Pianist Barry Douglas and his orchestra Camerata Ireland announced today (Monday 21st April) details of their new chamber music festival ‘The Castletown Concerts’ to take place at Castletown House, Co Kildare, where Camerata Ireland is to be the resident ensemble at the invitation of the Office of Public Works. The series of three concerts will take place on the 18 May, 31 August and 28 September 2008. The 2008 programme will include works by Penderecki, Schubert, Rossini, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Beethoven and a new work for flute by Dave Morris.
Established by Barry Douglas in Belfast in 1999, the orchestra has been looking for a home near Dublin to contribute to the ongoing dynamism of cross border cultural co-operation and to become a regular presence in the music-making calendar north and south of the island. The Castletown Concerts will be a sister festival of The Clandeboye Festival in Co Down, established by Barry in 2003, which takes place annually with an emphasis on its masterclasses for young musicians from all around the island of Ireland. At Castletown, there are plans to continue his commitment to supporting and nurturing young players by inviting undergraduates, music students and schools to Castletown to take part in a number of specially-designed events.
‘Being invited by the OPW to take up residence at Castletown, in itself a work of art, is a great honour and one we greatly look forward to’ commented Barry Douglas. Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Noel Ahern, T.D. said, ‘The regeneration of Castletown is about populating the house with events, creativity and dialogue, as it was originally intended, and the Office of Public Works is delighted to have Camerata Ireland and Barry Douglas become our resident orchestra.’
The orchestra have recently returned from a month-long tour in March 2008 of the US including the cities of Boston, New York and Seattle.
For further information and bookings for The Castletown Concerts, call (01) 1800 927361, email castletown@camerata-ireland.com, or see www.camerata-ireland.com
Tickets €40 (concessions €30)
Camerata Ireland, Castletown House, Celbridge, Co Kildare