20th Sligo International Chamber Music Festival
Friday 3rd to Monday 6th May, 2019
Vogler Quartet & Guests
“It was a concert that appealed to the heart, the mind and the funny bone, delivering everything we can ask of chamber music.”
LOS ANGELES TIMES on the Vogler Quartet
Treat yourself to a weekend of exquisite music this May bank holiday as the 20th Sligo International Chamber Music Festival brings some of the finest Irish and international musicians to perform with the internationally acclaimed ensemble-in-residence, the Vogler Quartet. Taking place from Friday 3rd to Monday 6th May in the intimate surrounds of St Columba’s Church Drumcliffe, nestled below Benbulben Mountain, and The Model, a contemporary arts centre in Sligo town, the Sligo International Chamber Music Festival is a highlight in the annual calendar of music events. More details at www.sligochambermusic.ie.
Commenting on the festival programme, Artistic Director Tim Vogler says, “For our 20th anniversary, we have put together an ambitious high-quality programme which sees the return of many festival favourites from the past 20 years – both musicians and music – we look forward to welcoming them back and performing with them. We are very excited to present a new commission by Nick Roth and we pay homage to our dear friend Seán McSweeney in a very special event called His Deep Gaze.”
This year’s festival boasts an exciting line up of Irish and international guest artists including the Grieg Trio, Eugène Mursky (piano); David Orlowsky (clarinet); Michael McHale (piano); Dermot Dunne (accordion); Sharon Carty (mezzo-soprano); Vashti Hunter (cello); Malachy Robinson (double bass); Bruno Schneider (French horn); Henrik Rabien (bassoon) and Nick Roth (composer, saxophone, producer). These illustrious performers, along with the Vogler Quartet will perform music from all periods and musical styles including quintets, quartets, trios, duos, solos and songs by composers Schumann, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Beethoven and many, many more, something for everyone from music lovers and enthusiasts to the novice and the curious.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary year, two very special new events take place funded by Sligo County Council’s Creative Ireland Programme 2018-2022. On Monday 6th May, the premiere of Nick Roth’s Second Quintet for Accordion and String Quartet commissioned by the Festival will be performed by Dermot Dunne (accordion) and the Vogler Quartet. On Saturday 4th May a very special event featuring music, poetry and art curated by poet Gerard Smyth to honour the late artist Seán McSweeney takes place. His Deep Gaze coincides with the inclusion of a number of Seán’s pieces in The Keeper exhibition, the Model’s biggest showcase of The Niland Collection to date.
The festival once again features the successful Tuned In! Youth programme co-funded by the Music Generation/Arts Council Partnership, in association with Music Generation Sligo. This unique and innovative programme is curated by Professor James Cavanagh from the Royal Irish Academy of Music
The Grammy-nominated Vogler Quartet together for over thirty years and, with all four of its original members, continues to build upon its reputation as one of the finest quartets of its generation. Founding members Tim Vogler, Frank Reinecke, Stefan Fehlandt, and Stephan Forck are widely recognized for their uncommon musical intelligence, homogeneous sound, insightful interpretations, and unconventional programming. They have created a vibrant ensemble spirit, as well as a unique string quartet sound which consistently offers new insights into the genre. Formed in East Berlin in 1985, the quartet continues to pursue an ambitious international schedule of concerts and master classes in prestigious venues around the world.
