Louth no events posted in last week
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony Public Inquiry >>
Promoting Human Rights in IrelandHuman Rights in Ireland >>
Net Zero ?Harms Human Lives?, Trump?s Envoy Warns Starmer Thu Apr 24, 2025 19:00 | Will Jones Net Zero policies "harm human lives" and undermine "health, wealth and opportunity", Donald Trump's trade envoy Tommy Joyce has told Keir Starmer in an attack on?Labour?s radical energy policy.
The post Net Zero “Harms Human Lives”, Trump’s Envoy Warns Starmer appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Is it Autism or Just Bad Parenting? Thu Apr 24, 2025 17:00 | Will Jones Amid a surge in autism diagnoses, Arthur Mann found a friend's children detached and glued to their screens. Is it not more likely, he wonders, that we are suffering from an epidemic of disastrous middle-class parenting?
The post Is it Autism or Just Bad Parenting? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Banning Alternative f?r Deutschland Thu Apr 24, 2025 15:00 | Eugyppius In Germany the Left doesn't need to beat Right-wing parties, it can just ban them for supposedly being a bit too much like Hitler. Eugyppius is increasingly convinced the AfD will face a potential ban in the coming months.
The post Banning Alternative f?r Deutschland appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
It?s Time to Kick the Extremists Out of the Classroom Thu Apr 24, 2025 13:00 | Brian Monteith PETA's schools programme tells children that animals are "just like us" and it's wrong to have pets and zoos. An organisation that has likened farming to the Holocaust has no place in the classroom, says Brian Monteith.
The post It’s Time to Kick the Extremists Out of the Classroom appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Reeves?s Incompetence Means the UK is Heading for a Full-Blown Financial Crash, and Nothing Can Stop... Thu Apr 24, 2025 11:00 | Will Jones Rachel Reeves's disastrous mishandling of the thriving economy she inherited from the Tories means the UK is heading for a full-blown financial crash ? and nothing can stop it now, says Matthew Lynn.
The post Reeves’s Incompetence Means the UK is Heading for a Full-Blown Financial Crash, and Nothing Can Stop it Now appeared first on The Daily Sceptic. Lockdown Skeptics >>
Voltaire, international edition
Will intergovernmental institutions withstand the end of the "American Empire"?,... Sat Apr 05, 2025 07:15 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N?127 Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:38 | en
Disintegration of Western democracy begins in France Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:00 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N?126 Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:39 | en
The International Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism by Amichai Chikli and Na... Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:31 | en Voltaire Network >>
|
Ensemble Avalon in Carlingford
louth |
arts and media |
news report
Monday February 04, 2008 11:33 by Sean Crudden - impero sean.crudden at iol dot ie Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth. 087 9739945

An Outstanding Performance
The audience in Holy Trinity Heritage Centre, Carlingford, yesterday contributed to immensely to a finely wrought performance by Ensemble Avalon. There was no attention deficit and no disconcerting applause at the end of individual movements. Applause was reserved for the end of each of the four sonatas performed. In a very symmetrical program each of the sonatas had three movements. There was no rocking in the aisles but the applause was appreciative and there was a general air of satisfaction around the Heritge Centre as the performance progressed. The cost of a ticket for this concert was €15.
 From left: Michael, Ioana and Gerald. Ensemble Avalon performed a varied and comprehensive program of music in Holy Trinity Heritage Centre, Carlingford, Co Louth, starting at 4.00 p.m. on Sunday 3 February 2008. It appears from the written program that the concert was part of a tour organised by Music Network. Unfortunately I have not to hand the details of other venues which were visited or which are to be visited as part of the tour. But anyone interested in music should definitely be on the look-out for Ensemble Avalon.
The outfit consists of three players; Ioana Petcu-Colan (violin), Gerald Peregrine (cello) and Michael McHale (piano).
Program
Joseph Haydn, Piano Trio, (Hob: XV30 in e flat major)
Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, Piano Trio, B flat major.
Interval
Ludwig van Beethoven, "Ghost" Trio in D major, Op. 70 No 1
Leonard Bernstein, Piano Trio, Op. 2 (1937)
The standard of performance throughout was high or very high.
In the first half of the concert Ioana impressed with quiet, relaxed and competent leadership. The tone of her violin is rich and slightly dead-pan. She appears to be an introspective player but she projects the music very effectively.
The ensemble was well knitted together and like careful builders the players showed great, unfussy awareness and concentration and took great pains to make sure all the pieces fitted together neatly and correctly.
I thought the overall speed was not slow but I think it was on the deliberate side of fast. The music had time to unfold in a meaningful way and all three players especially, Ioana and Michael looked "comfortable on the ball." Like good golfers they played well "within themselves."
When I was young around Ardee the highest compliment which could be paid to the player of an instrument (like the accordion, for instance) was, "He can make it talk!"
In the second half of the concert I became more aware of Michael McHale’s piano playing. He has snap. But that belies the fact that he has sweetness and roundness of tone and exhibits outstanding musical thinking and strategy. He definitely is an excellent team player, too. He has the ability in coolness to plan and execute and create very true and authentic musical effect. I was not aware of the technicalities of his playing but I was aware of the fact that he was producing a transparent, translucent, beautiful account of the music particularly in the Beethoven. In a true musical sense, therefore, my conclusion is that he can make the piano talk.
Gerald Peregrine on the cello appeared to be working harder than his companions. He has a deft touch, sweet tone, a smart athletic style and great concentration.
|
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (1 of 1)
Jump To Comment: 1Rain, mud, dripping trees outside. Coffee, wine, warmth, music inside and the whisper of rain falling on the roof. Anaverna is about 10 km north of Dundalk and it is only about 5 km from my house in Jenkinstown. Last night was my second visit to the venue and the impressions formed on my first visit were reinforced (see link). Anyway I am delighted to have such an excellent venue close to home.
Ensemble Avalon were in great form and gave a very satisfying performance of a varied and well-balanced program of music.
Program
Ludwig van Beethoven. Trio in C Minor Op. 1 No. 3
Joaquin Turina. Trio No. 1 in D Major Op. 35
INTERVAL
Ronan Guilfoyle. A Little Blues
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. Trio in D Minor Op. 49
I had a great chat with John Redihan before the performance started, Silvia Puyane sat beside me, I said "hello" to each of the members of Avalon before I left for home. I thought I got great value for €18 admission and a contribution of €2 to Simon in exchange for a cup of coffee in a room off the concert "hall" with the scent of a turf fire in my nostrils.
I think last night's concert formed part of a "tour" by Ensemble Avalon organised by Music Network. Readers of indymedia who might be interested in catching Avalon should browse Music Network's web-site or Avalon's own site.
Incidentally I think the 200th anniversary of Mendelssohn's birthday occurs around now.