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.