Photo: Florian Spring
Since 2018, Lukas has sat at my kitchen table in Bern and I at his in Zurich, week after week. We discuss the thoughts that chase one another in our heads – from politics to literature, education to science and the barrage of opinions and emotions that link all things.
In 2021, we decided to harness all that energy, all those why’s and the gamut of ideas we volley between us, into a production titled, “The Journey”. “The Journey” explores stories and fragments of music from Macedonia to Bulgaria, Greece to Turkey, Hungary to Bosnia and Herzegovina, tracing a route that reaches to parts of Eastern and Central Europe. The Ukraine was always going to be the point of departure for this voyage and on 24 February 2022, our production took on new meaning, a sense of urgency.
As we carefully put together the pieces of this mosaic-like tale, we foster a message of peace that was not as clearly visible when we set out to create this work. “The Journey” will premiere in October 2023 in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. I look forward to telling you more about it as the months roll by.
NCH IMC 2022
L-R: Mihaela Martin, Finghin Collins, Gwendolyn Masin, Lars Anders Tomter, Frans Helmerson.
The fourth National Concert Hall International Master Course took place in person after two consecutive years online. During the first week of August, 24 participants were given individual masterclasses and chamber music tuition by violinist Mihaela Martin, violist Lars Anders Tomter, cellist Frans Helmerson, and my co-artistic director Finghin Collins and I. The halls and corridors of the designated home of music in Ireland were filled with excitement and laughter as musicians from Ireland and abroad rehearsed and performed concerts throughout the week.
Finghin Collins and I would like to thank all our supporters and donors who kindly supported this intensive summer school. We also thank Ivano Conti for two bows — for violin and viola — that were awarded during the course of the week.
Photos kindly provided by the National Concert Hall as well as private persons.
Listen here for a concert excerpt:
Shostakovich Piano Quintet
Co-artistic directors Finghin Collins and Gwendolyn Masin.
Participants and faculty of the fourth National Concert Hall International Master Course.
With Zoë Conway and Finghin Collins following Zoë's workshop on Irish traditional music.
Irish fiddle player Zoë Conway during a workshop with participants of the NCH IMC 2022 in the Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Faculty of the NCH IMC 2022.
L-R: Finghin Collins, Gwendolyn Masin, Lars Anders Tomter, Mihaela Martin, Frans Helmerson.
Finghin Collins, Lars Anders Tomter and Gwendolyn Masin with junior mentors David Tobin and Martin Moriarty.
Recipients of a violin and viola bow by Ivano Conti.
L-R: violinist Paula Mejía España and violist Vanessa Hristova, surrounded by Mihaela Martin, Gwendolyn Masin and Lars Anders Tomter.
Gwendolyn Masin, Luke Lally Maguire and Callum Owens during a student-faculty concert in the John Field Room, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Welcoming the audience to the opening concert.