglas, Artistic Director, pianist Camerata Ireland  

"We at Camerata Ireland are thrilled to have been touring for 25 years ever since our opening concerts in Stormont Parliament Buildings and Dublin Castle in 1999. Our musicians have given their all to make the orchestra a success and I am eternally grateful. We have toured many countries around the world and so our series at the National Concert Hall in Dublin will be a fantastic way to celebrate this milestone”.  

In the first of three concerts at the NCH on 28th of February 2024 the orchestra will perform a diverse programme to include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 performed by Barry Douglas, Mercadante’s Flute Concerto performed by guest flautist Eimear McGeown, John Field Nocturnes (arranged by and performed by Douglas), and a selection of Irish airs and dances.  

In the second concert of the series, on May 19th 2024 Camerata Ireland presents an all-Beethoven programme opening with his Coriolan Overture, followed by Beethoven's popular Symphony No. 5, before hearing his Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by the orchestra’s founder, Barry Douglas as soloist. 

In the final concert of the series, on October 24th 2024 Camerata Ireland will be joined by renowned Irish violinist Patrick Rafter for a performance of Vivaldi’s much-loved Four Seasons. The programme will also feature Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 performed by Barry Douglas, along with ‘3 Pieces in Baroque Style’ by Krzysztof Penderecki.

Camerata Ireland is an ‘Associate Ensemble’ of the National Concert Hall.  

Tickets for each concert €27 - 15% discount when you purchase one or more tickets to all three concerts in the series together.  

10% Discount for Friends of NCH and Groups of 8+  

ENDS 

Media Queries: Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall. Tel: 087 1775334. Roisin Dwyer, PR and Publications Executive, National Concert Hall. Tel: 085-7129628 

Concert Listings

Camerata Ireland | Barry Douglas, piano | Eimear McGeown, flute & Irish flute
28th February 2024, 8pm 
National Concert Hall  

Mercadante                      Flute Concerto in E minor 
Beethoven                        Piano Concerto no. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19
Field, arr. Douglas       Nocturnes
Traditional Irish Airs & Dances  

Camerata Ireland | Barry Douglas, piano 
19th May 2024, 7.30pm 
National Concert Hall  

Beethoven                      Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 
Beethoven                      Piano Concerto no. 1 in C major, Op. 15 
Beethoven                     Symphony no. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 

Camerata Ireland | Barry Douglas, piano | Patrick Rafter, violin
15th October 2024, 8pm 
National Concert Hall  

Penderecki               3 Pieces in Baroque Style
Mozart                         Piano Concerto No. 21, K467 Elvira Madigan
Vivaldi                         The Four Seasons