by Rose Rushe
THAT a 50th year anniversary should twin with City of Culture 2014 is all to our luck as Limerick Choral Union stages what will be the largest choral event (nationally?) of the year. It’s set for Sunday December 7, 8pm in the concert hall.
“We have got a massive concert planned,” acknowledges orchestra and choir musical director Malcolm Green. “We will have 240 singers and an orchestra of 50 musicians”.
The suite of soloists booked is mighty impressive also.
“Limerick Choral Union is being joined by Galway Choral Association and the choirs from Villiers School and from Scoil Íde – who are being rehearsed by their own teachers”.
“One of the works we are doing is ‘Carmina Burana’, known to many as theme song from Munster Rugby ads. It’s a fantastic piece but requires a very large ensemble”.
Arts page remembers it from the surf-symphony of a television ad to sell Old Spice cologne. Reader, the official tagline of that brand is “Old Spice has 75 years of experience helping guys improve their mansmells with deodorant, bodywash, antiperspirant, hair and fragrances”.
Our faith is in Limerick Choral Union’s mission to rescue Orff’s truly fabulous work from the cringe of Madison Avenue. Trust the Union and Limerick Choral Symphonic Orchestra to bring on a concert event that will be memorable and fine, as with their ‘spiritstone’ premier at Easter.
“I suppose we are hoping to be billed as a choral extravaganza to mark the end of City of Culture,” Green admits modestly. Choir practice has been in progress for a long time and this 50 year old corps is drilled honed to excellence; this man has led the company for a dozen years.
In come the big guns for a first concert half dedicated to Poulenc’s ‘Gloria’ and the second to Orff’s magisterial crescendos. LCU chairperson Denise King is delighted to welcome in soprano Franzita Whelan, Gyula Nagy as baritone and Limerick’s Derek Moloney as counter tenor.
LCU has 115 singers for this gala, the Galway contingent 55 and there are 170 students.
“It has been an exciting year,” Denise reflects, “we had a lot of things going on and are extremely proud, collaborating now with Galway Choral Association, Scoil Íde and Villiers”.
Book at the concert hall box office www.uch.ie or 061-331549 for any tickets that might remain.
