The world-renowned RTÉ Concert Orchestra will perform three diverse concerts in the O’Reilly Theatre of the National Opera House this spring.
On Tuesday, 21 February the RTÉ Concert Orchestra pays tribute to Maria Callas, considered to be the ultimate opera singer, in the centenary year of her birth. Stunning Wexford soprano Sinéad Campbell-Wallace will be joined on stage by the charismatic American tenor Noah Stewart. The pair last performed together in Wexford in the Wexford Festival Opera production of Transformations in the Dun Mhuire in 2006. The evening will be presented by Liz Nolan of RTÉ lyric fm and conducted by the equally vibrant Italo-Turkish conductor Nil Venditti for an captivating night.
On Thursday, 30 March, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra brings its amazing Thin Lizzy Symphonic to the National Opera House after its huge outdoor success in Collins Barracks, Dublin last summer. Special Musical guests Jess Kav, Wexford’s own Wallis Bird, Jack O’Rourke, Shobsy and Tom Dunne will join the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and its Principal Guest Conductor Stephen Bell to perform classics from the Thin Lizzy back catalogue.
One month later on Friday, 30 April fans of Marty Whelan’s much-loved breakfast programme on RTÉ lyric fm are in for a real treat as he brings his show, Marty in the Evening to Wexford after a sell-out performance last year in the National Concert Hall. Featuring a brand-new selection of music, audiences will enjoy an evening packed with some of Marty’s favourite and eclectic mix of music performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra with special musical guests and presented by the man himself - in his own unique style. Principal Guest Conductor Stephen Bell will once again conduct. This spectacular evening is sure to capture the flavour of Marty in the Morning in a richly entertaining live experience!
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra was established in 1948 with the aim to introduce music to new audiences and this spring marks its 75th anniversary. Voted the World’s Favourite Orchestra in 2015 the RTÉ Concert Orchestra is currently managed by former Wexford Festival Orchestra manager, Joe Csibi. Its eclectic programming such as these spring concerts has been key to its success among new and devoted audiences alike. Commenting on the upcoming spring concert series, Joe said, “It’s a gift to be free to travel and perform in the National Opera House with the opportunity of creating great and interesting musical projects for Wexford and the southeast of the country. This spring season is something we have waited years to put together and we hope to grow our special musical projects for years to come.”