Iarla Ó Lionáird

The Princeton University Orchestra will tour Ireland and Northern Ireland in January 2015, presenting concerts in Limerick, Dublin, and Belfast. Led by Maestro Michael Pratt, the orchestra will showcase the recently premiered Four Sean-nós Songs, composed by Princeton composition faculty Dan Trueman and Donnacha Dennehy in collaboration with Irish singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, who will perform as soloist. The concerts will open with Antonin Dvorak’s Carnival Overture and conclude with Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, with Princeton alumna Katherine Buzard ’14 as soprano soloist.

Ó Lionáird has earned acclaim from audiences all over the world for his innovative approach to the repertoire of traditional Irish vocal music known as sean-nós or “old style.” For the Princeton University Orchestra, composers Trueman and Dennehy have translated the stark harmonies of sean-nós into the language of the full orchestra. Also on the program is the fourth symphony of Gustav Mahler, a composer who was intensely influenced by folk music traditions throughout his career. A poem from the famous collection Des Knaben Wunderhorn provides the text for the vocal part of the symphony’s final movement, a song that expresses a child’s vision of life in heaven. Dvorak’s rousing Carnival Overture provides a celebratory start to these concerts.

Speaking about this program Maestro Pratt says: “We have been thrilled to perform with the distinguished Irish artist Iarla Ó Lionáird, first in Princeton and now in his homeland.”

The Dublin and Belfast concerts are planned and presented by PERFORM AMERICA International in collaboration with Concern Worldwide as benefits for Concern’s Ebola Crisis Appeal. Additionally, students from the orchestra will perform a chamber music concert at the Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice in Dublin.

Iarla Ó Lionáird (pronounced ear-lah o-linnard) was born in the West Cork gaeltacht area of Cuil Aodha in 1964. The area was rich in singers and the twelve Ó Lionáird children were no exception. Their mother taught them many traditional songs, passed down from her own mother, and her sister, Elizabeth Cronin. Iarla began performing at the age of 5, his first radio broadcast was at age 7, and he recorded Aisling Gheal at age 12 for the Gael Linn label. He also performed with the Cor Chuil Aodha (choir of Chuil Aodha), founded by Sean O’Riada. Since then he has worked in radio, film and TV production, and is the lead singer for the Afro Celt Sound System. Iarla currently lives in County Kilkenny with his wife, Eimear, and their three children: Liam, Eabha, and Iseult.

The Princeton University Orchestra is made up of Princeton undergraduate and graduate student musicians. Conducted for the 38^th year by Michael Pratt, the orchestra is continuing its tradition of fine music making in the new year.