The Music Of Bill Whelan with the National Symphony Orchestra

Todayfm RTÉ Lyric FM Friday 23rd August 7pm – 10pm

Aedin Gormley presents this Lyric Live concert which features a rich array of orchestral works by Grammy award-winning composer Bill Whelan including two Eurovision-related pieces: Riverdance and Timedance. The thrilling Riverdance Symphonic Suite sets aside the traditional instruments and songs of the stage show in favour of the majestic sweep of a full symphony orchestra. Timedance, composed by Whelan and Donal Lunny for the 1981 Eurovision interval act, is performed by orchestra and traditional soloists. Whelan’s melodic, rhythmic and dramatic music is a melting pot of influences. The beautiful intertwining of violin and fiddle in Inishlacken evokes the richness of life and nature on a deserted island off the Galway coast; a new version for orchestra of Stolen Hearts featuring Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta has its world premiere. Hymn to a Broken Marriage, which will be performed by Whelan, movingly sets to music Paul Durcan’s elegiac poem to lost love. Flying Blind, a song written by Whelan in the early part of his career and also performed by the composer. Timedance highlights Whelan’s uniquely vivid ability to treat classical and traditional music as equals.

National Symphony Orchestra
Gavin Maloney (conductor)
Julieanne Forrest (violin)
Athena Tergis (fiddle)
Séamus Ó Flatharta (whistle, harp, voice and bodhrán)
Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta (fiddle and voice)
Bill Whelan (piano)
Tara Howley (uilleann pipes)