Music for Galway brings the bright young Irish Gealán Quartet to the PorterShed A Dó with a fascinating programme of music next month.
MfG is delighted to continue its venue partnership with the PorterShed A Dó in presenting this vibrant young group who are beginning their national tour in Galway on November 7.
The Gealán Quartet consists of Gina Maria McGuinness (violin), who’s musical journey began at age 4 and has taken her from Dublin to Estonia and back again.
Eoin Ducrot (violin) is is a prizewinner at numerous international and national competitions both as a soloist and chamber musician.
Dublin born Fiachra de hOra (viola) is currently in his bachelor studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, studying with Nobuko Imai and Marjolein Dispa when he’s not giving recitals back home.
And lastly is Paul Grennan (cello) who has given chamber music recitals across Europe. As well as being a member of the wonderful Hallé cello section, Paul freelances with orchestras throughout the UK and Ireland including the The BBC Philharmonic, RLPO, Irish Chamber Orchestra, RSNO, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and more.
The Gaelán Quartet have chosen to commission Derry composer Michael Doherty to write a new string quartet for the tour. Michael Doherty has a busy career as composer and orchestrator for films and TV series, as well as for the concert hall.
This new work will be bookended by two great masters: Schumann and Shostakovich. Schumann wrote his gorgeous A minor quartet in 1842. In the same year, he composed four more chamber music works, two of which were also string quartets.
Composed only seventeen years after Beethoven’s death, one can hear the spirit of the master linger, but there are also glimpses of the richness future music was to bring.
The evening ends with Shostakovich’s heart-rending eighth quartet, which he wrote in Dresden in 1960. Its official dedication to ‘the victims of fascism and war’ was one imposed by the Soviet authorities, and disguised a wider dedication to victims of all totalitarianism, Shostakovich himself among them.
This tour is presented in association with the National String Quartet Foundation, who are supported by their principal funders the Arts Council and RTÉ Lyric FM. Music for Galway gratefully acknowledges the funding from the Arts Council.
