Cork International Choral Festival

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The Cork International Choral Festival[1] is one of Europe's premier Choral Festivals. Held annually in Cork, Ireland over the May Bank Holiday Weekend, it features choirs from all over the world.

April 30th - May 4th 2008

[edit] History

Founded in 1954 to be a dynamic force in developing choral music in Ireland, the Cork International Choral Festival is held annually over the four days preceding the first Monday in May in Cork's City Hall (capacity 1,000) - one of the most attractive and acoustically superb venues in Ireland. It is one of Europe's premier international choral festivals and is noted for its high competitive standards, excellent organisation, and the friendliness of its welcome. Each year some of the finest amateur international choirs are selected to compete for the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy. The selected choirs also have an opportunity to perform non-competitively in a range of Festival activities presented over the weekend, including Fringe concerts, church and informal performances. Their presence gives audiences and Irish choirs the unique opportunity of attending a diverse range of concerts and competitive sessions while in Cork. As well as foreign choirs, the Festival annually features up to 100 Adult, Youth and School choirs who participate in National Competitions. Overall the Festival attracts some 5000 participants. The festival continues to ensure that choral music, representative of many historical and cultural traditions, is brought to the people of Cork and the many visitors who travel to the city for the event.

[edit] Programme of Major Events 2008

Programme Highlights 2008 Gala Opening Concert – Touché (Denmark) Cork City Hall, Wednesday April 30th 2008 This year’s festival will open with Touché, a Danish a capella jazz ensemble known for its big band-like arrangements, awesome swing and tender ballads, Touché’s reputation is fast growing across Europe. Hot & sweet, cool & lyrical, Touché embraces the best of jazz styles with its unique trumpet imitations, vocal percussion and smoky voices. http://www.touchekor.dk/en/

Thursday Night Gala – musica intima (Canada) Cork City Hall, Thursday May 1st 2008 Internationally renowned for performances and recordings that sparkle with fresh insight and vibrant musicality, musica intima has become one of Canada’s most exciting vocal ensembles. The 12 professional singers rehearse and perform without a conductor, all owing them to exchange ideas freely while exploring their own musical creativity, and engage the audience with a spontaneity and freshness all their own. http://www.musicaintima.org/index.php

Concert – National Chamber Choir of Ireland, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Friday May 2nd 2008 The National Chamber Choir is widely regarded as the country’s most distinguished choral ensemble. This concert (the first of two concerts comprising the festival’s Friday Cathedrals Night) will see the world premieres of pieces by composers Tarik O’Regan and Rhona Clarke, commissioned by the Festival together with the NCC. http://www.dcu.ie/chamber/concerts.shtml

‘Evocations’ at the North Cathedral – Amarcord (Germany) Friday 2nd May 2008 Founded in 1992 in Leipzig, Amarcord has since become one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles; characterised by their unique tone, breathtaking homogeneity, musical authenticity, and a good dose of charm and humour. This young quintet’s repertoire ranges from Medieval and Renaissance compositions and madrigals to collaborations with contemporary composers and a capella arrangements of famous songs spanning all facets of vocal music. http://www.ensemble-amarcord.com/index.php?lang=en

Fleischmann International Trophy Competition, 3pm & 8pm, City Hall Saturday 3rd May 2008 Visiting choirs compete for the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy Competition.

This year the festival received an exceptional number of very high quality application for the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy Competition. We are absolutely delighted to announce that as many as 15 choir have been selected to participate in the 2008 competition, representing; Canada, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S.A.

Sunday Closing Gala, 4th May 2008 7.30pm, City Hall Celebratory music and farewell performances from international groups.

• County Outreach programmeFeaturing Performances in County Towns (Cobh, Clonakilty Macroom, etc.) by our visiting competitive International Choirs.

• Public Choral Performances Public free of charge performances throughout Cork City & County by visiting international & national choirs throughout the Festival