THE inaugural Limerick Summer Proms, a three-day festival is set to captivate audiences this weekend.
The festival will feature performances from renowned ensembles, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Irish Chamber Orchestra, and will feature a family-friendly, animated concert Magic Piano & The Chopin Shorts with live piano.
Speaking about the festival, Director of University Concert Hall, Sinéad Hope, said, “The Limerick Summer Proms represent a milestone in our commitment to fostering cultural enrichment and community engagement. This festival celebrates diversity and inclusivity while offering a unique musical experience to audiences of all backgrounds.”
Kicking off the festival on Friday, June 21, SHINE, presented by The Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride Festival in collaboration with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and University Concert Hall, promises an evening of celebration and solidarity. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Ireland’s first Pride March, this event will feature a vibrant showcase of genre-spanning music with sing-along moments of pride, community and humanity performed by members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies, including artists like Shobsy and Wallis Bird. Put on your sequins and get ready to shine!
On Saturday, June 22, Midsummer Magic takes centre stage as University Concert Hall partners with Irish Chamber Orchestra to deliver a musical journey through the ages featuring iconic overtures including Mozart’s Magic Flute and Mendelssohn’s evocative Hebrides Overture. Under the baton of celebrated conductor Wyn Davies, acclaimed Soprano Anna Devlin will delight audiences singing popular arias including O Mio Babbino Caro and the hauntingly beautiful Intermezzo from Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. A selection of fabulous Strauss waltzes from the Blue Danube to the Radetsky March add to the magic of this Midsummer evening with the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
Closing out the festival on Sunday, June 23, families are invited to experience the wonder of Magic Piano & Chopin Shorts on screen. This animated film concert, accompanied by live piano performance from Michael McHale, introduces audiences to the timeless music of Chopin through a series of unique animations, including the whimsical tale of Anna and Chip-Chip’s adventure aboard a magic, flying piano.
