by Rose Rushe
PASSION and tragedy inform music by Shoenberg in the programme by The Callino Quartet with Ailish Tynan when they visit Limerick. The soprano speaks of “a really ground breaking piece in which at the third movement, the voice joins the music. This had never been heard of before”.
Tynan describes the work as a reflection, “what we are singing of in his life. It’s traumatised, emotional, a very powerful piece”. She alludes to the affair Shoenberg’s wife Mathilde had with fellow Austrian painter Gerstl at the time, leaving her husband for him. Mathilde left Gerstl months later to return to her husband and children. Gerstl committed suicide.
It’s a crescendo away from this hugely feted Mullingar singer, recently married, who is as unaffected and happy as her ribbon of achievement is long.
Juggling mobile phone reception and press calls, she ‘fesses up that her mission that night is to hit the Prosecco by 9pm. Reader, this will only be after an appearance in the Royal Festival Hall singing one of her all time favourites, Strauss’ ‘Four Last Songs’, with The Duet Philharmonic.
“Life has been absolutely crazy, hectic over the last few months,” she admits. With the prospect of two days off, she describes it “like looking at a fortnight in the Bahamas”. She had just touched down in London where she lives, following a night with RTE National Symphony Orchestra in the NCH.
Back to The Callino Quartet who have Haydn, Brahms and an uplifting composition by Mozart for us at Lime Tree Theatre on Thursday 16. “Mozart’s ‘Exultate Jubilate’ is like an exultation of joy and will fill us all with what we need”.
Ailish Tyan has performed here often and speaks of Irish Chamber Orchestra as a company for which she would cancel dates to work with again: “The level of performance and musicianship and music values that goes, is just phenomenal”.
See www.limetreetheatre.ie for Thursday 16, 8pm, Ailish Tynan with The Callino Quartet.
