Commemorations are taking place all over the country this year in honour of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising and Mullingar Choral Society promises to provide one of the highlights of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme in Westmeath. The society will be marking the occasion with a very special concert entitled “War and Peace,” taking place on Sunday, 6 March at 8pm in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar.
The choir will be performing a specially selected programme beginning with Tchaikovsky’s magnificent “1812 Overture” followed by “Agnus Dei” by Samuel Barber, a beautiful choral setting of his “Adagio for Strings.” The choir are also delighted to present “Clare’s Dragoons” by Irish composer Aloys Fleischmann. This is a rare opportunity to hear a seldom-performed but wonderful piece of Irish music based on the poem of the same name by Thomas Davis, the well-known Young Irelander. “Clare’s Dragoons” continues to be the regimental march of the 27th Infantry Battalion of the Irish Defence Forces. The evening will culminate in the magnificent “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace” by Karl Jenkins, celebrating an end to fighting and extolling the virtues of peace over war.
Featuring a full line-up of soloists including Mullingar’s own extremely talented Helen Hassett (soprano) and Jeffrey Ledwidge (bass), the choir of St. Kenny National School, Kilpatrick, regular collaborators the City of Dublin Chamber Orchestra and some other additions especially brought in for the occasion and brilliantly conducted by Fergus O’Carroll and Thomas Kehoe, this truly promises to be a night to remember.
Tickets for “War and Peace,” priced €20, are now available from Mullingar Arts Centre, Fagan’s Office Supplies, Mullingar Cathedral Shop as well as from any choir member. Tickets can also be purchased online and more information can be found on www.mullingarchoral.ie. This is a special concert not to be missed and a fabulous and fitting contribution from Mullingar Choral Society to the 1916 centenary celebrations.
