The National Concert Hall has a great lineup of events in store for us this May. But would we expect any less from the master purveyors of finest entertainment?

From ABBA to Star Wars, and Pavarotti to The Blow the Dust Orchestra, the lineup for May at the NCH is certainly eclectic. Here is just a taster of what you can expect to see and hear!

May The Fourth Be With You
Thursday, 4th May @ 8pm

The RTÉ Concert Orchestra honours Star Wars, one of the greatest film series of our age, in an evening of unparalleled epic themes from all Star Wars Movies including Rogue One. John Williams’ & Michael Giacchinos’ blockbuster film scores will be brought to life in an unforgettable spine-tingling performance.

Nessun Dorma – The Life & Music of Luciano Pavarotti
Sunday, 7th May @ 8pm

Internationally acclaimed tenor Alexander James Edwards returns as Luciano Pavarotti with special guest soprano Sandra Oman & The Maria Callas Chamber Orchestra to tell Pavarotti’s rags to riches tale, from his humble origins in provincial Italy to global superstar.

Catalan Chamber Orchestra: 20th Century Classics
Monday, 8th May @ 8pm

The Catalan Chamber Orchestra performs selected works by classic Catalan composers from the 20th century like Toldrà, Casals, Montsalvatge and Cervelló. The programme also includes a work by the Irish composer Seoirse Bodley to open the concert.

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Tuesday, 9th May @ 7:45pm

Experience an evening of extraordinary short films from the world’s most prestigious mountain film festival. Follow the expeditions of some of today’s most incredible adventurers, see amazing footage of adrenaline packed action sports and be inspired by thought-provoking pieces shot from the far flung corners of the globe.

Tenebrae
Wednesday, 10th May @ 8pm

Described as “phenomenal” by The Times and “devastatingly beautiful” by Gramophone Magazine, award-winning choir Tenebrae, under the direction of Nigel Short, will perform Russian Treasures – a celebration of the Russian Orthodox choral tradition with music by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Golovanov and others.

RTÉCO: Super Troupers
Thursday, 11th May @ 8pm

Andy O’Callaghan returns by popular demand to conduct the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Celebration Singers in a night of chart-dominating ABBA hits. Prepare for flares, mirror balls, big wigs & unimpeded dancing in the aisles to Andy’s genius arrangements of Waterloo, Dancing Queen, Voulez-Vous, Chiquitita, and many more.

Lyric Opera Sings Verdi
Tuesday, 16th May @ 8pm

An evening of operatic jewels to celebrate the Italian master, Giuseppe Verdi. Irish soprano Sinéad Campbell Wallace and young Australian tenor James Edgar Knight will perform Verdi’s exquisite arias and duets, while the acclaimed Lyric Opera Chorus will performs some of the magnificent choral masterpieces of Verdi’s great repertoire.

Blow the Dust Lunchtime Concert
Wednesday, 17th May @ 1:05pm

The Blow the Dust Orchestra, the NCH’s orchestra for older or returning musicians returns for their annual lunchtime Bealtaine concert with a programme that incluces pieces such as La Vie En Rose, Carmen, and Amazing Grace. The orchestra will be joined by special guests, including Sing Out!, NCH’s Community Choir.

The Story of Swing – The Swing Cats
Saturday, 20th May @ 8pm

A musical timeline of swing classics from the 1920’s to the modern day. Hear such classics as King of the Swingers, Puttin’ on the Ritz, When The Saints Go Marching In, Mack the Knife, I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and many more performed live for one night only by The Swing Cats!

Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Wednesday, 24th May @ 8pm

The timeless music of Andrew Lloyd Webber performed by multiple award winning singers bringing you the music from The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita, Sunset Boulevard, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Love Never Dies, Aspects of Love, The Likes of Us and The Woman in White.

Perspectives: Carla Bley
Thursday, 25th May @ 8pm

One of jazz’s leading composers /pianists over the last 50 years, Carla Bley makes her NCH debut. Awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2016 on her 80th birthday, Bley’s trio with Steve Swallow and Andy Sheppard is performing with distilled, playful, and leisurely magic.

So, that’s May at the NCH in a nutshell! For details of the full programme for the month, please check the NCH website.

CONTACT DETAILS
National Concert Hall
Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2

Tel: 01 417 0000

Lead image © DUBLIN BUZZ: all other images courtesy NCH