Fidelio Trio, Joel Hunter (Viola)

The 2025 festival opens in style with The Schumann Effect, a special night of chamber music on Friday, the 28th of November set against the beautiful backdrop of the eighteenth-century Belvedere House. The acclaimed Fidelio Trio will be joined by Mahler Chamber Orchestra principal violist Joel Hunter for an evening celebrating the music of Clara and Robert Schumann. The programme features Clara Schumann's Piano Trio in G Minor, Three Romances for Violin and Piano, and Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann for Piano, alongside Robert Schumann’s Piano Quartet in Eb Major. Mary Dullea will also perform three contemporary works commissioned by ‘Finding a Voice Festival’ by Irish composers Rhona Clarke, Jane O’Leary and Marian Ingoldsby, reflecting on the opening theme of the second movement of Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio.

Clara Schumann, Piano Trio in G minor, Op.17

Clara Schumann, Variations on a theme by Robert Schumann Op.20 for Piano

Rhona Clarke, Clara Through a Glass Cage (solo Piano)

Jane O’Leary, Scherzo Reflection (solo Piano)

Marian Ingoldsby, Homage to Clara Schumann Ablenkungen (Distractions) (solo Piano)

Clara Schumann, Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22

Robert Schumann, Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op.70

Tickets €20/€18 (conc.) available at this link.

Darragh Morgan (Violin), Tim Gill (Cello)

On Saturday the 29th of November, the festival presents a free lunchtime concert in the serene setting of The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. The programme shines a spotlight on the music of acclaimed composer Nick Roth, with the world premiere of his Arts Council of Ireland funded commission of a new work for violin and cello inspired by the Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima. The programme is complimented with Telemann's Fantasia No. 7  and No. 10 for Solo Violin, finishing with music from J.S Bach's Suite for solo cello.

George Philippe Telemann, Fantasia No. 7 in E-flat major TWV40:20

George Philippe Telemann, Fantasia No. 10 in D major TWV40:23

Nick Roth, Ailanthus - Commissioned with funding from the Arts Council of Ireland

J.S Bach, Suite No. 3 in C major for solo cello

Tickets available at this link.

Fidelio Trio, Simon Mawhinney

The Fidelio Trio present a composition workshop for emerging composers in collaboration with distinguished composer/mentor Simon Mawhinney and the Contemporary Music Centre (CMC) and their Emerging and Brigid Residency composers.

Fidelio Trio

On Saturday evening, the festival presents a richly varied concert that brings together classical brilliance and contemporary innovation. At it’s centre is ‘In Three’ , by distinguished Northern Irish composer Simon Mawhinney, Professor of Composition at Queen’s University Belfast. This newly commissioned work will be introduced in conversation with the composer, offering an insight into its creation and his musical approach.

Framing Mawhinney’s piece are Haydn’s popular ‘Gypsy Rondo’ Trio, Felix Mendelssohn’s virtuosic Piano Trio No. 1 and a Malay Pantoum Darragh Morgan and Mary Dullea recently performed in Kuala Lumpur by celebrated Malaysian composer, Tazul Tajuddin.

Concert ticket holders are also welcome to attend a free pre-concert screening of ‘Sea of Troubles’ at 6.30pm in the Red Room, Belvedere House.

Joseph Haydn, Piano Trio in G major XV.25 ‘Gypsy Rondo’

Simon Mawhinney, In Three

Tazul Tajuddin, Sebuah Pantun IX for violin and piano

Felix Mendelssohn, Piano Trio in D minor, Op.49

Tickets €20/€18 (conc.) available at this link.

Fidelio Trio

The final concert on the 30th of November titled ‘The Wind and Sea’ will bring the 2025 festival to a close with music by Chausson, Mendelssohn-Hensel and Debussy. The programme includes Chausson’s lyrical Piano Trio in G Minor, Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel’s powerful and expressive Piano Trio in D Minor, and Debussy’s iconic La Mer, heard in a stunning arrangement by Sally Beamish.

Ernest Chausson, Piano Trio in G Minor, Op.3

Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, Piano Trio in D Minor Op.11

Claude Debussy, (arr. Sally Beamish), La Mer

Tickets €20/€18 (conc.) available at this link.